Are Insulin Pumps Good for Type 2 Diabetics?

Insulin pumps are a common element of managing type 1 diabetes; they are implanted directly in the body to provide a path for insulin therapy. Increasingly, people with type 2 diabetes have begun using this therapeutic method.

Identification

The use of insulin pumps among people with type 2 diabetes, once referred to as "non-insulin-dependent diabetes," is a fairly recent development (as of 2010), according to the American Diabetes Association.

Significance

For those people with type 2 diabetes who use insulin therapy, an insulin pump helps them overcome the need for insulin injections.

Features

Benefits of insulin pumps include more steady and accurate dosing of insulin, giving people with diabetes greater control over lifestyle choices like eating, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Benefits

People with type 2 diabetes who use an insulin pump have less trouble controlling weight and have fewer incidences of clinically significant hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Considerations

Discuss the benefits and risks of all diabetes treatment methods, including insulin pumps, with a doctor before beginning treatment.

References

• American Diabetes Association: Insulin Pumps
• American Diabetes Association: Advantages of Using an Insulin Pump
• American Academy of Family Physicians: Insulin Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes