The Diabetes Care Centre at Cape Gate is a registered insulin pump centre.
What is an insulin pump?
An insulin pump is a small electronic device the size of a pager that contains a syringe reservoir filled with insulin. You wear the pump outside your body and a small, flexible tube connects the reservoir of insulin to a catheter that you insert under the skin of your abdomen.
An insulin pump delivers insulin in much the same way as your body does. Your physician helps you determine how much insulin you need, and then you program the insulin pump to release the desired amount of insulin into your body. The pump releases rapid-acting insulin and delivers the insulin in two ways: continuously (basal) and in bursts (bolus), to cover food eaten.
How to get an insulin pump
To get a pump for free, you’ll have to meet certain criteria set by your medical scheme.
Generally, you need to meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You can’t get to your target HbA1c without severe hypos.
- Your HbA1c remains high despite carefully trying to manage your diabetes.
If you’re thinking about an insulin pump for your child, the criteria may be different. Pumps are recommended for children under 12 when multiple daily insulin injections aren’t practical or appropriate. Make sure you speak to your diabetes specialist about if this is the best option for your child.
Pumps are currently not funded for people with Type 2 diabetes. You can self-fund, but make sure you have a discussion with your healthcare professional if you’re thinking of trying one. For more information on the different types of pumps available at Diabetes Care Centre, please visit the following links:
Accu-chek:
Medtronic:
