Updated February 08, 2006

Go Ahead, Pick Your Pump
Which Pump Is Right for You?

by Gary Scheiner, M.S., C.D.E.

Can you hear or feel the alarms?
This is something you have to try out for yourself. The pump will alert you if there is a problem, but if you’re not aware of the alert, what good is it? All pumps, with the exception of the OmniPod, allow you to adjust the beep volume or switch to a vibrate mode. And if you’re handy with a computer, the Animas pump lets you program specific “ring tunes” to accompany each type of alarm. (Sorry, Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” is not a choice when your insulin cartridge is almost empty!)

Do you require a pump that is fully waterproof?
All pumps are “splash resistant.” Perspiration and rainwater are not typically a problem, so this is only an issue if you plan to submerge or drench your pump. And the fact is, most pump users simply disconnect at the infusion set housing before bathing or going into the water. But if you do a lot of swimming or spend a lot of time boating, rafting, or canoeing, it is a good idea to have a fully waterproof pump. The Animas and Deltec pumps are fully waterproof, but the CoZmonitor meter attachment for the Deltec is not. The OmniPod “pods” are waterproof, but the remote control programmer is not. Medtronic pumps are not considered waterproof.

Do you desire a pump that links with a blood glucose meter or continuous glucose sensor?
This is kind of like playing the futures market. Clearly, the future of diabetes management and pump therapy involves a continuous glucose monitor feeding data about your glucose levels to a pump, which then determines how much insulin to deliver automatically. However, we are not at this point yet, and we will not be at this point for many years.

Currently, some pumps have the ability to take data directly from a blood glucose meter when performing bolus calculations (thus saving you the time of manually entering the readings). Others can display data from a continuous glucose monitor, but the data is not used to adjust insulin doses. The OmniPod handheld programmer has a built-in meter, and the Deltec has an attachable meter, both of which use FreeStyle test strips. The more recent Medtronic pumps link (via a radio signal) with a BD blood glucose meter, and the latest Medtronic pump links wirelessly with the company’s “REAL-Time” continuous glucose sensor and transmitter. Animas has no meter or sensor links at this time.

Is the clip or case easy and convenient?
I never thought this would be as important as it is. Given the basic similarities between pumps, I have found that many people select their pump purely based on how easy it is to wear. Again, the pump will be attached to you almost continuously for years, so you want to make sure it is going to be comfortable and convenient to have around. Although there are multiple companies that offer stylish and versatile pump pouches and cases (including Unique Accessories, Pump Wear, Inc., and Angel Bear Pump Stuff), the clip or case that is customized to fit the pump by the manufacturer is still used by most pump users. The OmniPod attaches directly to your body, so there is no need for a clip or case. Medtronic pumps come with a variety of clips that are versatile and very compact. Animas pumps come with only a wrap-around leather case or plastic holster that can add some bulk to the pump, and Deltec offers only a strap-on leather case with a plastic clip that tends to protrude considerably.

Can you use your preferred infusion set?
Infusion sets are to pumps like tires are to cars in that they make that all-important final contact. There are many varieties and styles of infusion sets, and some people have more success with certain ones. While all pumps (except for the OmniPod) connect with a variety of angled or “straight-in” infusion sets, using either a stainless steel or a flexible Teflon cannula below the skin, only pumps that utilize a universal connection called a Luer lock will work with just about every type of infusion set on the market. The Animas, Deltec, and older-model (pre-Paradigm) Medtronic pumps use a Luer lock connection. The Medtronic Paradigm pumps, however, use a proprietary connection, which fits with only to a handful of infusion sets customized for the Paradigm pump. (However, a new product for the Paradigm pump called the THINSet Syringe Reservoir, manufactured by Applied Diabetes Research, converts the Paradigm’s connection to a Luer lock, making it compatible with any infusion set.) The OmniPod currently has only one type of infusion system: a flexible 8-millimeter Teflon tube inserted at an angle.

Also in this article:
Online Pump Reviews
Pump Manufacturers

Gary Scheiner is a diabetes educator with a private practice (Integrated Diabetes Services) near Philadelphia, and the author of Think Like A Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes With Insulin. He has had Type 1 diabetes for 20 years, and he and his staff of Certified Diabetes Educators offer diabetes education and management consultations via phone, fax, and Internet to people throughout the world. Please direct inquiries to Gary at his Web site, www.integrateddiabetes.com, via e-mail at gary@integrateddiabetes.com, or by phone at (877) 735-3648.

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