Insulin pump game

Sign in. Terms of Service Privacy Policy. Back to homepage. Subscriber Login. Please subscribe to keep reading. You can cancel at any time. Edit Close. Become a Member. Read Today's E-edition.

Log In. My Membership. Share This. New insulin pump a game changer for type 1 diabetics. Share this. Justin Conn.

People are also reading…. What's that being built at U. How can you get the MiniMed G? How much does it cost? Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification. Manage followed notifications. Thanks for reading this Insulin Nation article. Want more Type 1 news? Subscribe here. Have Type 2 diabetes or know someone who does? Try Type 2 Nation , our sister publication. Research September 29, October 13, September 29, September 15, August 25, He is now the community engagement and content manager for T1D Exchange.

We want to help. Here you can learn about diabetes, therapy options, and get tips to help make life easier. Want to learn more? There are many great resources created by other organizations within the diabetes community.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. People living with type 2 diabetes develop insulin resistance, which means their pancreas produces insulin, but their cells don't respond adequately. A combination of genetic and lifestyle factors play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. There are several risk factors outside of our control that can increase a person's chance of developing type 2 diabetes, such as age and family history.

However, maintaining a healthy weight and increasing physical activity can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or delay the development of the disease. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. There are many different types of insulin including rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting and ultra-long-acting.

As indicated by their names, some types of insulin are used more quickly by the body. Different insulin types can also be used for different reasons, some help maintain blood sugars between meals long-acting while others are used to lower blood sugars after meals rapid-acting. For those using multiple daily injections, a combination of insulins will be given to account for the food being eaten and the natural fluctuations of the body, similar to some of the functions of a healthy pancreas.

For those using an insulin pump, rapid-acting insulin is used. Only one is needed because pumps can give small doses to act as the background insulin basal and larger doses to account for food bolus. Your family will need to make some adjustments to help your child live a happy and healthy life. A new routine can take some time to get used to. Some families are able to adjust and feel a sense of normalcy after a few months. Here are some of the key changes to keep in mind:.

After a while, most children will learn how it feels when they are experiencing a blood sugar that is out of range. This will help your child learn to articulate a low to your family and to others who may be responsible for their care teacher, coach, etc.

Some symptoms your child may have if they are experiencing a low blood sugar are confusion, tiredness, hunger, shakiness, sweating, and irritation. For children, especially young children, you should be cautious of hypoglycemia unawareness.

For younger children, they may mention being hungry, wanting a drink, or being tired. As the caregiver, be sure to remember these could be signals of a low blood sugar. For more information about hypoglycemia unawareness, please click here.

Carb counting is an important skill for those living with diabetes. Understanding how many carbohydrates will be consumed during a meal helps determine the amount of insulin that should be delivered to keep blood sugars in a target range.

A lot of what we eat is considered a carbohydrate like breads, fruits, pasta, rice, starchy vegetables, and dairy. There are many great online resources like Calorie King that can be used when learning the amount of carbohydrates foods typically contain. The thought of your child being in the care of others can be scary, but thankfully there are some simple things you can do to help make sure things go smoothly. Before you drop your child off, we recommend explaining the symptoms of a low blood sugar and making sure the caretaker is equipped with what they would need to treat a low: glucose meter and a snack are a great place to start.

View printable PDFs with tips and tricks for teachers , coaches , and babysitters. There are many ways to successfully manage diabetes. This section helps explain how individuals can manage diabetes and some of the latest technology options available today. Do you understand the different options available to manage insulin-dependent diabetes? Ready to start technology? One of the first steps is talking to your child's healthcare professional. You can use this resource to guide the conversation.

Multiple daily injections MDI is how most people will begin taking insulin. Injections can be administered through insulin syringes or insulin pens. An insulin pump is a small device that can continuously deliver insulin through a small tube.

The small tube, called an infusion set, is inserted every few days into the skin. A pump can help a child maintain a safe glucose range. CGM is a tool that measure glucose levels every 5 minutes, giving you insight into current levels as well as glucose trends over time. The device is worn on the body. You can use CGM with an insulin pump or as a standalone device.

Here are some common questions parents have regarding diabetes in the teenage years. While some teenagers are more open about their diabetes diagnosis, some may want to keep it a secret. There are ways to be more discreet about managing diabetes. When technology is worn, it can be hidden under clothing.

Remote monitoring technology can also allow teens to check their sugar levels on their phone. That way if your child has a low, others know the signs and can help out. For pumps, teens can use skins or cases. You can purchase those in many different colors and patterns online. For those wearing CGM, using a funky over tape is another way to add some personality to a device.

For Medtronic accessories, check out our store. If your teen is more discreet about wearing technology, companies like Myabetic sell backpacks and purses that are designed specifically for holding diabetes supplies in a fashionable way. We recommend teaching kids how to manage their own diabetes. Some technologies offer remote monitoring technology. This can also help bring you more peace of mind and allow your child to live with more freedom. Yes, your teen can play sports while wearing technology.