Hints & Tips

It is important to check your blood glucose levels at least 4 – 6 times per day when on insulin pump therapy so that you can adjust your insulin doses accordingly. 

Basal rates should be checked every 4-6 weeks and certainly every school holiday, to ensure the programmed basal rates are meeting the body’s requirements for background supply of insulin.  Learn more about checking your Basal Rate.

To avoid discomfort and possible infections at the site of the infusion set and to ensure insulin delivery is not effected, infusion sets should be changed every 2 – 3 days.  It is important that you change sites each time you change your infusion set.  Consult your diabetes team if you are experiencing any problems with infusion sites.

It is important to test your blood glucose levels 2 hours after changing your infusion set to confirm your insulin is working correctly.  Avoid changing your infusion set at bed time.

If you are experiencing a post-meal spike in blood glucose, try taking a bolus of insulin up to 20 mins before you eat to allow the insulin to counteract the most-meal spike.  This is particularly useful if your blood glucose level is above target range (remember to take enough insulin to correct your high blood glucose level and for the amount of carbohydrate you want to eat).

It is advisable to disconnect your pump during take-off and landing to avoid any accidental surges of insulin due to changes in cabin pressure.

Varying the injection site reduces the risk of the area becoming lumpy and helps make sure the insulin is absorbed correctly.

Choose a variety of foods from the five main food groups daily (starchy foods; fruit and vegetable; dairy products; and protein group) to provide your body with nutrients that it needs.  Foods high in fat or sugar are not essential for a healthy diet, therefore keep these to a minimum.

If you suffer from frequent hypoglycaemia you should contact your Diabetes Specialist Nurse for a possible adjustment of your insulin dosages.