Home   Pumps & Young People   What is a Pump?

Smaller than most mobile phones, it is a device that pumps tiny amounts of insulin into your body all day long, kind of like your pancreas did before you had diabetes.

You can keep it in your pocket, clip it to your belt, or hide it under your clothes.

A tiny tube goes from the pump to an even smaller tube that sits just underneath your skin. Tape holds the tube down. You can disconnect when you want to swim, or shower or play sports (even football), then reconnect.

It's a great way to manage your blood glucose, which means you're healthier (fewer highs and lows). PLUS -- it means being able to eat when you want, sleep in on weekends, do sleepovers and go on trips and excursions without worrying about injections and special food.

The Best -- you pretty much don't have to do injections anymore.

If you want to eat, you can just push a couple of buttons to get more insulin. Or if you want to delay a meal, you can!

It's so small that after a while you won't even notice it. Some people wear it like a pager, and some just slip it in their pocket. Many women hide it all over the place -- you can't even tell they have a pump.

Yes. More than 2000 people in Australia wear insulin pumps.

It's a pretty good thing over all. You do have to change your “site” (this is where the tube goes into your skin) every three days. That's like taking a little injection.

An insertion device (see picture) makes this almost painless.

AND...you still need to check your blood glucose at least 4 times a day -- this helps you know how much insulin to take. But you're doing that anyway -- right???

As you may have guessed, there is a lot more to tell about insulin pumps. Contact Us or call Medtronic Diabetes Customer Service on 1800 668 670 for an information pack.

Medtronic Diabetes is the world’s leading choice in insulin pump therapy, and has a long history of safety, reliability, convenience and excellent diabetes management. Before starting on pump therapy, you should always discuss the benefits and potential risks with your Doctor.