Podcast 711: Insulin Pumps

<p><strong>Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Insulin pumps provide a continuous infusion of fast-acting insulin using a basal rate and bolus prior to meals</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Some connect to a continuous glucometer but often blood glucose needs to be checked manually</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Hypoglycemia is rarely due to a malfunctioning pump - there is usually an another external factor</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Hyperglycemia can be caused by underdosing, illness, pump malfunction or expired insulin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The pump can be used to give a bolus of insulin in the emergency department if necessary</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Stopping the  device can be done manually on the device or disconnecting it from the tubing attachment - do not remove the tubing from the skin site if possible</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>References</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nimri R, Nir J, Phillip M. Insulin Pump Therapy. Am J Ther. 2020;27(1):e30-e41. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000001097</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sora ND, Shashpal F, Bond EA, Jenkins AJ. Insulin Pumps: Review of Technological Advancement in Diabetes Management. Am J Med Sci. 2019;358(5):326-331. doi:10.1016/j.amjms.2019.08.008</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summarized by John Spartz, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AMA PRA Category 1 credits™</span></em> <span style