How much would an insulin pump cost?
Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at
7:56 pm
I have been diabetic for 15 years and I am thinking about switching to a pump, what is the cost of a pump and what would be the cost for pump supplies. To all pump users how has your life improved with the pump as opposed to injections? What are the advantages and disadvantages? I run about 5 miles a day and swim. Any advice?
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Home > Living with Diabetes > Treatment & Care > Medication > Insulin Advantages of Using an Insulin Pump
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Some advantages of using an insulin pump instead of insulin injections are:
Using an insulin pump means eliminating individual insulin injections
Insulin pumps deliver insulin more accurately than injections
Insulin pumps often improve A1C
Using an insulin pump usually results in fewer large swings in your blood glucose levels
Using an insulin pump makes diabetes management easier – if your glucose level is high or you feel like eating, figure out how much insulin you need and push the little button on the pump
Can cause weight gain
Can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if your catheter
comes out and you don’t get insulin for hours
Can be expensive
Can be bothersome since you are attached to the pump most of the time
Can require a hospital stay or maybe a full day in the outpatient center to be trained
cost anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 and the monthly cost of pump treatment is about $480, users will need to make sure their insurance company will cover the cost of a pump and its supplies.
Insulin pumps allow you to be flexible about when and what you eat
Using an insulin pump can improve your quality of life
Using an insulin pump reduces severe low blood glucose episodes
Using an insulin pump eliminates unpredictable effects of intermediate- or long-acting insulin
Insulin pumps allow you to exercise without having to eat large amounts of carbohydrate
Hello(:
I’ve been a type 1 diabetic since 2007. I’m only 14, so I usually do more of "grazing" then the normal 3 meals a day.
For me, the insulin pump was extremely helpful. I hated giving myself injections 10 times a day, and when going shopping, etc its very easy to punch in a number with an insulin pump. The pump comes with many great features including a temporary basal (a basal is a small amount of insulin given to you every hour) that is very helpful for activities and sports. Say if your normal basal was 1 unit per hour, you could change it for as long as you are exercising on a scale of 0 to 100%. So if you lowered the basal rate to 70% for an hour, it would give you 0.7 units instead of your normal 1.0 units for an hour. It’s a bit hard to explain, but I’ll put it this way: the pump is very convenient for exercising to properly control your blood gluclose.
But there are a few disadvantages. For instance, you must keep your pump on. There is a constant drip of insulin that controls your blood gluclose, without it, your bg might roam too high depending on the person (for me, I’m able to leave my pump off for a good two hours and my bg stays in the target range). You mentioned that you swam, so it might cause some inconvience for you because an insulin pump can’t go under the water with you. But talk to your doctor about a plan for when you go swimming. Also, since its attached to you, there is a chance your infusion set could fall off or be ripped out. It doesn’t happen often but might cause a problem if you are away from spare pump supplies.
My pump is a MedTronic MiniMed and the cost was around $5,000, but the insurance covered about 80% of it. Usually pump supplies cost around the same as needles and other supplies used for injections monthly. That part depends on how much insulin you use, how often you change your infusion set, etc.
Overall, the pump was a lifesaver! I’m able to have the freedom of doing and eating what I want when I want. It was truly lifechanging for me, and although there are some disadvantages, the amazing advantages practically blow any disadvantage away. If you are able to afford it, I say go for it. I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed.
I hope I helped you!
I have the MiniMed 722 it cost 7,500 and insurance paid 80% b/c it’s considered DME. Supplies without insurance est $300 a month…It is usually covered as DME and depending on what your co-pay is. I have had the pump for 1.5 yrs and it has given me so much freedom. I did not realize how much I liked the pump until it broke and I had to do injections for 2 days and realized how much I love the pump. Disadvantages…It’s an electronic, it can break like everything else but they are usually insurance for a few years and the company is very good about replacement. Your stuck with the pump 24/7. Since you have no long acting insulin and the if the tubing gets kinked or not in all the way your sugar can go up high very fast so you have to be checking your sugar 4-6 times a day. Mine cannot get wet, so when I go swimming I go for 1-2hr hour get out, give a little insulin and go back in the water. As for exercise like running and stuff I just don’t wear the pump or I have it give like 1/2 the insulin. You will figure out what works best for you. The best thing is it is so discrete. Most people think I have a pager on. If I am out with friends, I don’t have to get up from dinner and give an injection which is nice. The pump can be programmed to give different doses of insulin throughout the day. Less in the day when active or more at night if needed ect. I used to forget my injections or needles and be without and since it’s right there, I never forget anymore.