Talk with your diabetes educator or pharmacist about which one is right for you. Before using your meter, make sure you're trained on how to use it. Ask your health-care provider about:. Instead, a sensor is inserted just underneath your skin usually the upper arm and measures your blood sugar levels.

You use a hand-held scanner that you swipe over the sensor to read your blood sugar levels. Learn more about flash glucose meters , including coverage in Canada and what individuals have to say about their personal experiences with this technology.

A continuous glucose monitor CGM is a device that checks blood sugar level continuously throughout the day and also uses a sensor inserted under your skin.

CGM, however, has continuous display of blood sugar and provides alarms for alerting the user of low and high blood sugar and integrates with insulin pump devices.

Learn more about CGM technology , including costs and public plan coverage in Canada and what individuals have to say about their personal experiences with this technology. Finding the best glucose monitoring system that is right for you is about finding the choice that best suits your needs.

By considering the benefits and limitations between the different systems that are available in Canada, you can find a system that meets your individual requirements while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of your diabetes care routine. Our glucose monitoring comparison chart provides a summary of CGM, Flash glucose monitoring devices and test strips and meters.

You can take insulin with pens, syringes, or pumps according to your personal preference. Newer devices and shorter needle lengths are available to make taking insulin easier.

Always check the pump display to ensure the glucose result shown agrees with the glucose results shown on the CONTOUR ® NEXT LINK 2. Do not calibrate your CGM device or calculate a bolus using a blood glucose meter result taken from an Alternative Site palm or from a control solution test.

It is not recommended to calibrate your CGM device when sensor or blood glucose values are changing rapidly, e. Therefore this device should not be used in anyone under the age of 7 years old. This device should also not be used in patients who require less than a total daily insulin dose of 8 units per day because the device requires a minimum of 8 units per day to operate safely.

Pump therapy is not recommended for people whose vision or hearing does not allow recognition of pump signals and alarms. Pump therapy is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to maintain contact with their healthcare professional.

Both systems require a prescription. Insulin infusion pumps and associated components of insulin infusion systems are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks of insulin pump therapy.

Pump therapy is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to perform a minimum of four blood glucose tests per day. Insulin pumps use rapid-acting insulin. If your insulin delivery is interrupted for any reason, you must be prepared to replace the missed insulin immediately.

Insertion of a glucose sensor may cause bleeding or irritation at the insertion site. Consult a physician immediately if you experience significant pain or if you suspect that the site is infected.

The information provided by CGM systems is intended to supplement, not replace, blood glucose information obtained using a blood glucose meter. A confirmatory fingerstick using a CONTOUR®NEXT LINK 2. Always check the pump display when using a CONTOUR®NEXT LINK 2.

Do not calibrate your CGM device or calculate a bolus using a result taken from an Alternative Site palm or a result from a control solution test. Under some conditions of use the pump can suspend again, resulting in very limited insulin delivery.

Prolonged suspension can increase the risk of serious hyperglycemia, ketosis, and ketoacidosis. See important safety information and the appropriate user guides for additional important details.

En Español. Insulin pump therapy. An advanced option for diabetes management. What is insulin pump therapy? How does an insulin pump work? A pump delivers insulin to the body through a thin, flexible tube called an infusion set. What components are used as part of an insulin pump system?

Several pieces work together to deliver continuous doses of insulin. Roll over the components below for more information. An infusion set is either placed inside of or comes preloaded with an insertion device and, with a push of a button, it is inserted quickly and easily.

A plastic cartridge that holds up to units of insulin and is locked into the pump. Φ Smart devices sold separately. Find a list of compatible devices. What are the benefits of insulin pump therapy?

People can experience many positive changes in their life when switching to pump therapy. Fewer injections. When using multiple daily injections, people often take shots several times a day. More convenience. Pumps can be programmed to deliver basal insulin at different rates throughout the day Change your mealtime insulin based on the food you choose to eat.

Mealtime dosing. The bolus calculator eliminates complex math and tracks active insulin. Tracking active insulin can help avoid stacking and going low. More stable blood sugar.

May help you achieve better glucose control with fewer highs and lows §. Accurate insulin delivery. Who can wear an insulin pump? Ask your healthcare professional about insulin pump therapy if you: Take 3 or more insulin injections per day Take other medications in addition to insulin to manage your diabetes Would like better management of your diabetes.

Wearing the pump Insurance FAQs. Different ways to wear an insulin pump There are many ways a pump can be worn.

Does insurance cover an insulin pump? Frequently asked questions How much does an insulin pump cost? Your out-of-pocket cost varies depending on your insurance.

We also offer financial assistance and monthly payment programs. If you would like to receive an insurance coverage check at no cost, call to speak to a Diabetes Therapy consultant. Will an insulin pump interfere with my daily activities? Insulin pumps can be easily worn on or under your clothes very securely.

The pump can also be detached for activities like swimming, showering, and exercise so you can continue to live your life. An insulin pump can be expensive. What happens if I break it? Many insulin pumps are warranty-protected for a period of time.

Medtronic insulin pumps have a standard warranty of 4 years to help ensure customers have peace of mind. Is an insulin pump inconvenient and difficult to use? Many people find that an insulin pump is a convenient way to manage diabetes. For those who struggle using technology, product training and technical support can help ensure that wearing the insulin pump is not difficult.

Is the insulin pump surgically implanted? An insulin pump is a small device worn externally that delivers customizable insulin doses. No surgery or hospital time required. Will everyone immediately know I have diabetes?

Insulin pumps are small devices, so wearing a pump can be very discreet if desired. You can even completely hide your insulin pump by wearing it underneath your clothes. How do I sleep with an insulin pump? There are many ways to sleep with an insulin pump.

You can sleep with the pump clipped to your pajama waist band or undergarment. You can also sleep with a body pillow on the side and put your pump under the pillow.

Look at the individual pump company sites and read reviews from those who have experience using the pumps. Speak with your diabetes care team about your options. About Diabetes. Insulin pumps are small, computerized devices that deliver insulin in two ways: In a steady measured and continuous dose the "basal" insulin , or As a surge "bolus" dose, at your direction, around mealtime.

Who should use a pump? A pump may be a good choice for: People who like the idea of a pump. If this is what you want, or what you want for your child, and it can be used it safely, then it should be used.

Active people, who benefit from changes in basal rates or suspending the pump when exercising. People who have frequent low blood sugar reactions. Anyone who has delays in absorption of food from the stomach gastroparesis.

Women planning pregnancy. There are technical aspects to using a pump—setting it up, putting it in, interacting with it—that are more complicated in some ways than using injections. If you have type 1 or type 2 and just want to manage your blood glucose better, continuous glucose monitoring may be right for you.

CGMs report your blood glucose levels in real time for example every five minutes throughout the day , alert you when your glucose hits a high or a low limit, and provide insight into glucose trends.

Learn more about continuous glucose monitoring and time in range. CGMs work through a sensor placed on your skin. It transmits readings to a small recording device.

Whether you manage your diabetes with a pump, daily injections, or oral medications, a CGM can help you manage your blood glucose. Many people with type 1 and type 2 can benefit from using a CGM. Those that would benefit the most are people that have trouble reaching and maintaining target blood glucose.

CGMs are particularly useful if you often have lows and are unaware of when they happen hypoglycemia unawareness. Even if you have a good handle on your diabetes management, you still may want to consider using a CGM for the convenience and the elimination of finger pricks.

When it comes to choosing the right CGM for you, we are here to help. The important thing to know is that a pump gives you options. You can get a pump, wear it for a time, decide to stop wearing it, and restart it if you think it will fit better with your treatment—work with your insurance to match whatever works for you.

Pumps are an extra piece of hardware attached to your body. They work by closely mimicking your body's normal release of insulin. If your doctor determines that a pump is a good option for you, it's important to check with your insurance provider before you buy anything. Most insurance providers cover pumps, but sometimes they may not be covered and pumps can be expensive.

In addition to cost, some considerations to consider when it comes to getting a pump are lifestyle, commitment, and safety. An automated insulin delivery system consists of three distinct components: a continuous glucose monitor to determine blood sugar levels, a pump to deliver insulin, and an algorithm that uses the data from the CGM and pump to determine needed insulin adjustments.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration FDA allows each component to be approved independently, allowing for more rapid approvals and incremental innovation. Each component is discussed in greater detail below.

Continuous glucose monitors CGMs are wearable sensors which extrapolate an estimate of the glucose concentration in a patient's blood based on the level of glucose present in the subcutaneous interstitial fluid. A thin, biocompatible sensor wire coated with a glucose-reactive enzyme is inserted into the skin, allowing the system to read the voltage generated, and based on it, estimate blood glucose.

The biggest advantage of a CGM over a traditional fingerstick blood glucose meter is that the CGM can take a new reading as often as every 60 seconds although most only take a reading every 5 minutes , allowing for a sampling frequency that is able to provide not just a current blood sugar level, but a record of past measurements; allowing computer systems to project past short-term trends into the future, showing patients where their blood sugar levels are likely headed.

An insulin pump delivers insulin subcutaneously. The insulin pump body itself can also contain the algorithm used in an AID system, or it can connect via Bluetooth with a separate mobile device such as a phone to send data and receive commands to adjust insulin delivery.

The algorithm for each AID system differs. In commercial systems see below , little is known about the details of how the control algorithm works. In open source systems, the code and algorithm are openly available.

In general, all algorithms do the same basic functionality of taking in CGM data and based on predicted glucose level's and the user's personal settings for basal rates, insulin sensitivity, and carbohydrate ratio, for example then recommends insulin dosing to help bring or maintain glucose levels in target range.

Depending on the system, users may have the ability to adjust the target for the system, and may have different settings to ask the system to give more or less insulin in general.

Commercial availability varies by country. Approved systems in various countries, described further below, include MiniMed G or G, Tandem's Control-IQ, Omnipod 5, CamAPS FX, and Diabeloop DBLG1.

In September , the FDA approved the Medtronic MiniMed G, which was the first approved hybrid closed loop system. The device automatically adjusts a patient's basal insulin delivery. It automatically functions to modify the level of insulin delivery based on the detection of blood glucose levels by continuous monitor.

It does this by sending the blood glucose data through an algorithm that analyzes and makes the subsequent adjustments. Manual mode lets the user choose the rate at which basal insulin is delivered. Auto mode regulates basal insulin levels from the CGM readings every five minutes.

The Tandem Diabetes Care t:Slim X2 was approved by the U. Food and Drug Administration in and is the first insulin pump to be designated as an alternate controller enabled ACE insulin pump. ACE insulin pumps allow users to integrate continuous glucose monitors, automated insulin dosing AID systems, and other diabetes management devices with the pump to create a personalized diabetes therapy system.

Many users of the t:slim X2 integrate the pump with the Dexcom G6, a continuous glucose monitor approved by the FDA in It was the first CGM authorized for use in an integrated therapy system. The device does not require fingerstick calibrations. In May , the FDA approved the iLet Bionic Pancreas system for people with Type 1 diabetes of six years and older.

The 4th generation iLet prototype, presented in , is around the size of an iPhone, with a touchscreen interface. It contains two chambers for both insulin and glucagon, and the device is configurable for use with only one hormone, or both. Former founders of Timesulin, Welldoc, Companion Medical and Bigfoot Biomedical have joined together to create the world's first automated insulin delivery system for those that want to continue to use insulin pens.

The team is calling it Episodic AID. The working product name is Luna. In collaboration with the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, Inreda Diabetic B. has developed a closed loop system with insulin and glucagon. The initiator, Robin Koops , started to develop the device in and ran the first tests on himself.

In October Inreda Diabetic B. got the ISO license, a first requirement to produce its artificial pancreas. After clinical trials, it received the CE marking , noting that it complies with European regulation, in February In October the health insurance company Menzis and Inreda Diabetic then started a pilot with patients insured by Menzis.

These are all patients that face very serious trouble in regulating their blood glucose levels. They now use the Inreda AP instead of the traditional treatment.

The medical equipment approach involves combining a continuous glucose monitor and an implanted insulin pump that can function together with a computer-controlled algorithm to replace the normal function of the pancreas.

Unlike the continuous sensor alone, the closed-loop system requires no user input in response to reading from the monitor; the monitor and insulin pump system automatically delivers the correct amount of hormone calculated from the readings transmitted.