Pump Insulin Therapy and Continuous Glycemic Monitoring

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, which is based on insufficient insulin production, which ultimately leads to the development of hyperglycemia. As a result of the continuous increase in blood sugar levels, many organs and systems suffer, and diabetes is one of the common causes of disability. After the discovery of the true nature of the disease, the main method of treatment is the administration of insulin. The dose and frequency of administration of this drug are selected individually and can be adjusted during treatment. The insulins used at the present stage are represented by ultra-short, short-acting, mediumduration and slow-acting drugs. Ultrashort and short-acting insulins begin to work literally in a few minutes after administration, but the effect persists for a short time. This type of insulin is indicated for subcutaneous administration before meals or immediately after it. Medium and slow-acting insulins are meant to maintain insulin at a certain level for a long time, they are administered at the same time, usually twice a day. Short and ultrashort insulins should be injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen, while taking into account that the greater the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer, the slower the absorption. Slow-acting insulins are recommended to be administered to the outer surface of the thigh or buttocks. Insulin is administered using insulin syringes or pen injectors. At present, the use of insulin pumps, which provide continuous supply of insulin using a special device, has become an alternative to the syringe administration of short-acting and ultra-short insulins. Often, such devices are equipped with glucose level sensors, which allows continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels.