Islets of Hope   Types of insulin pumps available

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Summary of the types of CGMS available in the U.S.

Real time systems display results for the user to see and sound alarms when blood sugars are too high or too low.

There are three real-time systems:

--  Two non-integrated, "real time" CGMS available: The Guardian RT and the DexCom STS CGMS; and

--  One integrated real-time system (MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time System).

There is also one more CGMS, the MiniMed Gold CGMS, which is not a real-time system and is intended for diagnostic purposes as requested by a doctor.

Did you know? ...

Lantus is sometimes called the "poor man's pump?"  This is because it acts over a long period of time, generally in a steady, predictable manner to continually work to mimick the same basal insulin effect that a pump would offer.

Lantus is always given by injection with most people taking 1-2 shots of Lantus per day to cover basal insulin needs.

Lantus cannot be mixed with other insulin when being injected.

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Insulin Pump Therapy
Types of Insulin Pumps Available

There are three basic types of insulin pumps now available on the market:  

Type of Pump

Examples

Pumps that can work alone and just deliver insulin

 All insulin pumps.  (Note:  the OmniPod Insulin Management System can also deliver insulin but it is not an insulin pump.)

Pumps that can interact directly with a glucose meter (integrated blood glucose meter)

MiniMed Paradigm 512 pumps and newer models (uses the Paradigm Link Blood Glucose Monitor [Freestyle]).

Deltec Cozmo Insulin Pump (integrates with CozMonitor Blood Glucose Monitor [Freestyle] which can physically attach to pump but is also detachable)

Pumps that can integrate with continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS)

MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time System (uses a Paradigm 522 or 722 insulin pump).  Approved for children age 7 and older.  This is the first, and currently, only insulin pump designed to integrate with a particular CGMS (the MiniLink Transmitter).

 

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS)

There are other CGMS that are available but they are not insulin pumps and do not currently integrate with an insulin pump.  They are:

  • MiniMed Gold - This system is designed to be administered in your doctor's office.  The patient wears the device at home for three days then returns to the doctor.  The information is then uploaded into a computer for analysis.  It is not the same thing as the MiniMed REAL-Time CGMS insulin pump system.  Approved for use in all ages.
     
  • The Guardian REAL-Time - a real-time system that can be used alone or integrated with certain MiniMed Paradigm insulin pumps.
     
  • The Dex-Com STS, a real-time system that works alone and does not come with a particular insulin pump (you can wear this device with or without an insulin pump).  Approved for adults 18 and older.

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OmniPod Insulin Management System  Read more about the OmniPod

The OmniPod Insulin Management System is not an actual insulin pump but does perform similar functions as a traditional insulin pump.  Users fill the Pod with insulin and wear it on the abdomen.  A transmitter is used to instruct the Pod how much insulin to deliver for a bolus.  The Pod also has basal rate features.

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Page Updated 07/27/2007