32717 Insulin Pump Management: Part 1

Course overview

Discusses the benefits and disadvantages of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems; identifies insulin pump equipment and supplies; how to calculate total daily dose, insulin-to-carb ratio, and correction factor; compares and contrasts insulin pumps; considerations when choosing an insulin pump, equipment, and supplies, as well as features of continuous glucose monitoring systems. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump therapy is a self-management tool that can be very effective for many people with diabetes, and more than 300,000 Americans currently use an insulin pump. Due to the large number of people who use an insulin pump for diabetes management, healthcare professionals are seeing more patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings who have an insulin pump. However, many healthcare professionals and clinicians do not have an adequate knowledge base regarding insulin pump management, putting patients at risk for blood glucose instability and potential patient harm. Patients who are selected to use an insulin pump receive extensive training and education, ensuring that they are able to safely and effectively manage their pump. However, when hospitalized, the physiologic effects of an acute illness may require someone other than the patient to manage the pump, or an alternate insulin regime may be necessary. In order for nurses to be competent and safe regarding insulin pumps and their management and achieve better patient outcomes, education on this topic is necessary.