Tube-free insulin pumps, also known as a patch pump
Written by Polly Antees (APD, CDE) and Carolien Koreneff (CDE-RN). Updated 4 July 2024
There are a range of insulin pumps available in Australia and people living with diabetes have several options; one of those options is a tube-free insulin pump, more commonly referred to as a “patch pump”.
How do insulin pumps work?
An insulin pump is a small battery-operated electronic device that holds a reservoir of insulin. Most pumps are about the size of a small mobile phone. Insulin pumps are worn 24 hours a day.
An insulin pump is programmed to deliver insulin to the wearer’s body through a thin plastic tubing known as the infusion set or giving set. The infusion set has a fine needle or flexible cannula that is inserted just below your skin where it stays in place for two to three days.
Patch pumps
Over the last few years patch pumps have been approved for use in Australia. These pumps do not have tubing as part of the infusion set. They attach directly to the skin so there is no need for your clients to worry about how to carry their pump. Currently, in Australia, we only have the Omnipod DASH® patch pump available.
The Omnipod DASH does not have a screen, it requires a personal delivery manager (PDM) to send information to the pump for insulin delivery. The PDM is similar to a smart phone. Unfortunately, to date there is not an app to control these pumps so the user needs to have a separate smart phone for their continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and the PDM for the pump.
As the CGM and micro pumps do not communicate with each other, the option of auto-stop or auto-basal adjustment is currently not available. It is anticipated that future upgrades of this pump system will include this automae insulin delivery (AID) technology.
One advantage of patch pumps is that it can be worn on the back of the arms, stomach, thighs or buttocks, providing more flexibility in regards to placement sites of traditional tubing pumps.
The Omnipod DASH® System is simple and easy to setup and use, with only three simple steps to start a Pod. Insulin is delivered non-stop for up to three consecutive days with no visible needle.
How to choose a pump
There are currently four different insulin pump brands available in Australia. Each pump has different capabilities and suits different individuals. When discussing pumping as an option with your client talk to them about what they want from the pump and which options would suit their lifestyle. We strongly encourage your client to consult with a diabetes specialist (endocrinologist, credentialled diabetes educator or nurse practitioner) to assist with the transition to insulin pump therapy as it may cause unstable glucose levels.
More information on insulin pumps can be found on the NDSS website here.