Common Questions
Q3. How do I determine which pump to recommend to patients?
Today, insulin pumps are available in many shapes, sizes, and colors, but the primary purpose of all insulin pumps is to infuse insulin continuously, in a pulsatile fashion via basal (baseline without eating) and bolus (additional amount to cover food eaten) delivery.
Therefore, when selecting a pump, major factors to consider include:
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Frequency of basal rate delivery. People with lower insulin requirements
(e.g. less than 20 units per day) tend to do better with pumps that deliver
based on fixed frequency of delivery rather than based on volume. The ACCU-CHEK™ Spirit insulin pump delivers every 3 minutes in quantities as small as .005 units. - Bolus delivery options. Many patients like the ability to program the bolus through their clothes without looking at the screen, so having audio and/or vibratory confirmation of bolus amounts is important for those patients. The ability to adjust the increment that a bolus is programmed in can also make a difference. Some patients do very precise carbohydrate counting and need to be able to deliver very precise increments to cover their food, down to the tenth of a unit. Others who take large boluses may like larger increments to decrease the programming time when they bolus. Some patients do better with pumps that infuse the meal bolus over a few seconds rather than over several minutes. Others, such as those with gastroparesis, achieve better control if the pump can deliver the bolus over an extended period of time, such as with an extended bolus or temporary basal rate increase.
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Ease of daily use and programming. Patients who are new to pump therapy
can easily learn to use any pump on the market. In general, the fewer button
presses and steps it takes to program, the easier it is. The
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump offers a choice of three selectable user menus. -
Reliability. The
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump went through significant pre-market testing under real-world conditions as part of a study in the Netherlands. Four hundred fifty (450) patients wore theACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump for 90-days, resulting in 100 person-years of daily wear and tear. -
Durability. The
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump's durable casing with rubber end caps are tough enough to meet the challenges of daily use yet comfortable enough to wear under clothing. -
Volume of alarms and safety features. All pumps have alarms and safety
features; the
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump has vibra signals and audio tones with alarms. TheACCU-CHEK Spirit pump has different audio tones for programming functions to assist a visually impaired user. What's more, theACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump features dual microprocessors performing over 9,000,000 safety checks per day ensuring proper operation for your patients' peace of mind. Finally, the keylock function of theACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump helps ensure the pump will operate as parents intended -- allowing them to have peace of mind. -
Number of basal rate profiles available for programming. Some patients
could benefit from having pre-programmed 24-hour basal rate profiles that
differ; for example, someone who is sedentary during the week, but very active
on the weekends. Having more than one available profile, (the
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump has 5 customizable basal rate profiles from which to choose), is more convenient for these patients. -
Temporary basal rate options. The ability to temporarily decrease or
increase the basal rates over time is important for some patients to maintain
good glucose control. Others do just fine with a few basal rates that rarely
change. If the patient needs this feature, it is easy to use the
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump, as the reductions and increases occur in 10% increments over a specific time period, no matter how many basal rate changes the patient has during that time period. -
Flexibility. Paitents who choose the
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump system also receive their choice ofACCU-CHEK blood glucose monitor systems, a Palm®PDA or optional smartphone withACCU-CHEK Pocket Compass software with bolus calculator, and a choice of three learning options, includingACCU-CHEK Connect U interactive diabetes education, workbook learning or face-to-face learning with a certified trainer. -
Size, shape, color, and accessories. The ability to customize one's
pump has become a popular selling point in recent years. We offer different
types of cases, colors and accessories to fit the varying needs of patients.
Please click
here to see many of the different ways the
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pumps can be worn. -
Training. The flexible training modules for the
ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump system allow both patients and Healthcare Professionals the ability to learn online, or in a traditional workbook format. In addition, we offer follow-up training and 24/7/365 pump support.