An insulin pump is a small mechanical device, a little larger than a pager, that delivers insulin into the body via a thin plastic tube called an infusion set . The pump is worn outside the body, in a pouch or on a belt holder. The infusion set is a long, thin plastic tube that connects the insulin pump to a small, flexible plastic needle or cannula that you insert beneath the skin at the infusion site , usually in your abdomen. Some people put the infusion set on their arm or at the top of their hip. You keep the infusion set in place for two to three days, and then move it to a new location.
All insulin is delivered through the infusion set.
The insulin pump is not an artificial pancreas. You must program the pump to deliver insulin when you want it. And you must still monitor your blood sugar, many times a day. Wearing an insulin pump will probably require more work on your part than traditional injection therapy. An insulin pump contains a small reservoir of insulin, a small battery-powered pump, and a computer that controls its operation.