Whether it's for a day at the beach or because you
want to take a "pump holiday" - returning temporarily to injections can be
easier when you establish a plan beforehand
. The chart below offers guidelines to help you and your healthcare provider create a plan for you. Note: The chart assumes that you continue to use your pump insulin (most often fast-acting Humalog® or NovoLog®), but that you are taking it by injection.
Temporary Disconnection Guidelines
|
|
|
Time
off Pump |
Necessary
Adjustments |
|
Up
to 1 hour |
- Testing: Check BG before disconnecting.
- Basal insulin: No injections required.
- Exercise: Check BG before, midway and after exercise; monitor closely over the 24 hours following vigorous exercise. Decrease dose(s) (basal and bolus) accordingly.
- Bolus insulin: Take injection (or re-connect/bolus) to cover carbs according to insulin-to-carb ratio and based on BG. Take injection(s) (or re-connect/bolus) to correct high BG using correction formula. If BG >13 mmol/L, check ketones.
|
|
Up
to 4 hours |
- Testing: Monitor BG before disconnecting, before meals and at hour 3-4.
- Basal insulin: Take injection equal to missed basal dose.
- Exercise and bolus insulin: Follow advice above ("Up to 1 hour").
|
|
Overnight |
- Testing: Monitor BG before sleep, & set alarm to test every 3-4 hours.
- Basal insulin: Every 4 hours, take injection equal to missed basal dose.
- Exercise and bolus insulin: Follow advice above (see "Up to 1 hour").
|
|
Up
to 24 hours (or longer) |
- Testing: Check BG before meals, every 3-4 hours & before sleep.
- Basal insulin: Follow adjustments above (see "Overnight").
- Exercise and bolus insulin: Follow advice above (see "Up to 1 hour").
|
|
More
than one day |
- Testing: Frequent BG monitoring recommended for optimal control.
- Basal insulin: For convenience, your health care provider may prescribe longer-acting insulin in place of fast-acting insulin.
- Exercise and bolus insulin: Follow advice above (see "Up to 1 hour").
|
If you have questions concerning your care while disconnected from your insulin pump, please contact your healthcare provider. For questions about using Medtronic Diabetes insulin pump features, please contact the 24-hour Product Help Line at 1-800-MINIMED (1-800-646-4633).
Humalog is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.
NovoLog is a registered trademark of Novo
Nordisk A/S.