An insulin pump is about the size of a pager and stays with you wherever you go. You load it with the insulin you need for the day and program it for the doses you need. Pumps eliminate the need for regular injections and often improve your blood sugar levels. But there are some things you need to know about insulin pumps before you take the plunge.

Pumps are for adults, teens and even kids. But even if computers, cell phones or PDAs are already part of your life, you'll need some training to learn how to program and use your pump. If you are a little more techno-challenged, you can trust that your diabetes educator will make sure that you know exactly what you are doing!

With your pump, you'll still need to test your blood glucose regularly. But the pump makes it easier for you to adjust your insulin once you have the test results. And you'll always need to take additional insulin along, just in case you run into a snag with your pump. Consider using an insulin pen for this. It's easy to use and you can stuff it into your bag or even your shirt pocket!