If your child living with hyperinsulinism (HI) has undergone a partial to near-total pancreatectomy to treat HI, they are at risk for diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency. We are committed to making sure your family has the resources you need for your child’s recovery and follow-up care.
To monitor these patients, the Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center here at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) created a special Post Pancreatectomy Clinic so families can conveniently see other CHOP specialists in one location during one appointment. The specialists collaborate to ensure each child’s recovery needs are met.
If needed, the HI team’s certified diabetes educator can help your child and family learn to live with the devices your child may need to manage diabetes, like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM).
What is an insulin pump?
An insulin pump is a small, wearable device that helps people with diabetes manage their blood sugar. It can connect to your child’s body through a thin, flexible tube (an infusion set) or attach directly to the skin without tubing. The goal is to mimic how a healthy pancreas releases insulin.
The pump delivers a steady background dose of insulin (basal) and you tell the pump when to deliver insulin at mealtimes (bolus) to manage the rise in blood sugar that occurs after eating, or to correct high blood sugar. Called insulin pump therapy, this is an alternative to multiple daily injections for people with diabetes, and offers a flexible, effective way to manage it. With proper education and support, many users find that pumps make daily diabetes care simpler and more predictable.
Your child might benefit from an insulin pump if:
- You are looking for more control over your child’s glucose levels.
- Your child requires multiple insulin doses per day.
- You have an active child who needs more flexibility in their insulin treatment.
Benefits and drawbacks of insulin pump therapy
People who use insulin pump therapy have experienced both benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits
- More precise dosing and adjustable rates help maintain steadier blood sugar levels
- Easier, more flexible mealtime, exercise and sleep routines
- One insertion every two to three days instead of multiple daily shots
- Integration with technology; many pumps connect with continuous glucose monitors for automated insulin delivery (hybrid closed-loop systems or HCLs)
Potential drawbacks
- Pumps and supplies can be expensive, though insurance often covers part of the cost
- Risk of technical issues like mechanical failure, blockages that slow or stop insulin delivery (infusion set blockages) or irritation on your child’s body in the spot where they receive their injection
- There is a learning curve; your family will need training on how to count carbohydrates, adjust insulin rates and troubleshoot alarms
Modern insulin pumps are evolving rapidly with advances that make therapy even easier and more accessible for families. Many can now adjust insulin delivery based on readings from a continuous glucose monitor and connect to your smart phone, so you can monitor your child’s levels and adjust their doses remotely. Smaller, tubeless designs can maintain ease and privacy for your child.
What is a continuous glucose monitor?
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a small device that tracks your child’s blood sugar levels all day and night without finger sticks. A tiny sensor sits under the skin and measures glucose in the fluid surrounding the cells.
A CGM sends glucose readings to your phone, smartwatch or insulin pump every few minutes, so you and your child can see how their levels change throughout the day. With guidance and practice, most people report that pump and CGM therapy make diabetes management easier and helps them feel more confident and in control.
Benefits of a CGM
- Real-time glucose readings so you can see your child’s current blood sugar anytime
- Trend arrows that show if your child’s glucose is going up or down
- Alerts and alarms that warn you or your child if their blood sugar is trending too low or too high
- Modern CGMs require little to no routine finger pricks
How insulin pumps and CGMs work together
Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors work together to make life with diabetes simpler, safer and more flexible. They can offer better control, fewer highs and lows and more freedom in your child’s daily life. Many people now use both an insulin pump and a CGM, and some systems can even communicate.
In these hybrid closed-loop systems, the CGM sends glucose readings directly to the pump; the pump then automatically adjusts how much insulin it delivers based on those readings. This helps prevent highs and lows and can make managing diabetes easier and more precise. You still enter information about your child’s meals and carbs, but the system helps fine-tune their insulin throughout the day and night.
Benefits of using an insulin pump and CGM together
- Better blood sugar control with fewer extreme highs and lows
- Less daily guesswork since the system adjusts automatically
- Fewer injections and finger sticks
- Better sleep, and overnight alerts help prevent lows
- More freedom for your child to eat, exercise and travel
Things to keep in mind
- Both devices require setup, training and regular maintenance
- Sensors and tubes (infusion sets) need to be replaced every few days
- Pumps and CGMs can be costly, but many insurance plans cover them
- You will need to stay involved, checking readings, entering carbs and responding to alerts
Getting Started
Contact your child’s care team if you think an insulin pump or CGM could be right for your child. An endocrinologist or diabetes educator can talk with you to discuss your child’s goals and lifestyle, and your family’s comfort level with technology.
If you decide to move forward, you’ll learn how to use the devices safely, handle device problems, program basal and bolus rates, insert infusion sets and respond to alerts. Your child will need follow-up visits with their care team to fine-tune insulin doses and ensure safe, effective use.
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If your child living with hyperinsulinism (HI) has undergone a partial to near-total pancreatectomy to treat HI, they are at risk for diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency. We are committed to making sure your family has the resources you need for your child’s recovery and follow-up care.
To monitor these patients, the Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center here at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) created a special Post Pancreatectomy Clinic so families can conveniently see other CHOP specialists in one location during one appointment. The specialists collaborate to ensure each child’s recovery needs are met.
If needed, the HI team’s certified diabetes educator can help your child and family learn to live with the devices your child may need to manage diabetes, like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM).
What is an insulin pump?
An insulin pump is a small, wearable device that helps people with diabetes manage their blood sugar. It can connect to your child’s body through a thin, flexible tube (an infusion set) or attach directly to the skin without tubing. The goal is to mimic how a healthy pancreas releases insulin.
The pump delivers a steady background dose of insulin (basal) and you tell the pump when to deliver insulin at mealtimes (bolus) to manage the rise in blood sugar that occurs after eating, or to correct high blood sugar. Called insulin pump therapy, this is an alternative to multiple daily injections for people with diabetes, and offers a flexible, effective way to manage it. With proper education and support, many users find that pumps make daily diabetes care simpler and more predictable.
Your child might benefit from an insulin pump if:
- You are looking for more control over your child’s glucose levels.
- Your child requires multiple insulin doses per day.
- You have an active child who needs more flexibility in their insulin treatment.
Benefits and drawbacks of insulin pump therapy
People who use insulin pump therapy have experienced both benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits
- More precise dosing and adjustable rates help maintain steadier blood sugar levels
- Easier, more flexible mealtime, exercise and sleep routines
- One insertion every two to three days instead of multiple daily shots
- Integration with technology; many pumps connect with continuous glucose monitors for automated insulin delivery (hybrid closed-loop systems or HCLs)
Potential drawbacks
- Pumps and supplies can be expensive, though insurance often covers part of the cost
- Risk of technical issues like mechanical failure, blockages that slow or stop insulin delivery (infusion set blockages) or irritation on your child’s body in the spot where they receive their injection
- There is a learning curve; your family will need training on how to count carbohydrates, adjust insulin rates and troubleshoot alarms
Modern insulin pumps are evolving rapidly with advances that make therapy even easier and more accessible for families. Many can now adjust insulin delivery based on readings from a continuous glucose monitor and connect to your smart phone, so you can monitor your child’s levels and adjust their doses remotely. Smaller, tubeless designs can maintain ease and privacy for your child.
What is a continuous glucose monitor?
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a small device that tracks your child’s blood sugar levels all day and night without finger sticks. A tiny sensor sits under the skin and measures glucose in the fluid surrounding the cells.
A CGM sends glucose readings to your phone, smartwatch or insulin pump every few minutes, so you and your child can see how their levels change throughout the day. With guidance and practice, most people report that pump and CGM therapy make diabetes management easier and helps them feel more confident and in control.
Benefits of a CGM
- Real-time glucose readings so you can see your child’s current blood sugar anytime
- Trend arrows that show if your child’s glucose is going up or down
- Alerts and alarms that warn you or your child if their blood sugar is trending too low or too high
- Modern CGMs require little to no routine finger pricks
How insulin pumps and CGMs work together
Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors work together to make life with diabetes simpler, safer and more flexible. They can offer better control, fewer highs and lows and more freedom in your child’s daily life. Many people now use both an insulin pump and a CGM, and some systems can even communicate.
In these hybrid closed-loop systems, the CGM sends glucose readings directly to the pump; the pump then automatically adjusts how much insulin it delivers based on those readings. This helps prevent highs and lows and can make managing diabetes easier and more precise. You still enter information about your child’s meals and carbs, but the system helps fine-tune their insulin throughout the day and night.
Benefits of using an insulin pump and CGM together
- Better blood sugar control with fewer extreme highs and lows
- Less daily guesswork since the system adjusts automatically
- Fewer injections and finger sticks
- Better sleep, and overnight alerts help prevent lows
- More freedom for your child to eat, exercise and travel
Things to keep in mind
- Both devices require setup, training and regular maintenance
- Sensors and tubes (infusion sets) need to be replaced every few days
- Pumps and CGMs can be costly, but many insurance plans cover them
- You will need to stay involved, checking readings, entering carbs and responding to alerts
Getting Started
Contact your child’s care team if you think an insulin pump or CGM could be right for your child. An endocrinologist or diabetes educator can talk with you to discuss your child’s goals and lifestyle, and your family’s comfort level with technology.
If you decide to move forward, you’ll learn how to use the devices safely, handle device problems, program basal and bolus rates, insert infusion sets and respond to alerts. Your child will need follow-up visits with their care team to fine-tune insulin doses and ensure safe, effective use.
Contact us
Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center