Diabetesarki
Situations

Devices and tech

Pump trouble

The pump only holds rapid-acting insulin, so there is no insulin reserve under the skin. When dosing is interrupted, blood sugar rises within a couple of hours and ketones start to build.

Most common causes

  • Pump malfunction
  • Blocked tubing
  • The cannula is in a poor spot, has come loose or is bent
  • Insulin is being absorbed poorly

Source: Terveyskylä

What to do

  • Over 14 mmol/l: find and fix the cause, inject rapid-acting insulin with a backup pen or syringe, measure ketones
  • Ketones over 1.5 mmol/l → take a larger-than-usual correction dose and drink plenty of water
  • Ketones over 3 mmol/l → call the emergency clinic right away

Source: Terveyskylä

Always keep backup gear with you

Safe pump care needs a spare cannula, spare batteries, spare insulin and injection gear — plus the ability to switch to multiple daily injections if needed.

Source: Terveyskylä

Cannula coming loose

  • How to spot it: the skin part is loose, insulin is leaking, or blood sugar rises with no clear reason
  • What to do: remove and replace the cannula in a new spot
  • Measure blood sugar straight after the change
  • If the cannula has been loose for hours and blood sugar is over 14 mmol/l → measure ketones too

Source: Terveyskylä

What to do without the pump

If the pump breaks and a spare is not available, switch to multiple daily injections with a backup pen. For this you need a written plan from your care team in advance. Always keep backup insulin (rapid-acting and long-acting) and injection gear at home.

Source: Terveyskylä

Ask your care team for a backup plan in advance

In a crisis there is no time to work out doses. Ask the clinic to write down your child's personal backup plan ready to use.

Source: Terveyskylä

Sources: diabetes.fi (Diabetesliitto, the Finnish Diabetes Association) and terveyskyla.fi (Diabetestalo / Lastentalo). This app does not replace the individual instructions you receive from your clinic. Insulin doses, correction factors and sick-day rules are always agreed with your own care team.

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