Insulin Pump Failure Information

Routine Orders For Pump Failure

• If the insulin pump fails, you should immediately contact the pump company and get directions on troubleshooting before disconnecting the pump.
• If told to disconnect and send the pump in for repair you should immediately bolus with a long acting insulin such as Lantus or Levemir.
• To calculate the dose of Lantus/Levemir needed, you need to access your pump (if able) and search for your basal history. Many pumps will give you this information. This is the amount ofLantus/Levemir you should give. Be very careful to give only Basal insulin.
• If you cannot access your pump, you will need to add up total basal rates and give this much. It is very important that you keep a copy of your basal rates so you know how much to give.
• For example, if your basal rate was from 12 mn-9 am 0.5 units/hour ( ) and 9 am-12 mn was 0.4 u/hr (7.2 units) you would give a total of 11.7 (Either 11 or 12) units of Lantus/Levemir.
• You will use your correction formula and CHO ratio to correct using the rapid/fast acting insulin as usual but with an injection instead of the pump.
• It is very important that you do not replace the pump until 24 hours after the Lantus/Levamir was given. Hypoglycemia can result if the pump is placed on too soon.
• If no basal insulin available, you can administer rapid/short-acting insulin every 4 hours to replace the basal insulin normally given during that period plus correction and bolus insulin as needed.