An insulin pump is great in theory and seems to be pushed more by doctors and Certified Diabetes Educators.  In reality, an insulin pump could be a step back for certain diabetic patients.

Anytime a diabetic tells me they want to get an insulin pump I cringe.  Not because they don't function properly.  But, because they are almost too convenient and can lead to increased insulin resistance and poorer glucose control.

Instead of an insulin pump, most diabetics shouldd focus instead on getting control of their diabetes by controlling what they eat.

Focus on working out a plan with his doctor that addresses the root causes of the problem.  Namely, insulin receptor sensitivity and minimizing the amount of insulin injected.  This shouldn't be a decision made by a number that a blood glucose machine spits out.

My Insulin Pump Experience

I actually had a colleague in a very similar situation to yours years ago and asked my opinion.  At the time I told her the same thing even though I had no personal experience with the insulin pump.  In the long run, it turned out my hunch was right.

Immediately after getting his pump her husbands blood sugar control fell off the map.  He regained weight he had lost and his Hemoglobin A1C's rose.

Eventually, he got it under some control.  But his sugar control and weight is still not where he was pre-pump and now he is on more insulin and accompanying medications.

Her husband was on the right track.  Quit focusing on ways make the insulin injections easier and instead focus on minimizing the insulin injections period (and the amount of insulin injected) while at the same time making the insulin receptors more receptive (sensitive).  This is what diabetics should want to achieve.  I fear that if a diabetic uses the pump this will all go away like my colleagues husband.

Now, my rationale.

The Unspoken Trouble With Insulin Pumps

The problem with the insulin pump isn't the pump itself - it's human nature.

This isn't something you read much about in the literature.

An insulin pump is a device that is attached to a subcutaneous line that is 'permanently' embedded in the patients skin.  In short, the patient can put their insulin into a reservoir in the pump and then, depending on what they eat, they can program the pump to release the appropriate amount of insulin.  Here's a picture of a typical insulin pump setup:

Like I said, in theory it's an excellent idea.

But, by now you can probably guess where I'm going with this.

Once the pump is installed there are no more individual subcutaneous injections.  Which can be relatively painful and certainly inconvenient.  With the pump, the user simply has to push a button to give themselves insulin.  The problem, as I said above, is this new found convenience is the equivalent of getting out of jail.

Put yourself in a long-time diabetics shoes.  No more injections before every meal.  Instead, have a pump installed once and you're done.

Diabetics often go hog-wild, literally.

That was my biggest fear with my colleagues husband.  And, for the most part, it followed the typical pattern I laid out above.

Could an insulin pump be better for your husband?  Arguably so.  But he has to be a very 'controlling' diabetic for lack of a better term.  And, I certainly wouldn't want my wife on any sort of insulin pump unless she had a sound understanding of just how far off base most eating recommendations really are.  Even the American Diabetes Association diet is a joke.

What if a diabetic is eating well and getting good results?  Then I would keep up the current regimen and ponder a bit on the insulin pump before you make any decisions.  Again, if you really feel like you can get past the 'human nature' side effect it may work.

Also understand that the pump isn't cheap.  Nor are the supplies.  Also, insurance coverage is not a slam dunk.  So it will likely not be a money saving venture until some time out when you are able to recoup the costs of buying syringes.