Once upon a time, diabetic patients, including children, had only injections to rely upon for stabilizing blood sugar levels. Today, injections of insulin through a self-administered hypodermic needle is still the most common method of delivering insulin to the body.

However, for some sufferers, the condition is so severe that the patient requires multiple injections daily. Eventually, this can take a toll on the physical and mental health of the diabetic.

Insulin infusion replaces the need for multiple daily injections. Instead, the diabetic is fitted with an insulin pump. This device consists of a small, digitalized computer, a cannula (or tube) and a needle. The needle is inserted just under the surface of the patient's skin, usually in the abdomen or surrounding area.

The needle is attached to the cannula, a long, thin, flexible tube. The cannula connects the needle to the pump itself. A typical insulin pump is usually rectangular and small enough to fit in the palm of the hand.

It is this pump that delivers insulin directly into the bloodstream of the wearer. The pump is actually a small computer. The user programs the pump to deliver specified amounts of insulin at given times throughout the day. Levels can easily be changed when necessary.

Inside the insulin pump is a small chamber which contains the insulin hormone. At the programmed time, the insulin is infused from this chamber, through the cannula, into the needle and under the skin.

The tiny hypodermic needle is fixed in place with adhesive tape. The pump itself is worn on the body. It is usually placed inside a holster with a clip. It is then clipped to a belt or pants waistband. It can typically be fairly well-hidden under clothing if a wearer is sensitive about it. However, when worn in this manner it looks like any other regular digital device, like a cell

Insulin injections can be traumatic for young children. Although most diabetic children eventually grow used to self-administering insulin, children with severe Type I diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes) sometimes have to suffer multiple daily injections, which are painful and cumbersome.

Children who are too young to monitor their own blood glucose levels or administer insulin injections are at higher risk for insulin shock and other problems associated with low blood glucose levels. This is because parents are not always able to be nearby, particularly when a diabetic child must be in daycare or at school. Although teachers and daycare providers can be educated about a child's condition and help the child in their care monitor blood sugar, mistakes can still occur.

Outfitting a child with an insulin pump significantly reduces the chance that a child will suffer insulin shock when away from the care of a parent. Parents simply program the pump, and it will deliver insulin throughout the day as per those instructions. Parents have peace of mind knowing they won't have to worry about a child missing a dose of insulin or a busy teacher not recognizing the signs of low blood glucose when the child isn't with them.

Using an insulin pump also means that a child won't have to stop during school to administer insulin. This equals fewer disruptions, as well as giving the child the sense that he or she isn't "different" from classmates. The child can simply continue on with his or her daily activities without missing class time.

Insulin infusion isn't right for every diabetic child. The best way to determine if insulin infusion is a viable option for your own child is to talk to your specialist/doctor.

Some of the criteria that your doctor will look for in the case of your child may include:

• How many daily injections of insulin your child normally requires.
• How big a dose of insulin your child typically needs per injection.
• Whether your child has a history of insulin shock (diabetic coma) or other serious complications of Type I diabetes, or whether your child has been hospitalized due to his/her condition.
• Whether your child is out of your care for extended periods of time during the day/week (i.e. in he/she in school, full-time daycare, etc.)
• Your child's age.