Insulin pump therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Insulin pump therapy, or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, has become an increasingly popular mode of therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Although the benefits of insulin pump therapy, such as less glycemic variability and a more flexible lifestyle, should be similar for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, data on the use of insulin pump therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes are limited. This article reviews the basic principles of insulin pump therapy, the advantages and disadvantages encountered with its use, and the clinical situations where it may be considered for patients with type 2 diabetes.