Guidelines for Temporary Disconnection
Whether it's for a day at the beach or because you want to take a 'pump holiday' - returning temporarily to injections can be easier when you establish a plan beforehand. The chart below offers guidelines to help you and your healthcare provider create a plan for you.

Note: The chart assumes that you continue to use your pump insulin (most often fast-acting Humalog® or NovoLog®), but that you are taking it by injection.
 
Temporary Disconnection Guidelines
Up to 1 hour
  • Testing: Check BG before disconnecting.
  • Basal insulin: No injections required.
  • Exercise: Check BG before, midway and after exercise; monitor closely over the 24 hours following vigorous exercise. Decrease dose(s) (basal and bolus) accordingly.
  • Bolus insulin: Take injection (or re-connect/bolus) to cover carbs according to insulin-to-carb ratio and based on BG. Take injection(s) (or re-connect/bolus) to correct high BG using correction formula. If BG >13 mmol/L, check ketones.
Up to 4 hours
  • Testing: Monitor BG before disconnecting, before meals and at hour 3-4.
  • Basal insulin: Take injection equal to missed basal dose.
  • Exercise: Check BG before, midway and after exercise; monitor closely over the 24 hours following vigorous exercise. Decrease dose(s) (basal and bolus) accordingly.
  • Bolus insulin: Take injection (or re-connect/bolus) to cover carbs according to insulin-to-carb ratio and based on BG. Take injection(s) (or re-connect/bolus) to correct high BG using correction formula. If BG >13 mmol/L, check ketones.
Overnight
  • Testing: Monitor BG before sleep, & set alarm to test every 3-4 hours.
  • Basal insulin: Every 4 hours, take injection equal to missed basal dose.
  • Exercise: Check BG before, midway and after exercise; monitor closely over the 24 hours following vigorous exercise. Decrease dose(s) (basal and bolus) accordingly.
  • Bolus insulin: Take injection (or re-connect/bolus) to cover carbs according to insulin-to-carb ratio and based on BG. Take injection(s) (or re-connect/bolus) to correct high BG using correction formula. If BG >13 mmol/L, check ketones.
Up to 24 hours (or longer)
  • Testing: Check BG before meals, every 3-4 hours & before sleep.
  • Basal insulin: Every 4 hours, take injection equal to missed basal dose.
  • Exercise: Check BG before, midway and after exercise; monitor closely over the 24 hours following vigorous exercise. Decrease dose(s) (basal and bolus) accordingly.
  • Bolus insulin: Take injection (or re-connect/bolus) to cover carbs according to insulin-to-carb ratio and based on BG. Take injection(s) (or re-connect/bolus) to correct high BG using correction formula. If BG >13 mmol/L, check ketones.
More than one day
  • Testing: Frequent BG monitoring recommended for optimal control.
  • Basal insulin: For convenience, your health care provider may prescribe longer-acting insulin in place of fast-acting insulin.
  • Exercise: Check BG before, midway and after exercise; monitor closely over the 24 hours following vigorous exercise. Decrease dose(s) (basal and bolus) accordingly.
  • Bolus insulin: Take injection (or re-connect/bolus) to cover carbs according to insulin-to-carb ratio and based on BG. Take injection(s) (or re-connect/bolus) to correct high BG using correction formula. If BG >13 mmol/L, check ketones.
If you have questions concerning your care while disconnected from your insulin pump, please contact your healthcare provider. For questions about using Medtronic Diabetes insulin pump features, please contact Medtronic Diabetes11.

Humalog is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.
NovoLog is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.