Wellness Wednesday Tip: Improving Your Physical Health

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Physical health and wellness are key to our overall well-being. Physical health is the condition of your body and how well it functions, from the strength of your heart and lungs to your ability to fight infection and move without pain.

Physical wellness is a proactive approach that emphasizes lifestyle choices that sustain energy, resilience, and functional capacity over a lifetime.

The tenets of physical health and wellness are important for keeping your body functioning properly. They include:

Watching what you put into your body
How much physical activity you get
Maintaining a healthy weight

These tenets are positive health habits that can help you decrease your stress, lower your risk of disease, and increase your energy.

Here are some strategies to help you improve your physical health:

Increase your physical activity
- Set specific goals for your physical activity
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Take a walk on your lunch break
- Set an alarm to go off every hour as a reminder to move around for a minute or two
- Keep moving while watching TV
- Take an online exercise class
Eat a healthy and nutritious diet
- Eat a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, lean meat, seafood, eggs, milk, yogurt, and cheese
- Limit foods that are low in vitamins and minerals
- Cut down on sugar by choosing foods with little or no added sugar
- Get more fiber
- Replace saturated fats in your diet with unsaturated fats, such as olive, canola, or other vegetable oils instead of butter, meat fats, or shortening
- Avoid foods high in salt, such as canned, smoked, or processed foods. Choose fresh poultry, fish, and lean meat instead
- Choose more complex carbs such as starches and fiber, which can be found in whole-grain breads, cereals, starchy vegetables, and legumes
Reach your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy weight
- Weigh yourself
- Calculate how many calories you need for your healthy goals
- Record your daily food intake and physical activity
- Set specific goals
- Choose healthy meals and physical activities you enjoy
- Plan activities with friends or family
- Be patient
Build healthy habits
- Plan and identify unhealthy patterns, and set realistic goals
- Change your surroundings and find ways to make healthier choices by removing temptations
- Ask for support by finding family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or support groups
- Speak with a mental health professional if you are experiencing severe depression, anxiety, or burnout
Build muscle safely
- Start slowly, especially if you haven’t been active for a while
- Pay attention to your body when you experience exhaustion, sore joints, or muscle pains, which is a sign you are overdoing it
- Use small amounts of weight to start and add more weight slowly over time, while focusing on your form
- Use smooth, steady movements to lift weights into position, and don’t jerk or thrust weights
- Avoid locking your arm and leg joints in a straight position
- Don’t hold your breath during strength exercises
- Ask for help by looking for a group class at a local gym, recreation center, or find a trainer
Combat age-related changes
- Commit to a healthy diet
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Move more
- Get plenty of sleep
- Limit alcohol use
- Avoid tobacco products
- Visit the doctor regularly

If you would like to improve your physical health, or experience medical problems while doing so, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

How Heart Disease is Different in Women Than it is in Men

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Heart disease can be deadly for anyone, as it is the most common cause of death for both women and men in the U.S.

Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions. There are three types of heart disease:

Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease, caused by a buildup of plaque in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. After menopause, women are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease because of hormonal changes.

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. A common example is atrial fibrillation.

Heart failure happens when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to support other organs in the body. This condition is serious, but it doesn’t mean the heart has stopped beating.

While heart disease can occur in everyone, women face unique risks, largely due to differences in anatomy and hormones, such as estrogen. Estrogen protects the heart in the premenopausal years as it relaxes the arteries and promotes good cholesterol. This changes when a woman begins menopause and estrogen levels decline, increasing the chance of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high cholesterol and hypertension.

Other heart disease risk factors include:

Obesity

Smoking

Emotional stress and depression

Diabetes

Lack of physical activity

Pregnancy complications

Family history of early heart disease

Other health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions

Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease, and it can affect them at any age. However, the prevalence of heart disease in women starts going up around the age of 65, which is about ten years later than men, presumably due to the lasting positive effects of estrogen.

Women are more likely to have other heart attack symptoms and have a higher chance of developing symptoms from heart failure. Although some women may not show any symptoms, others may experience:

Angina is usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache

Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat

Pain in the upper abdomen or back

These symptoms may happen when you are resting or active. Women may also have other symptoms, including:

Nausea

Vomiting

Tiredness that won’t go away or feels excessive

In some women, the first signs and symptoms of heart disease can be:

A heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked

Palpitations

Treatment for heart disease is similar for women and men, and can include medicines, angioplasty and stenting, or coronary artery bypass surgery.

However, there are differences in heart disease treatment for women and men, including:

Women are less likely to be treated with aspirin and statins to prevent future heart attacks than men are

Women are less likely to have coronary artery bypass surgery than men. This may be because women have less obstructive disease or smaller arteries with more small vessel disease

Cardiac rehabilitation can improve health and aid recovery from heart disease. However, women are less likely to be sent to cardiac rehabilitation than men are.

Living a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Here are some ways to live a heart-healthy lifestyle:

Controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol

Eating a healthy diet

Exercising and keeping a healthy weight

Managing stress

Getting quality sleep

Quitting smoking or stopping the use of tobacco products

Limiting alcohol consumption

If you are experiencing symptoms of heart disease, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486. If there is an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Back to School Health and Wellness Tips

Posted on August 28, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

The new school year is around the corner, and parents and guardians are getting their children ready to go back to school. As they prepare for a new school year, it is essential to make sure they return to school healthy.

Here are some health and wellness tips to make sure your child is healthy before they go back to school:

Make sure your child is up to date on their vaccinations. Vaccinations are essential to protect children and others from various diseases.

Make sure your child gets their flu and COVID-19 shots. Every child six months or older should get their yearly flu shots, as flu season typically starts in the fall and peaks between December and February.

Make sure your child receives vision and hearing tests. Children should have their hearing and vision tested with their doctor from infancy through high school. Watch for signs of hearing or vision loss and talk to your child’s healthcare provider if you notice any changes.

Help your child make healthy food choices, even at school. Encourage them to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. When eating bread or pasta, choose 100% whole-grain products. Encourage them to choose water, not juice or soda.

Make sure to take care of your child’s mental health. Managing school stress, relationships, and friendships can be overwhelming. Encourage them to talk about their emotional health.

Make sure to limit your child’s screen time. Children under the age of two years old should have no screen time. Limit screen time to one to two hours a day for children two years old and over. Parents are encouraged to delay access to smartphones until they are at least 14 years old.

Be sure to monitor your child’s social media use. Social media use starting during childhood can play a significant role in the relationships and experiences that impact children’s and teens’ growth, development, and mental health. Parents are encouraged to set aside time to discuss social media use, including setting privacy limits on who can see and interact with them.

Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep. Adequate sleep helps kids focus each day at school and is important for their health. Children between the ages of three and five should sleep 10 to 13 hours (including naps). Children six to 12 years of age should sleep nine to 12 hours a night. Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep eight to 10 hours a night.

These back-to-school health and wellness tips will help ensure your child returns to the classroom safely and healthy.

The Risk of Taking Compound GLP-1s

Posted on August 20, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Over the past few years, GLP-1 medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, have become a popular way to help people lose weight.

However, some patients and healthcare providers have turned to compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide called compounded GLP-1 antagonists.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 or GLP-1 antagonists are a class of medications that mainly manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. In 2024, nearly one in three Americans taking a GLP-1 drug said they were getting it from a compounding pharmacy.

Compounded GLP-1 antagonists are custom-mixed weight loss medications made by certain pharmacies, not drug companies, and use the same active ingredients as the brand names, but they don’t have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety or effectiveness, and some compounded GLP-1 drugs have additional ingredients or alternate chemical forms of the active drugs.

This is why the FDA has warned against taking compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, as they don’t undergo regulatory testing for safety, quality, or effectiveness. They also issued a warning about a spike in overdoses and adverse side effects largely attributed to dosing errors with these drugs, due to them coming with syringes for people to draw the medications themselves, unlike brand-name GLP-1 injections that come in prefilled pens.

In 2024, the FDA raised concerns about the increased risk of dosing errors, improper storage, and fraudulently labeled GLP-1s from compounding pharmacies. Consequently, hundreds of people reported serious problems, including dangerous dosing mistakes, where patients got five to twenty times more than the proper dose.

By April of 2025, the FDA had logged over 520 reports linked to compounded semaglutide and 480 for compounded tirzepatide.

Additionally, U.S. poison centers have seen a nearly 1,500% increase in calls related to overdose or side effects of injectable weight-loss drugs since 2019. What’s more, as of April 30th, 2025, poison centers have managed 3,633 GLP-1 agonist-related exposure cases and 22,966 cases from 2019-2025.

The common side effects of GLP-1 antagonist poisoning include:

Nausea and vomiting
Constipation and diarrhea
Abdominal pain

Other symptoms and side effects to watch out for include:

Signs of severe dehydration such as fainting and confusion or not urinating for eight hours.
Pancreatitis, which usually feels like sharp pain in your upper abdomen and back.
Gastrointestinal symptoms that don’t improve when you eat smaller meals or take anti-nausea medications.
Gastrointestinal symptoms that grow worse rather than easing the longer you’re on the drug.

However, there are instances when it might be appropriate for a person to take a compounded drug, such as when a patient’s medical need can’t be met by an FDA-approved drug, or the FDA-approved drug is not commercially available.

If taking a compounded GLP-1 is your only option, it is important to confirm if it is coming from a 503B-registered outsourcing facility, rather than an unregistered seller, and that you remain under close medical supervision while using it.

Other clues that your compounded prescription may not be legitimate:

It does not require a prescription.
The pharmacy is not located within the U.S.
The medication arrives in packaging that is damaged, open, labeled in a foreign language, or has no expiration date.
Unusual delivery methods. Delivery methods other than injections and oral pills, such as sublingual drops and dissolving tablets, have not been tested in clinical trials.
Vague or proprietary ingredient lists. Products marketed as “personalized” blends with added vitamins or other ingredients, without a clear clinical rationale, are often designed to promote those additions to sidestep regulations rather than to benefit the patient.

If you need help locating a licensed online pharmacy, you can use the FDA’s BeSafeRx program. For more information about the Bariatric Surgery Services at Flushing Hospital or procedures performed by our doctors, please call 718-408-6977 or 718-670-8908.

How Hormones Affect Weight Gain

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Weight fluctuation is something that many of us experience throughout our lives. When you gain weight for no obvious reason, it may be connected to hormone fluctuations that can occur with age, menopause, or a medical issue. These changes in hormone levels can affect major body functions, including the way you gain and lose weight. While hormonal weight gain affects both sexes, the distribution of fat differs between men and women.

Men generally gain weight in their abdominal area. Premenopausal women often gain weight around their hips and thighs, while postmenopausal women may gain weight in their abdominal area.

Treating hormonal weight gain consists of finding the cause of and fixing the hormonal imbalance. There may also be a need to treat the underlying medical issue causing a shift in your hormone levels.

Hormonal weight gain resulting from hormone imbalances can lead to different symptoms and can vary on the specific hormone and whether its levels are too high or too low. The common symptoms of hormonal weight gain besides difficulty losing weight include:

Depression

Insomnia

“Brain fog” or an inability to think clearly

Fatigue

Constipation

Thirst that persists despite drinking water

Frequent urination

Irregular menstrual cycle

Irregular heartbeat

Acne

Hormonal weight gain can be caused by changes to the normal level and function of several important hormones that help regulate appetite, the sense of fullness, metabolism, and how body fat is distributed. These hormones include:

Estrogen

Insulin

Leptin

Cortisol

Ghrelin

There are several conditions that can cause hormonal weight gain, including:

Menopause

Endometriosis

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Hypothyroidism

Insomnia

Losing hormonal weight gain starts with finding the hormones that affect your weight. It may also be necessary to get the right diagnosis and treatment if you have a hormonal imbalance caused by an underlying medical issue.

Any weight loss goal generally involves lifestyle changes that consist of the following strategies:

A daily program to maintain activity levels

A change in diet to reduce calories

Adequate sleep every night

Behavior strategies to encourage commitment

Working with a fitness professional can help you find exercises to target areas where you have excess weight due to hormonal weight gain.

Hormonal weight gain supplements or medications may also be advised. They can reset hormone levels, treat the effects of abnormal levels, or control any underlying problems. Some common treatments include:

Insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes

Bioidentical hormone therapy

Sleep medications

Hormonal birth control pills for controlling endometriosis

Synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (a T4 preparation) for hypothyroidism

In extreme cases, treatment may involve surgical intervention to treat underlying problems. These therapies may include:

Bariatric weight loss surgery

Ovarian cyst surgery

Hysterectomy

Hormonal weight gain can look like any other type of weight gain. To determine if your weight gain is hormonal, visit your healthcare provider.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of hormonal weight gain, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Why Are Autoimmune Diseases More Common in Women?

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

The immune system helps defend our body against illnesses and infections. However, when a person has an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, destroying healthy cells and tissues.

There are several autoimmune disorders and diseases. Here are a few of the main areas of the body that they affect:

Type 1 diabetes affects the pancreas, which leads to reduced insulin production

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the nervous system

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis affects the joints

Lupus affects many organs and systems

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis affects the thyroid

Autoimmune hepatitis affects the liver

Celiac disease affects the small intestine as a reaction to eating gluten

Myositis affects the muscles

Sjogren’s syndrome affects the glands that produce tears and saliva

Vasculitis affects the blood vessels

Myasthenia gravis affects the nerves and muscles

An autoimmune disease can target any part of the body, and if a vital organ is attacked, the disease can be life-threatening.

Autoimmune disorders are significantly more common in women than in men. According to a recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 67 percent of autoimmune diagnoses are in women, and 18 out of the 20 most common autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus, are more prevalent in women than men. What’s more, as many as 70 to 80 percent of people with autoimmune diseases are female, with the percentages for some specific conditions being higher, for example, 95 percent of those with Sjogren’s syndrome are women.

Genetics plays a large role in the risk of developing autoimmune diseases in both men and women. Environmental factors, such as exposure to ultraviolet rays, pesticides, and organic mercury, can also contribute to men and women developing an autoimmune disease. However, other major factors increase women’s proneness for these diseases, including:

High Estrogen Levels- Estrogen boosts the function of T and B immune system cells, which can be an advantage in fighting infections. However, it can be problematic for people with other factors that make them more likely to have autoimmune diseases. Estrogen levels are highest during pregnancy, and some autoimmune diseases are more common in women during their childbearing years in general, particularly during pregnancy

DNA- Chromosomes contain our DNA and genetic information. Males have one X chromosome and a much smaller Y chromosome, while females have two copies of the X chromosome. One of the two X chromosomes in females is usually dormant, which leads to males and females expressing one X chromosome gene. However, the intricate system that causes this to occur has many protein components that tend to become targets of the immune system, which can lead to autoimmune disease. In some rare instances, some males and females can have more copies of the X chromosome than normal, which makes them more likely to have certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and/or Sjogren’s syndrome

Immune Response- Women can generate a stronger immune response to infection than men. This gives them a better chance to fight infection, but produces an autoimmune disease in a person who is genetically predisposed to developing one

Hormones- When females are going through puberty or are pregnant, they experience hormone surges, which may cause the immune system to overreact and increase the risk of developing autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. Their risk of developing an autoimmune disease or experiencing a worsening of symptoms decreases after menopause

Birth Control- Some women with severe autoimmune disease, such as lupus, may need to avoid hormonal birth control that contains estrogen due to the increased risk of estrogen exposure. However, most women can use some form of birth control safely if they consult with their rheumatologist and Ob/Gyn

It is important to see your healthcare provider if you have any lasting symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, joint pain, weight loss, or rashes that could be related to morning stiffness, as these symptoms should be taken seriously.

Treatment for autoimmune diseases is specialized for the individual and the amount of organ involvement. If a person has mild symptoms without major organ participation, the use of medications that regulate immune response without immunosuppression, along with treating symptoms, may be adequate. However, if major organs are affected, immunosuppressive and biologic medications that target certain parts of the immune system are used.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of an autoimmune disease, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

GLP-1 Microdosing

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Glucagon-like peptide-1 or GLP-1 antagonists are, however, a class of medications that mainly manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, have become popular over the past few years to help people lose weight.

Recently, however, some people have been microdosing GLP-1 medications as their preferred way to take these medications. Microdosing means taking much smaller doses than those approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

People may microdose GLP-1 medications for many reasons, including:

They have hit their target weight goal

They have concerns about the cost of the medications

They are sensitive to the side effects of the medications

They want to just suppress their appetite

They are worried about the supply of the medications

Microdosing GLP-1 medications can come with real risks, including:

Inaccurate doses

Reduced effectiveness

Unpredictable outcomes

Possibility of regaining weight

No data on the long-term effects of microdosing

Minimal oversight

Large clinical trials have confirmed that the standard GLP-1 doses work well when helping people lose weight and manage Type 2 diabetes. What’s more, precise doses have proven benefits for heart, liver, and kidney health. Taking very low doses may not provide the same results.

Additionally, smaller GLP-1 doses may help reduce symptoms such as nausea or an upset stomach. However, microdosing may prevent you from reaching the effective dose needed to make significant changes in your body weight or blood sugar levels. In many cases, the side effects of GLP-1 treatment are temporary. GLP-1 dosage schedules are intended to increase doses gradually to help balance their benefits and potential side effects.

GLP-1 medications affect people differently. Some people may see substantial benefits even at lower doses. However, other people may not see their benefits at full doses.

Before you consider microdosing GLP-1 medications, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about these treatments. Here are some things to consider:

If the GLP-1 medication is off-label, it is an unproven treatment

The health benefits for those who don’t have Type 2 diabetes or a high body mass index (BMI) are unproven

Taking smaller doses doesn’t make them risk-free

As an alternative to taking GLP-1 medications, here are some proven ways to support metabolic and overall health naturally:

Exercising regularly

Eating a healthy, balanced diet

Managing stress

Getting enough restful sleep

Eating certain foods and taking supplements

For more information about the Bariatric Surgery Services at Flushing Hospital or procedures performed by our doctors, please call 718-408-6977 or 718-670-8908.

Metabolic Syndrome and How it Can Lead to Heart Disease

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.

The number of people with metabolic syndrome is increasing, as up to one-third of adults in the U.S. have it.

When a person is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, they have three or more risk factors, such as:

High blood pressure

High blood sugar

Low levels of HDL, or good cholesterol

High triglyceride levels in the blood

A large waist circumference or an apple-shaped body

Although each of these conditions is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, when a person has three or more of them and is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, the chances of them developing a serious cardiovascular condition increase.

There are several underlying causes of metabolic syndrome, such as:

Being overweight and being obese

Having an insulin resistance

Being physically inactive

Genetic factors

Increasing age

Metabolic syndrome is a serious health condition; however, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing it, such as:

Being more physically active

Losing weight

Eating a heart-healthy diet that is rich in:

Whole grains

Fruits and vegetables

Fish

Another way to reduce your risk of developing metabolic syndrome is working with your healthcare team to monitor and manage your blood sugar, blood cholesterol, and blood pressure.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of metabolic syndrome, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Type 3 Diabetes

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it produces effectively. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which develops exclusively in pregnancy when blood sugar levels are too high.

However, another type of diabetes, type 3 diabetes, has been linked to Alzheimer’s.

Insulin helps control blood sugar levels by enabling glucose to enter cells. Insulin also affects metabolism, nerve cells, how neurons communicate, and the brain’s cognitive functions.

When a person develops insulin resistance, it can reduce the supply of glucose to the brain and cause changes to the protein involved in the development of dementia called tau. Additionally, the brain can become damaged, and the connection between the regions of the brain can be weakened when it doesn’t receive a sufficient amount of glucose.

Type 3 diabetes occurs when the brain becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. This insulin resistance is believed to lead to symptoms that are commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

It is important to note that type 3 diabetes isn’t officially recognized by the American Diabetes Association and other major health organizations. However, some experts have called Alzheimer’s disease type 3 diabetes because of the pathological implications that address a major decrease in glucose levels and how that affects brain cognition and memory.

Researchers call Alzheimer’s type 3 diabetes due to the similar features that are present in diabetes, memory deficits, and a decline in thinking abilities in older adults. A study in 2020 listed the potential risk factors for developing type 3 diabetes, such as:

A diet that is high in calories, sugar, and fat, but low in fiber

A low socioeconomic status

Exposure to stress

Race and ethnicity

A lack of physical activity

Genetics

Family history

Birth weight

The study also indicated that high blood pressure and impaired lipid, or fat, transportation play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Society notes that diabetes is a risk factor for developing dementia.

Although there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other types of dementia, treatment for the disease includes medications that slow the progression of the condition or treat its symptoms.

It is important to note that there is another type of diabetes known as type 3c diabetes mellitus that occurs when endocrine dysfunction affects the pancreas, such as damage to the exocrine glands, which harms the endocrine glands. This condition is distinctive and shouldn’t be confused with type 3 diabetes.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, you can receive treatment from a neurologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Insulin Pumps

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Insulin pumps can help people with diabetes conveniently manage their blood sugar. These small, wearable devices supply a continuous flow of rapid-acting insulin underneath the skin, delivering doses at specific times, and are an alternative to multiple daily injections.

An insulin pump mimics how the pancreas would naturally release insulin. It delivers insulin in one of two ways:

Small and continuous doses are called basal insulin. A person with diabetes will likely have multiple basal rates in increments throughout the day due to the body requiring different amounts of small “background” doses throughout a 24-hour period

Manual surges of insulin when eating and correcting high blood sugar are called bolus insulin. The pump uses the information the user enters about their carbohydrate intake and blood sugar level to calculate how much bolus insulin they need. Most pumps will recommend a dose to the user, which they can then confirm or adjust before the insulin is delivered

There are several types of insulin pumps on the market with unique features. Each type and brand of pump has various settings, including:

Integration with continuous glucose monitor (CGM) technology to automatically increase, decrease, or stop insulin release based on a person’s glucose level

Options to manually increase or decrease the basal rate for a certain amount of time

Alarms to alert the user of a low battery or a low reservoir

Alarms to alert the user if their glucose level is out of range, the CGM communicates with their pump

Connectivity to phone apps and other smart devices

There are two main types of insulin pumps: those with tubing and those without tubing.

Tubed insulin pumps have a long, thin tube that connects the pump to a cannula, a thin, flexible tube, inserted under the skin to deliver insulin. Parts of a tubed insulin pump include:

The pump machine and technology

The tubing and infusion set

Most reservoirs and infusion sets should be changed every two to three days. And the reservoir must be changed if it runs out of insulin. New infusion sets, reservoirs, and tubing should be used every time; however, the pump itself can typically last for many years.

Tubeless insulin pumps, or patch pumps, also use a cannula under the skin. However, the insulin reservoir and the cannula are part of one pod that sits on the skin with an adhesive patch. There is no external tubing, and it can be operated wirelessly with a handheld controller.

Each pump or pod can be used at a time. Like a tubed pump, it needs to be changed every two to three days and must be changed if the reservoir runs out of insulin.

Before attaching the pod, the reservoir is filled with insulin and attached with adhesive to the skin. A button is then pressed that releases a needle that is threaded through the cannula in the pod. The needle retracts back into the pod, and the cannula remains under the skin. The pump can be worn on the upper arm, stomach, hip, buttock, or thigh.

Tubeless insulin pumps are waterproof, so they can be worn when bathing or swimming.

Anyone with diabetes who requires synthetic insulin can use an insulin pump. This includes children and adults with Type 1 diabetes, some people with Type 2 diabetes, and people with Type 3c or monogenic diabetes.

Each insulin pump has different Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals regarding how old a person can be to use it. Some insulin pumps have approval for children as young as two years old. Most other pumps have approval for those seven years and older.

Using an insulin pump has several advantages, including:

Not having to inject insulin

It is more discreet than injecting insulin with a syringe

It is more accurate at delivering insulin

It may help with tighter blood glucose control

There are fewer fluctuations in blood glucose levels

It may result in improved A1C

There are fewer episodes of low blood sugar

There is more flexibility with diet and exercise

It helps manage the early morning rise in blood glucose levels called the dawn phenomenon

Using an insulin pump can also have its disadvantages, including:

Increased weight gain

Increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis if the pump doesn’t work correctly

Risk of skin infection or irritation at the application site

Needing to be attached to the pump most of the time

Having to operate the pump, replace its batteries, set doses, etc.

Having to wear the pump makes it obvious you have diabetes

Learning how to use the pump and keeping it working properly

Having to check blood sugar levels several times a day and count carbohydrates

It can be more expensive than taking traditional insulin injections

There are many factors to consider when choosing an insulin pump. Fortunately, pump manufacturers have a lot of information on their products, and trainers who can answer questions.

It is very important to discuss your options with a diabetes healthcare provider.

If you have any questions about which insulin pumps are best for you, or if you would like help to manage your diabetes, you can speak with an endocrinologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.