Insulin infusion (also known as insulin pump therapy) has eliminated the need for painful, frequent and invasive injections for tens of thousands of Type 1 diabetics.

Those with Type I diabetes must use manufactured insulin delivered through the skin directly into the body. Before the development of South Carolina infusion therapy by the insulin pump, the only way to deliver the hormone was by injecting it into the blood via a needle. Patients had to test their blood throughout the day, usually by pricking a finger and applying a droplet of blood to a test strip.

The development of insulin infusion makes delivery of this critical hormone easier and less prone to human error and the pitfalls of guesswork. South Carolina infusion therapy takes place through the use of an insulin pump.

Blood glucose levels must still be checked regularly. But the need for manual needle injections of insulin is eliminated with the use South Carolina infusion therapy through a pump.

Insulin infusion for Type I diabetes is a relatively new technology, but is rapidly gaining acceptance in the medical community for its numerous advantages, which include ease of administration and better control over dosage level.

Insulin pumps have frequently proved themselves to be life-saving devices, especially in children, and they are slowly becoming recognized as a legitimate and necessary form of Type I diabetes treatment rather than merely devices of convenience.

An increasing numbers of people are receiving infusion therapy at home — a trend that is putting patients at greater risk of infection — and placing a huge burden on families, according to research presented at the CDC's 4th Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections held in Atlanta.

The number of patients receiving care at home has risen dramatically over the past decade, the CDC report says. An estimated 8 million Americans received home care in 1996, based on the most recent data available. Nearly 10% of home care patients had an invasive medical device that is typically used in other, more structured health care settings like our Pawleys Island infusion services facility.

Preliminary investigations have revealed a very diverse industry, says William Jarvis, MD, chief of investigation and prevention branch for the CDC's hospital infections program. In some instances, the home health company just delivers supplies to the front porch and family members provide therapy. Five to seven years ago, maybe two companies looked like they were going to dominate the market. Now there are hundreds and hundreds of companies that are providing home infusion therapy.

In the course of monitoring his own patients, Charles Ericsson, MD, head of clinical infectious diseases at the University of Texas School of Medicine in Houston, says "The whole concept places a physician like myself in a very awkward position of having the same responsibility for the patient but no way to monitor the patient. I typically insist that the patient get back and see me once a week if they're on four or five more weeks of IV therapy, so I can monitor the site of the line myself because not all nurses are created equal and they sometimes miss symptoms that may be more subtle clues."

To help consumers maintain their health and good-quality care, physicians are strongly encouraging their patients to visit centers like Palmetto Infusion where all of their prescribed Pawleys Island infusion services can be handled safely and with care.

Lupus is the common name for systemic lupus erythematosus, also called SLE. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body's natural defense system attacks its own tissues instead of attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. This causes inflammation that in turn results in swelling, pain, and tissue damage throughout the body. If you develop severe lupus, you may have problems with your kidneys, heart, lungs, nervous system, or blood cells.

Some people with lupus have mild symptoms, but the disease is lifelong and can become severe. Most people can control their symptoms and prevent severe damage to their organs. They do this by having regular checkups, getting enough rest and exercise, and taking prescribed medicines. Palmetto Infusion can assist with your Columbia SC infusion therapy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and most serious type of lupus. But there are four other types of lupus: discoid or cutaneous lupus, drug-induced systemic lupus, neonatal lupus, and subacute cutaneous lupus.

Your treatment choices for lupus depends on how severe your symptoms are, whether your organs are affected, and how much your symptoms are affecting your daily life. Your treatment plans should be tailored to your individual needs and will change over time, as the disease flares or ebbs. Columbia SC infusion therapy is handled with the greatest attention to your comfort at Palmetto Infusion.

For more severe cases of lupus, treatment may include higher-dose corticosteroids, either in pills or by injection and medicines that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressants). We are able to administer any Columbia SC infusion therapy you are prescribed by your doctor.