Search
Insulin/Medicine Delivery 101

Manual Patch Pumps (Non-Automated): An Orientation

A clinician's guide to the wearable insulin devices that sit between injections and automated delivery — what the category is, how the options differ, and what to confirm before starting one.

Created and Reviewed By

ADCES Clinical Staff

Posted August 2026

These wearable devices reduce the burden of injecting for the right person. None of them is automated — the person still decides and delivers every dose.

Between multiple daily injections and automated insulin delivery sits a small group of wearable devices that many clinicians see rarely and place with less confidence. This page explains what the category is, how the devices differ, and what to confirm before starting one.

Consider this category when a person's barrier to using insulin well is the burden of injecting — needle anxiety, injecting in front of others, remembering mealtime doses, or the burden of repeated injections. These devices primarily address insulin-delivery burden rather than responding to glucose patterns. When glucose patterns call for more responsive insulin adjustment, consider whether another approach may better meet the person's needs.

These devices are not interchangeable with automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. None of them reads a continuous glucose monitor, and none calculates or adjusts insulin on its own. A device can be worn on the body and still be fully manual — delivery method and automation level are separate things.

How the three devices compare

Reading the tableCeQur Simplicity Mealtime dosing only V-Go Fixed basal + mealtime dosing Pivot Programmable basal + mealtime dosing U.S. rollout underway
What problem does it solve?Replaces the repeated pen or syringe injections a person takes at meals and for corrections.Replaces both basal and mealtime injections for a person whose basal need is steady and predictable.Adds programmable basal flexibility in a tubeless patch pump, with fewer features than a conventional pump or automated system.
What does it deliver?Rapid-acting insulin at meals and corrections only. No basal insulin — the person keeps their injected long-acting insulin.A preset, unchanging basal rate (one of three fixed daily amounts) plus mealtime doses. Fully mechanical — no programming or electronics.A programmed, adjustable basal rate plus mealtime doses from a button on the device. A tubeless patch pump that is not automated.
How are doses given?Press the buttons on the patch. FDA-cleared in 1-unit and 2-unit dosing configurations; check current availability. Worn up to 7 days.Press the button for each mealtime dose, in 2-unit steps. A new device is applied daily.Deliver mealtime doses from the device's button. Basal runs on the schedule set up in advance.
Who is it a fit for?A person on injections, stable on basal, whose main barrier is mealtime injecting. The 1-unit configuration may accommodate smaller or more precise doses, where available.A person — often with type 2 diabetes — whose basal need is stable enough for one fixed daily rate, who wants no screens or programming.A person who needs more basal flexibility than a fixed-rate wearable device but may prefer fewer features than a conventional pump or automated system.
What does the person still do?Inject their basal insulin. Decide each mealtime and correction dose, and deliver it.Confirm the fixed basal rate fits. Decide and deliver each mealtime dose. Apply a new device daily.Set up the basal schedule with their clinician. Decide and deliver each mealtime dose. Manage the device and wear site.
Adjusts insulin automatically?NoNoNo

Devices are ordered by how much of the insulin work each one handles — from mealtime dosing only, to a fixed basal rate, to an adjustable one. More capability does not mean a better fit; the right device depends on the person. Availability and coverage vary by device and are still expanding for the newer options; confirm both locally before raising a device as an option.

Before starting any device in this category

A few points hold true across all three. Confirm each with the person before starting.

Basal insulin is accounted for

CeQur does not provide basal insulin; V-Go and Pivot do. Review the person's complete insulin regimen so that basal insulin is not unintentionally duplicated when moving to a wearable device.

A backup injection plan is in place

Any wearable device can fail, come loose, or run empty. The person needs access to insulin by pen or syringe and needs to know when to switch to it.

The insulin is compatible with the device

Insulin compatibility differs by device. Confirm the insulin type and concentration in current labeling before prescribing or starting — see Medication & Device Compatibility below.

Skin, site, and hand function support use

Wear depends on adhesive tolerance and site rotation. Operating the device takes reliable hand function and, for some, adequate vision. Assess these before starting.

A plan exists for reviewing glucose and insulin use

None of these devices adjusts insulin using CGM data. CeQur and V-Go do not electronically capture doses; Pivot provides connected insulin-delivery data. Consider how glucose and insulin-use information will be reviewed after starting.

Think a patient fits? Confirm current availability and coverage in your area, then review the device's instructions for use and prescribing details before starting.

Go deeper

Specifications, compatibility, and per-device detail live in these danatech resources.

Find & Compare Insulin Delivery Devices Current specifications for each device, side by side. Medication & Device Compatibility Which insulins are labeled for each device. The Bolus-Only Insulin Patch: An Overview A closer look at wearable mealtime dosing.

Scope: This orientation covers non-automated wearable insulin delivery devices labeled for use in the United States. Device availability and labeling change; confirm current status and instructions for use before prescribing. Specifications shown are summarized for orientation and are not a substitute for each manufacturer's current labeling.

Omnipod 5 integrated with Dexcom G7 CGM

Find & Compare Insulin Delivery Devices

Filter by CGM compatibility, algorithm type and more to find the right device, fast.

Compare devices →

The Danatech Digest

Join 25,000+ professionals who get our latest diabetes technology updates

DISCLAIMERS: 

This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your diabetes care and education specialist or health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. To find a diabetes care and education specialist near you, visit the ADCES finder tool.

ADCES and danatech curate product specifics and periodically review them for accuracy and relevance. As a result, the information may or may not be the most recent. We recommend visiting the manufacturer's website for the latest details if you have any questions.

danatech is Made Possible by Grant Funding and Industry Sponsorship