To pump, or not to...

[eevee]

:confused: I am considering a pump, and wonder if there is anyone in the 'senior senior' age group who has used one, but found it wasn't helpful. My control can be quite erratic, for reasons other than diet/exercise, and my hope is that a pump could help.
There are many positive reports from pumpers, but wonder, before I outlay for one, if there are many negative aspects for someone my age.
Cheers, Eve

[Shalyndria]

Hi eevee.
First off, I took your post out of Diabetes (see my PM :) ) since you'd already posted it here in the proper place.

I'm not a 'senior-senior' but I'm sure there's someone here who can help you whether it's age-wise or Dx time-wise. We have a few members who've had Diabetes around the same length of time as you and who pump (Bell maybe?). I myself couldn't imagine how age could impede the use of a pump; I think it's a great option for everyone.

Shy

[BobP]

eevee,

I've been on the pump for a little over a year; I'm 57. It's been a tremendous improvement in control and in the quality of my life. I used to suffer hypoglycemia regularly and unexpectedly with depot insulins (Lantus and Ultralente). This is no longer a problem with the pump. I went from struggling to maintain A1Cs in the mid-7s to low to mid-6s without any trouble.

There's a fair amount of lore - changing sets; counting carbs; you've got to deal with this appendage - carrying it around during the day, sleeping with it; you need fairly good insurance to afford the pump and the maintenance equipment; you must test regularly.

If you can manage it, it's can be a great improvement over injections. Ultimately, of course, it's whether it works for YOU or not. I don't think age is an instrinsic impedement. Get a copy of "Pumping Insulin" if you want some idea of what you're in for.

[eevee]

Thanks Bob for your response.....it is most encouraging. I've been 'surfing' lots of sites, and most people are very positive about their outcomes. The odd one has gone back to injections but certainly not many. The reason I mentioned age is because as one gets older nothing seems to work particularly well, and it made me wonder if becoming 'brittle' is caused by age, and that whatever I do won't give me back the control I had until fairly recently.
Neither carb counting or testing is a problem as I am doing this already...I test at least 6 times a day .... the ongoing costs are more of a concern...here in NZ no insurance company will pay for any diabetes 'material' so it will always be at my expense...the govt does subsidise most meds tho' quite heavily. I think our health sector is run a little differently to most countries...mostly to our advantage..!!

Anybody out there not happy with pumping...??

Cheers...Eve