another pump question

[nonnymouse]

Do you have to remove pump at night? My husband still hasn't decided whether to get one or not. If you keep it on
at night, how can you sleep with it on at night?

My husband has an appt with his diabetes dr. next month, and then is going to see another one (an endo) for another opinion on pumps. His regular dr. is against them.

Susan

[Shalyndria]

Great to see you back, Susan! How've you been??

The pump is not removed at night. In fact for the most part it's only removed for very short periods of time, such as showering. It's easy to sleep with; I sleep in the nude and just let it it roam free. Otherwise it can just be clipped to shorts or whatever. No big deal, and quite easy to become accustomed to :)

Glad to hear you're going to see a proactive physician! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Shy

[nonnymouse]

Thanks for the info, Shy :) I've been very well, thanks. How
are you doing?

I'll definitely let you know what happens.

Susan

[notme]

Hi Susan, I worried about sleep with a pump on also. I should have saved the worry for something else. I have been pumping for almost three years and never once have I been disturbed by my pump. I wear shorts to bed so I clip it to the front of my shorts. I sleep on my side and on my back so that is the best place for me to put it.

Wondering why your husbands "regular" doctor is against a pump. I can't think of one thing to be against them. I guess I am just curious as to his reasons.

Hope things go well with your husband's new endo. Good help is out there for the asking!!! Good luck

Nancy

[nonnymouse]

Hi Nancy :)

The reasons my husband's dr. gave was that the pump is only
for people who have wild highs and lows (blood sugar, that is), and that you still have to program everything into it, even more steps than giving yourself a shot.

I think the doc's real reason was that he works for an HMO, Kaiser Permanente, and is trying to save them money.

Thanks for your help with my pump question and your kind wishes. I'll be sure and let everyone know what my husband decides, but it will be a couple of months until he sees the other endo.

Susan :)

[Shalyndria]

Originally posted by nonnymouse
The reasons my husband's dr. gave was that the pump is only
for people who have wild highs and lows (blood sugar, that is), and that you still have to program everything into it, even more steps than giving yourself a shot.
Say what?? Methinks your husband's doc is uneducated about the pump. Unfortunately a very common occurance. In my own experience, my blood sugars were almost perfect pre-pump days. And the pump is (most of the time ;) ) way easier than shots, convenience-wise.

Send our best wishes to your husband Susan.
Shy

[dpav]

Hello
My life has been so much more relaxed since I have been on the pump. Especially at night. I program the pump to fit my bodies needs and what is great is that if I have any special needs I can program for that as well. Then for the rest of the time I simply refill it and insert it. I simply forget that I have diabetes most of the time outside of tests. It is good because it takes care of me instead of me living for the diabetes.
What a great relief since I have had this device.

At night I wear a pocketed T-shirt and clip it to that. I also sleep on my side and back and I have never woken up due to the pump being in my way or causing any problems.
I hope all goes well for you and your husband’s decision on the pump.
Don

[PepsiLvr]

nonnymouse,

Your HMO theory is probably valid. The pump is for anyone who wants to get better control and ease of use. True, if your insurance company requires a medical necessity form they may ask about highs and lows to try to justify the reason more but anyone who takes insulin can get a pump with most insurance plans. The best route I found to take is if you are really interested, contact the company of your choice, Minimed for me, and they will do all of the legwork as far as getting doc's approval and dealing with the insurance company.

As far as a pump being more work? I don't know where that info came from. The pump only makes things easier. All I do is push a couple of buttons and I'm done. If you go with Minimed they have a "bolus wizzard" which you set up 1 time with all your settings and then when you eat or do a correction all you have to do is enter your BG and your carbs and it does the math for you! I believe other companies have something similar.

As shy said, unfortunately a lot of doc's are not really educated properly on the benefits of the pump.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

[nonnymouse]

Thanks for all of your replies, everyone. I thought the pump
would make things easier for my husband, and from what all
of you have said, it certainly will. I am printing out all of your
replies for my husband to read, and I'm pretty sure he'll want to eithertalk to the new endo or the minimed rep about a pump.

I really do appreciate all of your help and responses. You've really
done a lot to inform my husband and me. :)

Susan