Pumping & Law Enforcement????

[kk5483]

I have been type 1 for 10yrs. I have been a Deputy sheriff for almost 6 years. I am currently using the humolog pen and lantus. I was thinking about going to the pump but don't know how it will affect my job. If there are any other LEO's out there who migh have any insight on this mater please let me know. For example where u carry your pump does it affect you when u get into a fight with a suspect or what about if i am chasing a suspect and i am chasing him through water and it gets wet will it be covered under insurance or what???? Any help would be appreciated from anyone including non LEO's thanks!!!!

[JediSkipdogg]

I'm a dispatcher however did work campus security for 3 years while at college. I chased suspects, got into a scuffle or two, you name it, I probably did it.

The key is where to wear it and how save you can keep it. With me working campus security I generally placed it in my left pocket (as my wallet was in my right.) I always figured the belt and my gear would hit the ground before the pump. Luckily the pump never got damaged.

If I did it all again in true law enforcement style I'd talk with my work and see if they would cover it if it was damaged in a work related battle. Make sure you tell them it's about $6000. If they won't cover it (which I know some departments won't) then call your homeowners insurance and see if you can get it insured for a small fee like you would a diamond ring.

I think the pump is perfect for law enforcement as with the hectic schedule we sometimes have it's easier to shut a basal off or change it if you know something big is coming up that will make you run low.

[jeggeman31]

I am a dispatcher, and not on the street I have talked to pumping officers before. They make a pouch on the inside of their vest, or put it in a front shirt pocket of the shirt they wear under their vest. The vest snugs it up to the body and they just got use to it. They have gotten the water proof pumps so that was not an issue. All the tubing was under their vest so none of the tubing was out. Now the one thing that may cause problem is getting to your pump to give yourself insulin. However I don't think it will be that much of a problem, you just have to find a place where you can do it.

[dgrilli]

The main problem like what was said where to put it. You need access to it and also you need to keep it out of reach of the perps that want to get your uniform dirty.

The tubing being exposed would be a no no. I would think putting it in a shirt pocket with long tubing. Access from inside the shirt pocket inside a hard case like Animas has for theirs.

[Blue Knight]

Unless you are a LEO in the PRK (Peoples Republik of Kalifornia) which is VERY negitive to Diabetes (either 1 or 2), and having a diagnosis is a near career ending fate :mad:

[kk5483]

Blue knight are you saying that having diabetes that my carrer in Law enforcement is going to be short lived? Because i have heard nothing of this i am currently working in FLorida.

[Blue Knight]

I dont know about Florida, but I do know that the POST standards in CA make it VERY difficult and, time consuming and a operational nightmare if your are dx'd as a LEO. Trying to enter law enforcement pre-dianosed is nearly impossible (ADA prohibits an outright ban, but during selection processing anyone can be turned down for anything at any time)

[kk5483]

Ok thats good because i know several diabetics where i work. Well if you read anything further on this topic i would appreciate any information anyone has!!:D

[Hornet's Nest]

kk5483,

Not sure if this will help, little bit different work. I am Firefighter and have been for nearly 10 years and been a Type 1 for almost 24 years. Switched over from 5-6 shots a day (humalof and lantus) to an Omnipod in October '07.

All I can say is "great". It is tough, no tubing for a perp to grab onto during a fight, waterproof (went snorkling for an hour 2 weeks ago). I have worn my through multiple fires without any problems.

Additionally the initial outlay of money is smaller (however the annual costs will catch up over a several years). Their customer support is great, they let me try one while I was working to see if would effect my work.

[JediSkipdogg]

All I can say is "great". It is tough, no tubing for a perp to grab onto during a fight, waterproof (went snorkling for an hour 2 weeks ago). I have worn my through multiple fires without any problems.

Not sure why you'd get into a fight fighting a fire. What I always wondered is if the insulin would be cooked in an actual fire. Insulin is only suppose to stand up to 84 degrees and I'd imagine in a fire it would get alot hotter than that inside the suit.

[susique333]

Not sure why you'd get into a fight fighting a fire. What I always wondered is if the insulin would be cooked in an actual fire. Insulin is only suppose to stand up to 84 degrees and I'd imagine in a fire it would get alot hotter than that inside the suit.

This was a quote in a booklet that my Dr. ( endo) gave me and I NEVER refrigerated mine.

(quote) Insulin does not need to be kept cold.

Insulin is stable at body temperature. This is not surprising when you realize that the beta cells often store the insulin they produce for days before releasing it. (Specifically, according to Jens Brange's
_Stability of Insulin_, Regular/Actrapid insulin stored at 40C will
lose 5% of its potency after 14 weeks.)

A general guide to how long it is safe to store insulin at various
temperatures:

Refrigerated -- a few years
Room temperature -- several months
Body temperature -- a few weeks (end quote)

So I would think brief rises might not be as destructive as one might think?

[morrisma]

As for wearing the pump in an inaccessible area under a shirt, minimed has (or had) a key fob rf communication thingy that allowed you to send a radio signal to the pump to initiate a bolus. The pump beeped a response and off you went never touching the pump directly.

The main drawback to me was the battery drain on the pump when you had the rf listener turned on. This was on my 508 pump and it used 3 - 357 batteries at a time and would kill them in a week with the rf on, 3 weeks or more without. I never used the feature long enough to get comfortable with the idea that what I asked for was actually happening without actually seeing it. But I'd imagine it would be ideal for this kind of situation.
Mike

[Cyborg]

I was at the endo just last Friday and an diabetic police officer was there for a visit. I got put into the room just next to him. I wasn't ease-dropping, but with the thin walls I could hear that he was getting the Minimed 722 with the CGMS. In fact, after he left and the doc came in to see me he actually told me as I was trying to get the same. So much for patient/doctor confidentiality...

[Funnygrl]

I was at the endo just last Friday and an diabetic police officer was there for a visit. I got put into the room just next to him. I wasn't ease-dropping, but with the thin walls I could hear that he was getting the Minimed 722 with the CGMS. In fact, after he left and the doc came in to see me he actually told me as I was trying to get the same. So much for patient/doctor confidentiality...
They can tell you about other patients as long as they don't give out info identifying them. I can tell you every patient I saw yesterday, as long as I do so without telling you their name, date of birth, address, etc.

[markr]

Take a look at this site. Invisapump the Invisible Insulin Pump Case (http://www.invisapump.com/index.html)

It was mentioned on another forum when someone was asking about traveling with a pump. Maybe it can help someone on this thread. This time, I'll leave you with making the jokes. :hypocrite

[xMenace]

Ya. Is that a pump or are you glad to see me? :D

[thomasb]

just as a note, i used to attend to swedish national policeacademy(2,5 years) before i got sick. They don't even let you into the school with diabetes T1. If you get it while working on the streets they give you another job usually, deskjob i suppose.

[Hornet's Nest]

Jedi,

You have obviously never had to fight a crack head or someone on PCP while on a Medical Local (medical response). I currently work in the worst area of Washington, DC and deal with combative patients frequently. The temperature issue has not presented any problems. The gear we wear protects us up to 1500 degrees (F). Skin begins to burn around 120 degrees, also with frequent testing you can tell if the cathater (sp?) has become dislodged or something else is not working, for example the insulin has begun to cook. When I wear the pod on my arm I usually wrap a self adhesive ace bandage around my arm so it does bet pulled off accidentally.

[FirstTimePumper]

Hey I am new to this forum and just read your post from 10/07. I am also a police Officer have been for 16 years, I have been type 1 for 14 of those years and it has been tough .My doctor had always recommmended I be on a pump but due to my career it was not an option with a regular pump.During my last visit to the doctor he showed me an omnipod and to make a long story short I recently started using the omnipod. Its great its wireless , no tubes. I do position the pod in an area on myself under my vest and my bg is much better managed.