pump? need advice!!

[grace]

Would really like to hear from anyone who's on the pump, what are the main hassles, is it worth it? i've been on 4 injections a day for the past 2 years since I was 16, is the changeover drastic, does wearing it get in the way? Any advice would be really helpful!

[am1977]

Grace,

Welcome! Good for you...jumping in and asking questions :top: . This place is full of knowledgable people who are here willing and eager to help and offer advice. I think it's great you are taking advantage of that. :top:

I wear a Minimed Paradigm 511 pump (wow, that's a mouthful!) :nurse:. It's made a big difference in terms of flexibility and freedom...which is mainly why I chose to pump (besides the fact that I detest injections! :argh: ) There is a bit of a learning curve when moving from injections to the pump, but it's really not too difficult and things do get easier as you go along. Occasionally, I will feel like it gets in the way, but usually that's only when I can't find a place to hide it when dressing up :girl: . But, saying that, some of our members here have definitely come up with some creative solutions to deal with that minor issue. Other than that, I don't really think it gets in the way. I admit taht I am always aware that it's there, but that doesn't really bother me. Anyway, I think it's an option you should look into and explore :thumbsup: .

Good luck and if you have any other questions :questionm , please don't hesitate to ask! :burnout:

Andrea :nerd: Type 1

[amccrazgrl]

i have the Deltec Cozmore Pump.
Although I've been pumping just shy of a month i wish i would of got one years ago but i didnt really know of them until last year.
the best thing about it is you only have to do one needle every 3days if your blood sugars are fine and the site does have any problems like getting riped out.
you get used to wearing it sometimes i forget i have it on until i got to move and forgot it was in my lap and not clipped on.
all in all a pump is great.

www.cozmore.com is for the pump i have.

[Cinnabon]

Hey there Grace..
Its real good you are asking questions. I have been a T1 for 22 years and just recently is when I worked up the courage to inquire about pumping, a bit 2 late actually. If I would have initially been on a pump I would have never run into retinopathy and many other difficulties with lows & highs. The flexibility it allows you is undescribable. There is a lot of responsibilities attached along with it, but it well worth it. Wearing is NO hassle for me. The change over was drastic for me, simply because I didnt know how to NOT worry about the "SHOT", the "TIME", and feeding the "LOWS". Please ask away. There are so many good people on this forum with so much information to share!!!

[webpundit]

Hi Grace,

I started on the pump a little over a week ago and I assure you it's a great decision. What helped me the most was reading about insulin pumping via books and these amazing forums. Forewarned is forearmed!

A pump is not a cure and there are definitely a lot of hassles that go with wearing a pump. Not sure what your situation is but aesthetics was one of the last thing on my mind so the decision was easy. Wearing a pump is like having an IV stuck into you 24/7.

Now for the good - no more shots! No more staying up to take Lantus at a certain time, fewer hypos, no more missed shots, more accuracy in insulin intake, decrease in insulin intake, eat what you want, when you want & how much ever you want!

It was very easy for me to get started on the pump. You'll see one of my threads that I started last week the day before I was to begin pumping because I was nervous! But all that trepidation was unnecessary because beginning pumping was a breeze. Probably more so because I'd pre-educated myself. I highly recommend reading this section of the Diabetic Forums and also 2 books: 'Pumping Insulin' and 'Insulin Pump Therapy Demystified.'

We're here to help...so just holler!

[duck]

The only thing that I would caution against if you want to pump is if you are really thin...Whereas the vast majority of members here who have pumps are in love with their pumps (I have said over and over I would defend my pump with my gun if someone tried to take it from me), there's at least one member here who is having difficulty because they are so thin and cannot find comfortable places to insert the "insertion set"--It breaks my heart because I am convinced there is not a more flexible or convenient method for diabetics to control this disease.

Otherwise, understand it is a lifestyle change, you'll have a cell-phone or pager-sized device hooked to you all day long, with a thin plastic tube dangling from your body. But again, I would never give this up to go back to MDI.

[YouthIncJr]

Welcome,
I agree with Duck

[amccrazgrl]

i love my pump.
im sure you'll love it just as much as everyone else.

[Fred&CharlesFan]

Grace,

Good for you. I am new to pumping also after a few billion shots including MDI with 4 and sometimes 5 shots a day for a number of years / decades...!!
Cannot disagree with a word from any of the other posters and add the following..

-Cost: more batteries will be in the house! And the supplies are expensive.
-Backups: you can't throw away ALL of your syringes/pens etc. If the pump fails, you need backup resources.
-Backups 7x24: I thought I would be able to carry less stuff with me. I mean the pump is on my hip, why do I need my insulin and syringes and etc....??
Depending on WHERE you are, how far from home, those backups may need to be with you; 'cause you may not be able to wait 2hrs to get home to get to an injection if there is a pump or infusion set failure.
-Shower: I keep forgetting about the infusion set in the shower and occassionally have rubbed the stomach and forgotten it was there.. ..ouch!
-Infusion site marks: you get these little marks that take a wee bit of time to heal. And if there has been some bleeding at the site, then there will be a wee bruise. Women who want to show their midriff at the beach or the club don't like those marks (so I'm told). Change your outfit / swimsuit!
-Fashion: I wear mine like a pager / cellphone. Most people think that is what it is. I wore mine for 9 days at work and no-one notice. So when I told my colleagues about it they thought it was a cell. I work in hi-tech, so any new gadget gets attention, but a cell/pager/PDA.. ..blah. ..passe.. ..and the pump first looks like that so no-one noticed and said "HEY. IS that a insulin Pump!!! Can I see it??!"
-Carb counting: had to increase my ability to count carbs above the level of skill that I was accustomed to. Counting EVERY carb to as low as 2 carbs as a big change. They ALL add up and the insulin infused needs to match.
-Freedom: eat, don't eat, have a meal, miss a meal, start to eat, want some more...?? ....have some more!... ..have 3rds...!!.... ...decide to have desert in an hour after the meal.. ..fine..!!!.. ..such unbelievable flexibilty. And now the control of the pump to add insulin to match your carbs.
-Pizza: after many years of abandoning this most beloved food group, 'cause I could not handle it on MDI..... . ...I now can enjoy pizza!! Yeah!! :beerglass
-Speed: eat, go, move.. ..get goin'!! No more having to take "just a couple minutes, (and maybe have to find a "quite spot" ) to take my shot! A couple of button presses and it is done; less than 15 seconds to deliver my insulin. I've taken my insulin while WALKING through the mall (never been able to do that on MDI!! Too cool.
-International travel: with no more worry about "peaking" insulin levels and having to eat to match the peak in spite of the time difference. The pump makes all of that insanity go away. I was in Ireland 12 days after starting my pump!! And the transition from EasternStd time to Ireland time was just too easy!!
-Sports: depending on what you do, the pump may have to come off; I found injections easier to manage for sports than the pump.
-Sleepwear: have to find sleepwear that can accomodate the pump. If you like to sleep in bearskin, it will need a pocket. If you like to sleep in bare-skin... ..you might want to switch to bearskin with a pocket! :embarasse

Don't let anything negative disuade you from getting started. It is a WAY
better life. You can ALWAYS go back to your MDI; I would be surprised, no
shocked, if you did.

I have the Cozmo.

Good luck Grace.

[Oradev]

The only thing that I would caution against if you want to pump is if you are really thin...Whereas the vast majority of members here who have pumps are in love with their pumps (I have said over and over I would defend my pump with my gun if someone tried to take it from me), there's at least one member here who is having difficulty because they are so thin and cannot find comfortable places to insert the "insertion set"--It breaks my heart because I am convinced there is not a more flexible or convenient method for diabetics to control this disease.

Otherwise, understand it is a lifestyle change, you'll have a cell-phone or pager-sized device hooked to you all day long, with a thin plastic tube dangling from your body. But again, I would never give this up to go back to MDI.

Duck is right. I am one of those slender people who have trouble with the infusion sites. I've only been on the pump for 2 months, so I'm still learning. As for the pump itself, it is fantastic. You have the freedom to eat whatever you want whenever you want. You also have the freedom to raise or lower your basal for any given circumstances. Dawn Phenomenom was always my downfall, but now it is a thing of the past. It is a lifestyle change, but a lifestyle change for the better.

[Carbokid]

Would really like to hear from anyone who's on the pump, what are the main hassles, is it worth it? i've been on 4 injections a day for the past 2 years since I was 16, is the changeover drastic, does wearing it get in the way? Any advice would be really helpful!
If you go on the pump, buy the book "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh. You'll learn more than your doctor will tell you or a pump educator! I did, and I have much better control over my diabetes!

About a needle to be changed every 3 days, you don't feel the needle entering your body...and the needle is removed when the tubing is inserted into your body

Go for the Pump....you'll be glad you did.

[Cielo]

Duck is right. I am one of those slender people who have trouble with the infusion sites. I've only been on the pump for 2 months, so I'm still learning. As for the pump itself, it is fantastic. You have the freedom to eat whatever you want whenever you want. You also have the freedom to raise or lower your basal for any given circumstances. Dawn Phenomenom was always my downfall, but now it is a thing of the past. It is a lifestyle change, but a lifestyle change for the better.

Babe, it's been three months. :reddy: :girl:

[Oradev]

Babe, it's been three months. :reddy: :girl:

You are the reason I'm on so much medication.

[gettingby]

NOw, now Adam and Diana. If the two of you continue to behave in this manner, Meech and I will have to seperate you. Diana can go to Ga and let Meech deal with her and Adam can come to NC. I will deal with him. LOL!!!! Sound like a plan to you Meech ?? :- (You guys know I'm joking, right?)

[duck]

NOw, now Adam and Diana. If the two of you continue to behave in this manner, Meech and I will have to seperate you. Diana can go to Ga and let Meech deal with her and Adam can come to NC. I will deal with him. LOL!!!! Sound like a plan to you Meech ?? :- (You guys know I'm joking, right?)

I don't think you are...and I am POSITIVE Meech hopes you are not. :-

[Cielo]

You are the reason I'm on so much medication.

Keep it up BABE. I'm sure you'd love it if I post that picture of you that was the center of attention at that party yall threw at your house a few months ago....keep it up. PLEASE, keep it up!!

[gettingby]

I don't think you are...and I am POSITIVE Meech hopes you are not. :-
LMAO !!!!!!! I thought you were better at keeping my secrets Duck. Jeez, see if I share any more secrets with you. Nah, I still adore you. :adore: :-

[Cielo]

LMAO !!!!!!! I thought you were better at keeping my secrets Duck. Jeez, see if I share any more secrets with you. Nah, I still adore you. :adore: :-

Gettingby is cruisin for a bruisin!! :boxing:

[gettingby]

Gettingby is cruisin for a bruisin!! :boxing:Nah, you don't want to fight me. I'm not much of a fighter. (Cin cowers in the corner). LOL

[MagsRM23]

....I thought I'd post a similar question. I've been type I for 13 of my 19 years, and I've always taken injections. I am quite slender, and to top it all off, I'm a dancer and performer. Musical theatre is my intended profession and also what I'm studying in college. My endo would love for me to go on a pump, but I've refused thus far because of leotards/costume changes/partnering and a high level of activity in general. I'm just worried about insertion sites/awkwardness/cumbersome/painful if being lifted, etc. etc. I have no complications (so far) and don't mind taking shots, but my A1C's could definitely be better. Does anyone have a suggestion or is anyone in a similar situation? Thanks!

-Maggie

[duck]

Nicole Johnson won Miss America while wearing a pump...

http://www.samsloan.com/missamer.htm

[notme]

I am due for a new pump. The one I am wearing is almost five years old and I am ready for the newest latest and greatest. I really can't wait to see how people like the new omnipod pump. I would love a pump with no tubing. For me, the tubing is the biggest hassle. I keep holding on to my dinasaur hoping this one will come out soon.

[BobP]

I've been on the pump for a little over 2 years with great success - A1Cs consistently 6.2, 6.3 ever since; down from mid 7s when I was on depot insulin and injections.

I'd switch to the pump if only for the relief it's given me from hypoglycemic routlette. Very easy to accommodate an afternoon of walking around without having to eat egregious amounts food to feed Lantus or (previously) Ultralente.

There is more lore to be picked up with the pump:
site location;
being more careful about DKA;
how to wear the pump;
establishing carb-to-insulin ratios (I resisted carb counting for a long time but it's infinitely easier to control BG albeit a bit of pain to build up a "carb library");
trouble-shooting the pump when problems occur;
figuring out the day-to-day stuff such as dressing with this thing attached, how to sleep (nude) with it (I use a pouch that straps to my leg), showering, etc.

if all this sounds daunting, be assured that it is well worth the time and trouble. The improvement in control and quality of life - at least in my case - can be dramatic. There's lots to learn but lots of solutions through many resources not the least of which is this site. I'd also recommend Walsh's "Pumping insulin"; a great no-nonsense reference. I think most special needs - Maggies dancing say - can be accommodated (try a search here - I think I've seen posts by dancers). (I'm also on the thin side and through trial and error have found viable sites.)