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To pump or not to pump? LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 03-16-2008, 04:53 PM
Junior Member
I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 5
To pump or not to pump?

I am very new to this whole thing and have been having pretty decent control with Lantus and Humalog. At my last Endo appointment, the doctor asked me if I wanted to try a pump. She told me a bit about it but I told her that I would rather stick with what I am doing for now.

I thought of a lot of questions since that visit and was wondering if anyone could give me some information.


- What are the advantages / disadvantages to a pump?

- Where do you insert it into your body? stomach? leg?

- Where do you carry the pump?

- Does it hurt?

- Do you sleep with it on?

- How does extreme cold / hot weather affect the pump?


Any other general information would be very much appreciated.
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-Geoff-
Diagnosed February 2008 at age 29
Lantus (15U/day), Humalog (1U/20g carbs)
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Old 03-16-2008, 05:26 PM
gettingby's Avatar
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 7,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by g_lace View Post
I am very new to this whole thing and have been having pretty decent control with Lantus and Humalog. At my last Endo appointment, the doctor asked me if I wanted to try a pump. She told me a bit about it but I told her that I would rather stick with what I am doing for now.

I thought of a lot of questions since that visit and was wondering if anyone could give me some information.


- What are the advantages / disadvantages to a pump? So far, I have only seen advantages to pumping. Always having insulin with you without the need to draw it up and inject.

- Where do you insert it into your body? stomach? leg? Since I have only been pumping for almost 5 months, I have just used my abdomen area but the thigh area is my next try.

- Where do you carry the pump? I carry mine in a case attached to the waist band of my pants.

- Does it hurt? No, not to me.

- Do you sleep with it on? Yes

- How does extreme cold / hot weather affect the pump? I haven't noticed any affects yet. Waiting to see how summer goes.


Any other general information would be very much appreciated.
Pumping is a decision best made by you and your endo/dr. Do your research and make an educated decision.
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Rest In Peace Jack- 5/1/08. You may be gone from us but you will never be forgotten. Our love goes with you.

I am a person. I WILL NOT allow myself to be defined by a number!!!!

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  #3 (permalink)  
Old 03-16-2008, 05:27 PM
Gordonm's Avatar
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NJ
Posts: 707
Lots of advantages as far as Iwas concerned. I had been doing MDI for 32 years and had great control. A1Cs in the 5.8 to 6.4 range. The pump has freed me up a lot. I no longer have to eat at specified times and if I want to eat a slight bit more I just put it into the pump. There are many other reasons but do your homework before jumping into this. I researched and asked questions and worked on it for a year before jumping in with it. I am glad Ihave. My control is very good and the ease of it and not carrying around all the supplies is great.

I insert it into my abdomen and around the side and a little into the back of the abdomen. Some do use their legs I do not.

I carry my pump right on my belt or thereabouts. No cover or anything. Have yet to snag it on anything. Bumped it many times but it is tough.

Does not hurt at all. I don't even know its there most of the time.

Yes you sleep with it on. It is on you 24/7. I take it off for showers and an occasional swim. No problems with that.

I have had mine in extreme cold and heat with no issues. I try not to have it in direct sunlight but I spend a lot of time on the beach and never had a problem.
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Type 1 since 4/74
Pump user since 10/17/06!
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CGMS started 10/3/08
A1C 5/08: 6.0
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Old 03-16-2008, 06:01 PM
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 2,147
The key advantage of a pump is that you are able to more closely match the supply of insulin to insulin requirements. Blood glucose becomes more stable, and control improves. If you are doing well on injections, you probably don't need one. No yet, anyway. When your honeymoon is over, you may feel differently about the effectiveness of injections. I could mention all the pro's and cons, but you really need to try a pump out before you can make an informed decision. The pump reps will allow you to do this.
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Old 03-16-2008, 07:10 PM
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,583
I'm on MDI and happy. I don't understand why people think you have to eat at specified times on MDI. It's the same as bolusing on a pump...and my Lantus doesn't cause any rapid drops that need to be "fed"...

I see many advantages to the pump...but just wanted to point out that meals should be equally flexible on MDI...I split my bolus for meals often...just as I would with a pump.

The main advantage I see with the pump is for dealing with uneven basal requirements such as DP (which I don't have)...so that's something to consider also.

I don't think everyone does this...but you are supposed to always carry a back-up of insulin with you when pumping...pens or vials/syringes. Plus extra pump supplies as backups.
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Old 03-16-2008, 07:28 PM
Gary_W's Avatar
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 874
I am MDI at the moment but am hoping to try a pump.

I agree with the posts above. The things I am hoping for are to be able to vary my basal requirements with ease as mine seem to change quite often. My basals used to be pretty flat through the day and night so Lantus used to do a fine job. Not so much the case anymore, so variable basals would be great. It's a pain to alter Lantus (or I'm finding it to be so anyway). Altering for weekends and holidays when the stress is less will be nice, as Lantus changes always take a few days to work in me so the ability to throttle back the basal and see the effects quickly will be nice. Suspending the basal when I run around the park with the children so my basal doesn't send me low would be great.

Also, being able to do smaller amounts of insulin and do dual wave / extended boluses easily. Some meals at the moment require 2 or more injections and it would be really nice to just tell a pump my intentions and get on with the evening knowing that it will put in what I asked for.

Can't answer you about the 'does it hurt' bit as I haven't had a go yet. Everyone seems to say not and I hope they're right

Gary
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Old 03-16-2008, 07:57 PM
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Location: Manassas, in the Old Dominion
Posts: 6,538
The biggest advantage from a "health" point of view, in my opinion, is the use of one insulin...Typically one of the fast-acting analogs: Novolog, Humalog or Apidra (though some use Regular) insulin. The profile and activity of these insulins are well understood and easier to control even when used as a basal (which is what the pump will allow you to do). Though Levemir and Lantus are much better and well tolerated by the VAST majority of users, there is still the potential for too much and not enough at times with those basal insulins, leading to peaks and valleys in your blood glucose levels. On a pump, once those peaks and valleys are identified, you can literally program the pump to compensate for it.

I starting pumping after using NPH as my "basal" insulin, and everyone close to me noticed a difference in my mood--I can only attribute that to the lessening of my sugars going from HIGH to LOW in mere hours on a daily basis. And certainly, avoiding such large swings has to be better on your body, akin to avoiding similar fluctuations in blood pressure, etc.
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Old 03-16-2008, 08:06 PM
gettingby's Avatar
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 7,263
Pumping is not for everyone but don't be against it until you've given it a try. Learn all you can so you can make an informative decision for yourself.
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Rest In Peace Jack- 5/1/08. You may be gone from us but you will never be forgotten. Our love goes with you.

I am a person. I WILL NOT allow myself to be defined by a number!!!!

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  #9 (permalink)  
Old 03-16-2008, 08:33 PM
SGT Shoutmore's Avatar
Member
I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Crestline, CA.
Posts: 176
I am Insulin dependent taking 5 MDIs daily, my insurance is uncooperative in my getting a pump when though my endo wants me on one.

What a pump means to me is as follows:

Spend more time living my life rather than spending time on staying alive.

Cutting down on needle sticks to 1 every 3 to 4 days -v- 5 times a day.

Removing levemir from my BGC arsenal leaving novolog to handle both basal and bolus.

Reciving continual insulin in small amounts, eliminating inconsistant peaks and valleys in my BG levels by having so much insulin "on board" at once, allowing me to use less in pre meal bolus.

All this equates to living less like a diabetic and just living my life with fewer interruptions.

I *WISH* I could get a pump! If your insurance WILL pay for one, I recommend you investigate ALL of the benefits of pumping insulin over MDI and THEN decide if you want to swear one off.

Quantity of life is great providing one does not sacrifice QUALITY of life, if your quality of life will improve, I can't imagine why you would NOT want a pump. If you get one and your insurance pays for it and you later decide you don't like it, heck, send that puppy to me and I'll put it to good use by joining the "Happy Pumper Gang".
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~={Pokus Ouchus Diabeticus}=~

Pumping Apidra in the MM Paradigm 722 Clear | Meter - Medtronic UltraLink |

In the immortal words of Socrates - "I drank what???"


A1c: 12/07 12.3
03/08 8.3
06/08 5.6
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Last edited by SGT Shoutmore : 03-16-2008 at 08:34 PM. Reason: Site didn't like me spelling out H E Double Hockey stick
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Old 03-17-2008, 02:58 AM
SugarLife's Avatar
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Holland
Posts: 14
For me, the disadvantages of a pump are that you have to monitor your diabetes much closer. I had expected that to be the other way around. And that you always carry your 'diabetes' with you. That can cause a feeling of dependance, but the way I look at it, I was already dependant on insulin 24/7, only now I carry that insulin with me as in attached to my body. To me that also gives some kind of a safe feeling, though.

The advantages are that I have more control and my BG's are better.
It's quite fun to me to feel that I am the one in control over the balance in my body.
With a pump, it's easier to adjust the insulin to the rest, instead of the rest (eating, exercising) to the insulin - although you shouldn't overestimate this, because sometimes it still doesn't seem to work that way after all, but it comes closer.
When I have a hypo, I often eat too much - I usually don't feel a hypo coming and catch myself in the middle of something that feels like I'm somewhere between flying/falling and spinning really fast, and at such a moment I don't think about a few hours from now, only about eating the bad feeling away. So with a pump, I just count the carbs and give a bolus Naturally, a high can still follow a hypo of course (because of the processes in your body when you have a low), but with me it's less bad this way.
With me a hypo is over sooner because there's only fast working insulin in my body. They said I would have less hypo's as well, but this has proven to not be the case .
When I have a high, I can give a split bolus or let my pump spread it's release over a longer period, which helps me to not go down too fast, resulting in a hypo and often another high after that (etc.).
So over-all, the balance is better and easier to manage.

I insert in my abdomen, changing the site every three days.

I carry the pump on my belt or in a cover that can be attached to my bra, so that it's on the side of my body, under my arm. It's not in the way of my movement there at all, and invisible to others. When I need a bolus, I can hear the beeps and/or feel the vibration signals that it gives. It took me some time to find the buttons blindly, though, and had to go to the bathroom to get it out and be able to see it in the beginning, but it was easy to learn.

When people see my pump on my belt, they sometimes ask if it's a mobile phone, to find out what it is. The occasional 'my aunt lost a foot' stories occur, and often make me decide to try the attached-to-my-bra version again for a while.

Sometimes when I insert it hurts a tiny little bit, for a tiny little minute, just like injections sometimes do, but not always. Usually it stops when I take the needle out of the canulla (the canulla is made out of teflon, which is flexible, and is inserted with a needle, which you then take out and the teflon stays in). One time it kept hurting and I took the canulla out - some blood came out, so I knew that that had been wrong.

To make inserting easier, I have a little device that 'shoots' the needle in with one press on a button - very clever and convenient.

Yes, you sleep with a pump on. I used to have a rubber cover for it, which made it softer, but I don't have that one now anymore (reminds me that I should order a new one). An elastic waist band keeps it in place. Sometimes I change it's position when I turn to my other side, but that's not always necessary. You can safely ly on it, it can handle your weight. I carry it next to my right hip at night, so that it doesn't put pressure on a bone, because that doesn't feel comfy. I've got used to sleeping with the pump on.

Cold/hot weather does not affect the pump - it's been made to be carried on humans and work under all circumstances. When it's freezing - I mean really freezing, not a few degrees - you may want to carry it on your body (which you usually do anyway) to keep the insulin from freezing.

I had a pump in 2000 and stopped using it because (among other reasons) I hated having to prepare the insulin and put it in the right bottle or whatever that's called. I now have a pump that works with prefilled penfills, the ones that can also be used with an insulin pen. Another thing that caused me to stop is that my old pump had needles that could not be taken out and that were not flexible. Too often I would just bow down to pick something up, or make an unexpected movement, and the needle would hurt me. This pump has flexible, teflon canulla's - I think most pumps do, now. You can always choose from different canulla's and infusion sets. Length of the infusion set can vary, as well as how deep the canulla goes, and you can insert under different angles (90 or 45 degrees). When you insert under a 45 degrees angle, they don't have a 'shooting' device to insert the needle, at least not that I know of, but if you don't mind, you can insert it by yourself, of course. There are also different plasters to keep the thing in place, for different types of skin. And if inserting hurts, they say that making the place on your body cold with ice or a cold pack helps, and they also have special cream that aneasthatizes it within a short time (I think you can insert right after you put the cream on, even).

I hope you don't mind that it's become such a LONG post!
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If it is today, it may as well have been yesterday.
And if it was yesterday, then you're over and done with it."
From "The End of the Beginning" by Avi


Dx in 1991 with type I
Pumping with D-tron Plus since September 2007

Still believing I have to be the Perfect Diabetic for no good reason

Last edited by SugarLife : 03-17-2008 at 03:04 AM. Reason: spelling/grammar
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  #11 (permalink)  
Old 03-17-2008, 06:21 AM
morrisma's Avatar
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Landenberg, PA
Posts: 1,332
Love my pump.

No problems in cold or heat although the infusion sets (the part that sticks to you and delivers the insulin from the pump to your tissues) can take a beating in the summer if you do not use extra "sticking" techniques.

The best part is the possibility (insurance willing) to start using cgms, the continuous glucose monitor.

Lots of benefits, no downsides for me aside from costs. Make sure you know what your insurance covers and what your piece will be.
Mike
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Pumping since 2002
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  #12 (permalink)  
Old 03-18-2008, 10:21 AM
Junior Member
I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 5
Thanks so much for the information everyone!

I think that I will eventually go to a pump but probablly not for at least 6 months or so. There seems to be a lot of advantages to pumping.

Time to start researching which one would be best for me
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-Geoff-
Diagnosed February 2008 at age 29
Lantus (15U/day), Humalog (1U/20g carbs)
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Old 03-18-2008, 01:49 PM
UpNorth's Avatar
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I am a: Type 1
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Universe, Planet Earth :P
Posts: 1,008
I'm on MDI, but have tried pumping a while back, and have my pump at home in case i want to take a break from MDI

The advantages with pumping is definitely the fact that you can adjust basal doses instantly- almost, since you only use rapid acting insulin. You always have your insulin with you- unless forgetting to check your insulin level and running out while outdoor A pump gives even more freedom than MDI- if possible.

The disadvantages of pumping is that you only have rapid acting insulin in your body, so there's no backup if a set fails, you WILL go HIGH if you don't notice the problem very early and fix it then. Always being attached to something can be annoying from time to time, even though it doesn't take much time getting used to, it can still be annoying... DOORKNOBS and other things sticking out, LOVES your infusiontubing Nowhere to put the pump while being nude or at least without pockets or belt...


When i'm pumping i always insert my sets in my abdomen, it's most convenient i think, and the least painfull area for me for both infusionsets and injections. It's only recently i've started to inject into other areas too

When pumping i usually have my pump clipped onto my belt or trousers, or put it into a pocket. It also happened i clipped it onto my bra.

It doesn't usually hurt... Can't feel it much more than an injection as long as it's done right. Though the pump bungee can hurt a bit sometimes when the weight of the pump is completely on the infusionset which is on you.

Yes, you have to sleep with it, since you don't take any long acting basal insulin. All the insulin comes through the pump, and you shouldn't disconnect from the pump more than 1h at a time...


Extreme cold or warm affects the pump the same way as it affects insulin in a pen. But i guess extreme humidity can affect some pumps electronics. Though these days most pumps are waterproof at least to some point... I can swim and take showers with mine even


Even though pump is great, i do prefer MDI due to having some problems with infusionsets- Quicksets. But i've just ordered a box of Insets to try, so i'm going to give pumping a try soon again
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22 years old, diagnosed T1D on october 14th 2004.

On MDI, Novorapid and Levemir, using the NP4

Currently back to pumping with my IR1200, April 2008.


Been using D-tron and Animas IR1200 but prefer the pen
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