[Stuboy]

I've heard people talking about how much 'Freedom' you gain when you start pumping.

After seeing the doctor this morning about the "depression" her analysis was that it's not depression, that it's me getting overwhelmed with everything we need to cope with and think about constantly that's getting me down.

She mentioned that the nurse had told her I was interesting in pumping, and she's refering me back to the consultant at the hospital to talk about the overnight monitoring (haven't got a clue what's going on over night) and about possibly starting on the pump (not gettin gme hope up with that one ).

Anyway, i was wondering, from the horses mouth so to speak. HOW does the pump give you more freedom? In what sense? I mean you still have to think about how much insulin for this, how much for that, what's my BS doing blah blah blah. Carrying everything around with you etc. Doesn't sound very free in my mind... I was wondering if you guys already on the pump could tell me how different it is and why it gives you more freedom?

I'd like to have my arguments for the pump together to put a good argument forward if i need to.

Thanks
Stu

[Funnygrl]

There's no freedom at all- I might as well be in jail.

Okay, in reality. I'm not sure "freedom" is the exact word I would use, but it sure does make things easier.

I may still have to take insulin when I eat, and think about taking insulin, but I don't have to get out a syringe, calculate a dose, fill it up, inject, dispose of syringe (or more likely put it back in case to use 29 more times), or worry about who's watching. I hit the touch bolus button with the pump still in my pocket and have my bolus delivered without missing a word in the conversation.

Snacking before the gym? Nope. Usually I can manipulate basal insulin appropriately.

High bgs after pizza? Nope, I have that figure out perfectly.

Eating cause your bs is 70 and you want to go to bed? A temp rate will usually do me fine.

Forget if you took that bolus? Check the history.

Want to know how much insulin you're using daily? Check the history.

Last bg? Average bolus size? History. History.

Doc ask you how you're calculating doses? I hand over the print out from my pump upload.

Stuff like that makes pumping "freer." There is a degree of freedom in really only thinking about your insulin needs every three days. While I carry extra stuff around, I rarely need it, and as a girl who carries a purse anyways, it's little extra effort.

[trailrunner]

I totally second what funny girl said. With this disease we will never to be totally free. But a pump is like being on parole. I don't have to do the math anymore, my pump does it for me. I can be discreet at formal dinners, I have run 3 100mile races with my pump, using a temp basal rate. Yes I still have this disease, And I will always until a cure is discovered. But I no longer "suffer" from diabetes. I have lost weight, yet I can now eat foods I love(pizza, beer, mexican...). Those foods in the past were not enjoyable due to the fact that undoubtably I would be up hours later testing and correcting. A pump is worth considering. At first I was hesitant to pump, the idea of being" hooked up" to a machine was daunting. However the ramifications of uncontrolled diabetes include being hooked up to a dialysis machine 3 times weekly. That would SO put a crimp in my style. I don't carry around extra supplies, If my pump breaks, I can with draw insulin from the resevoir with a syringe , worst case senario until I get home. No one see's my pump unless I chose to let it be seen. It can be easily hidden under clothing. Anyways there are a million reasons why pumping is worth considering. But ultimately it is your discision. Good Luck.

[Gordonm]

I agree with all the above. The pump has been great but it is not a cure by any means. Some expect it to do everything for them. You still have to check and adjust but it is much easier to just punch in a few buttons and go. Carrying around, just the pump for me. I rarely carry any extra supplies. I am usualyy within an hour of my supplies so if anything happened I could get to them. If I go overnight I take a little bag of stuff. I always carry my meter which I have for as long as I can remember. You can also eat when you like and under eat or have a little extra if you like. Just bolus for it. Freedom, never, make it a lot more controllable and easier for sure. I was against it for years until I went on it, now you could not get it away from me.

[cheryl]

I understand what you are saying, I think the one thing I had to get over from thinking how is this more freedom is that one extra thing you have to think of pumping, SET ISSUE's.....I had the biggest problem trusting my insulin going in.....seriously.....That made me feel like pumping was not the ice on the cake, because all above comments people made since i had it for so long became second nature....

But on the other hand it is only one insulin, so you never take the wrong one, that is/was my biggest fear, and yes I think that pushing a button to bolus is so much easier,

I have come to figure out, for me, my own personal/hormonal, weight loss issue's was a big factor on my first few months of pumping, I got hit with it all, from being so broke, I used body wash to wash my hair, and eating toast and potato's seriously....to going thru kinked sets.....and then massive weight loss after I started pumping to the point, that my insulin sensitivity went up ontop of getting used to only fast acting insulin running thru my body...

I got thru it all, and I really truly understand more now the benefits of pumping then I used too, When you get past whatever hurdles you are having you will come to appreciate the little portable pancreas, YES you still have to think, but remember you are in control of basals, and that is the best thing about it.....

Cheryl

[kgm0612]

My definition of freedom with a pump would be this..........not being on a regimented schedule where you take your shots and eat at certain times of the day.

That's how it was for me when I was on MDI. I've been pumping for almost 3 years now and enjoy the "freedom" of eating when and if I'm hungry, or skipping a meal if I so choose to do so. I no longer have to worry about carrying my insulin pen and pen needles in my purse when I'm out. Many a times I was at a restaurant and realized I had left my insulin pen at home on the counter.

The pump is not for everyone, but it certainly has worked out for me!

Good Luck!

Karen

[notme]

I absolutely felt "freedom" when I started the pump vs. MDI. I never remembered to take my insulin with me when I was out and about. I suppose that doesn't sound like a big deal to some people, especially the ones that use a pen, but for me it was huge. I am a bit of a scatter brain and I rarely remembered to have a vial of insulin with me. If I did remember to have it, I would leave it sitting in the hot car and wreck it.

Temporary basal rates have also been a huge freedom. Being able to change a basal rate if you are active or sick is very helpful. I am very sporatic with the times that I take my two mile walks with my dogs and it is nice to be able to set a temporary or just turn off the pump.

Square and Dual wave bolus options is something else that give me freedom. I can now sit down and enjoy a long meal and conversation and know that I am getting small amounts of insulin while we are eating. Eating a meal with fats included or just eating badly some nights is also easier. You aren't correcting later (hopefully) if you calculate your meals correctly.

My A1c has gone from the 9 and 10 range to the low sixes. I now go to my endo appointments and don't feel stressed. For me, it is just easier.

History is HUGE for me. Call it old age, but being able to see if you took insulin for that last meal is important. Having the pump calculalte how much insulin you have on board can save you from a having a low later.

[Confuzzled]

Thanks to all that have replied, threads like this are one of the reasons I have opted to go to the pump, if the darn thing will ever get here.

[Stuboy]

that' exactly the kinda info i was hoping for.

Does sound like the pump really makes like easier with diabetes, i can understand the history thing... I often forget if i've taken my basal or not, which is obviously not an issue with a pump... but i even forget if i've taken my basal or not!

I think i will keep my fingers crossed, but wont hold up too many hopes on it.

[wandrr]

One other point, not really "freedom", is that the pump can give VERY small amounts. My Cozmo pump can deliver as little as 0.01 units. No pen or syringe can do the same. Essentially, this is accuracy with the pump. Otherwise, I agree with all the other posters.

[Gary_W]

The weird thing about pumping is that, whilst you are physically attached to a piece of tubing, you actually think about diabetes less. Or I certainly do anyway.

It's just that it keeps me on a much more even keel no matter what I'm doing. For this reason, diabetes becomes much less of an issue. It's only ever really an issue with me if it's making me feel rough in the 'here and now', so the pump's benefits of fewer highs and fewer lows means fewer thoughts about diabetes as there is nothing that makes you dislike diabetes more / focus on it than feeling physically ill. I now get a couple of mild hypos a week compared with 2-3 per day (on a bad day). Readings in double figures (180+ for the USA folks) are really rare. I just seem to bumble along between 4.0 and 8.0 at the times when I test and am genuinely surprised when it's not in range.

When you first get hold of the pump, this may not be the case. You have to take time to get everything set up correctly. Once it is, you don't think in terms of units of insulin anymore. Just in terms of carbs. I totally trust the insulin calcs on the pump and it's not often it disappoints. Not having to do the maths is great.

The first time you eat out with a pump, you'll realise how nice it is not to have to shoot up in public. And, whilst I didn't mind the injecting part in the great scheme of things I really do not miss it. I get a guilty buzz about buying a supermarket sandwich, reading the pack and dialing it into the pump to inject me whilst I get the rest of the shopping...

I set the alarm on my pump to tell me when to blood test. 2 hours after I've eaten, it vibrates. Unless I'm feeling unwell, I never think of blood testing. I always test before a meal and when the pump buzzes me. Otherwise, it's off my mind. It just semi-automates the whole process and frees the brain to do other things.

I hope you get one. I have been pumping since April now and it has been life-changing. I did a printed out business case for the consultant to show the impact that diabetes was having on my life, and I then layed out the goals I wished to achieve when I started pumping. I took along printouts of my meter downloads to show how unstable I was at times. It's really helpful to focus the mind on what you think is wrong with the here and now and in which ways the pump could help you. The NICE guidelines do focus a lot more on quality of life now, so showing how your lifestyle could improve and giving impact statements on the current situation can really help. It shows the consultant you are serious about wanting to improve your lot. He'll have a limited amount of funding and unfortunately you've got to convince him that you should have it. If you can show that you understand the potential benefits your chances should improve.

Good luck

Gary

[duck]

Originally Posted by Gary_W

The weird thing about pumping is that, whilst you are physically attached to a piece of tubing, you actually think about diabetes less.

Enough said.

And like I have said many times, if anyone threatened to try and take my pump from me, I would become violent. It's that important to me.

[condensr]

Now, if only they had a pump the size of current ones (or maybe even iPhone size?) with an integrated glucometer that includes strip storage. One device to carry! I love how I don't have to carry insulin and syringes/pen needles anymore, but I'd love to see it one step further, not have to carry a meter.

[duck]

Originally Posted by condensr

Now, if only they had a pump the size of current ones (or maybe even iPhone size?) with an integrated glucometer that includes strip storage. One device to carry! I love how I don't have to carry insulin and syringes/pen needles anymore, but I'd love to see it one step further, not have to carry a meter.

CGMS?


123456789

[gettingby]

Originally Posted by duck

Enough said.

And like I have said many times, if anyone threatened to try and take my pump from me, I would become violent. It's that important to me.

Duck, you know I definitely agree with you on this statement.
Stu, Duck and several others on here can attest to this. I fought going on a pump for the longest time. Actually, for many of the reasons you stated. Truthfully, I was scared. I took every bit of advice that was given to me and decided to give it a try. Now, I'm glad I did. I'm still having probs with my diabetes but things are looking better. The history and the bg reminders are big pluses for me.