[h a]

I need help about questions to ask about pumps and making choices. My doctor keeps recommending that i go on a pump, but wants me to search out the info due to large caseload. The loaner pumps they use are used and old to teach us so that one was not a big help. I am a T2 being treated like a T1 - no insulin production and complications with pancreas and some other things. i AM 55, female, live in Florida and have no insurance. I am on a low carb menu due to age and complications, my basal rates are steady and set,my correction dose is 1u per 15and i try to let it ride until bs hits 250 as i corrected too much and had lows around mid 40s. Try to keep all as levelas i can, but highs sometimes late evening and 2am. Don't mind getting up for the shots or to check bs, but dr feels the pump is best. What questions do i ask and what type of pump is the easiest to use and less costly for supplies

[Subby]

Have you tossed up the likely costs? Without insurance my impression is you'll be up for a sizable amount of money regardless of the brand/pump. Others will be able to comment more specifically on your situation, but I believe it would be at least $6000US outlay to get a pump. Ongoing costs would be very high too. This might be viable for you, or there may be other options open to you that I'm not aware of, I just don't know. I hope there are options for you to get a pump.

[fenagle]

I have only been pumping since July of this year but I can tell you that I would not want to give up my pump for anything. There are a few choices out there for you. I would suggest that you contact the pump reps. They should be able to give you a pump to play with for a few days. They may even give you a pump with saline for three days to try out. Insurance covered mine, I believe the Ping runs about $6500.00. Supplies are expensive as well, test strips run about $450.00/ month, infusion sets and cartridges run about $150.00/month.

Using the pump you should be able to reduce the number of lows you are experiencing. Letting your BGs get to 250 is not good. With the pump that should not happen.

I am currently using the Animas Ping. This is very popular with women and young people. The pump has a color screen which is very easy to read in all light conditions. It also uses a remote pump. I am able to bolus right from the pump. This feature is especially popular with the women because you can wear the pump under your clothing and not have to dig it out when bolusing.

Maybe you can contact the pump companies to see if they have any kind of assistance programs. At best they can say yes. Whatever you decide to do, good luck.

[poodlebone]

First, how much insulin are you using in total on an average day, both basal & bolus? If you're using more than 50-60 units total you'll probably want to look for a pump with a 300 unit reservoir. Minimed, Cozmo and maybe the Spirit pump (not too sure about that last one) can hold 300 units. Animas and the OmniPod hold 200.

The supplies for the traditional pumps are all about the same in cost. The OmniPod has a lower startup costs but the ongoing supplies (pods) are much more expensive than traditional infusion sets & reservoirs.

Otherwise, the pumps all do the same thing and the differences are in little features. Animas has a food database (maybe Cozmo does, too). Animas now has the Ping remote, so you can perform certain pump functions without having to retrieve the pump from wherever it's hiding. Cozmo has a meter that attached right to the pump so it's one less thing to carry, but makes the pump bulkier than others. Minimed has the ability to work with the CGMS sensors and comes in 2 sizes (the 300 unit reservoir and a smaller 186 unit).

Except for the OmniPod, the pumps come in various colors so you can pick the one you like best.

No matter what, any pump you get would do the same basic thing. Pumps are great for taming those weird highs or lows you might be getting now at the same time every day while on injections. It's easier to match your insulin to your food. It's easier to adjust for illness or exercise.