[e||ement]

how long did it take you to get used to wearing a pump?

i'm seriously considering going this route. i'm going to an information night at the diabetes education centre a week from monday.

i like the idea of the freedom a pump gives you...but i'm really put off by being attached to it. i have this perception that it will be uncomfortable, and a nuisance, especially when sleeping.

but i figure it can't be that bad if so many of you are doing it...and loving it!

so tell me, what should i expect if i DO make the switch?

[Subby]

Hard to say. I think everyone will be different on this. For myself, the instant improvement and lasting improvement of BG control over-rode any small physical issues. And, I do mean small. Most of the day, with it tucked in my pocket like a mobile phone, I am hardly aware of it. Exceptions might be for women wearing slinky things. Sleeping can be a bit more annoying, but I let it float, personally. I might spend about 5 seconds laying it at a nice distance from my body, then I forget it. I unconsciously seem to shuffle it around at night if need be.

That said, I am currently on untethered regemin, and am glad to be away from the pump at night. It's working out so-so, control wise, and if I need to go back to 24 hour pump, no biggle forme.

[e||ement]

Originally Posted by Subby

Exceptions might be for women wearing slinky things.

Then I shouldn't have a problem. I don't think I own anything that would be defined as slinky! LOL.

Did you find it difficult to return to MDI after pumping?

[Subby]

I did go full MDI for a week or so. I must admit that even after 18 odd years of practise, I found it a real pain to have to pull out my insulin rather than reach for my pocket, pull out my pump and just dial it in, as if I was pulling up an mp3 track. Also, to be able to add to and modify my dose (again without another injection) was something I missed. I generally consider that injections are less physically annoying than the pump to some degree - but I must admit my pump holiday made me re-consider this. When the pump is working well, it's very convenient.

That's not even touching on the fact that slow released boluses work so much better for me, that a bolus from a pump simply works a great deal better than an injection. I don't know how true that is of most people, though.

Note that I just don't care about needles, so that didn't factor in. That's one thing that did not fade from pumping, needles just don't phase me at all.

[e||ement]

so you're not on full MDI and you're not pumping?

what are you doing?

[Subby]

Called "untethered regimen" it's the act of taking long acting, using the pump for everything else (including a bit of basal "shaping" if needs be).

The reason is that I have high insulin needs (for unknown reason) and the effect of 24 hour Novorapid I suspect serves to make me feel a little bit constantly sick. I tend to be sensitive to insulins (likely the additives and preservatives) and when I had a pump holiday a month ago, I found I felt generally better with less Novorapid in my system. And NR is the best of the rapids for me, side effect wise.

Hence I am trying to see if I can find reasonable control with Levemir as basal, to provide relief from the Novorapid. It is tricky - I have a very curvy basal profile best suited for multiple basal rates. But I'm tinkering, with some progress.

Why not go full MDI, one might ask. Well, injections for boluses barely work in my body, it was an unseen control problem for years. The pump provides something like typical absorption for me, if I use a slow release bolus each time.

That's my reason. There might be other reasons to go for untethered regimen, such as: good basal control on long acting can be achieved, so take advantage of that and have a little more freedom from the pump. Having more security from DKA, with long acting present. Probably a few other reasons out there.

[e||ement]

that's very interesting Subby. i just learned something new

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by e||ement

how long did it take you to get used to wearing a pump?

1 day

-Lloyd

[fairyblood]

I don't remember how long it took me. I was 12 years old at the time. I do know though that once you get use to it, when you aren't wearing your pump it is kind of like cutting off an arm.

When I take a break after using the pump for awhile it is the strangest feeling. I keep reaching for it when I get out of bed and if I roll over sometimes I will look for it trying to bring it over with me. I will feel very strange not having something in my pocket. I get over these feeling too but I feel like it takes me longer to get use to not wearing the pump then it takes me to get use to wearing the pump.

I don't think it takes most people very long to adapt and get use to it. However I am sure there are some people for which the transition is much hard then others.

[MoCoke]

I thought i'd have problems being attached to the pump 24/7 and that's what took me so long to actually make the switch. I wish I'd made the switch sooner. Waaaay sooner!!

Daytime: I usually clip the pump to my bra (near the arm about armpit level) during the day. That way the tubing doesn't get in the way when I drop my pants to use the bathroom.

Nightime: I usually wear a tank top type shirt and clip it to the arm hole. It seems to bother me a bit more if I clip it to my undies. Otherwise, I don't even notice that it's attached.

[poodlebone]

Wearing the pump didn't really bother me. I was pretty worried about it before I got hooked up but once I was connected it was fine. Sleeping really isn't an issue at all. I only know it's there if the alarm manages to wake me during the night.

[zakksmom]

Originally Posted by MoCoke

I thought i'd have problems being attached to the pump 24/7 and that's what took me so long to actually make the switch. I wish I'd made the switch sooner. Waaaay sooner!!

Daytime: I usually clip the pump to my bra (near the arm about armpit level) during the day. That way the tubing doesn't get in the way when I drop my pants to use the bathroom.

Nightime: I usually wear a tank top type shirt and clip it to the arm hole. It seems to bother me a bit more if I clip it to my undies. Otherwise, I don't even notice that it's attached.

My son is a brand new D and we are seriously considering the ping- the rep came out this week and we were impressed. I like the fact that it has the built in calorie king and a remote, they are coming out with a new CGMS in early spring, I am glad to see that you are enjoying the ping, any tips for a 15 year old?

[xMenace]

It took me about a day, but really there's not much to have to get used to. It took me six months to get my settings adjusted, and that's always an ongoing thing to some degree.

[Gordonm]

I was used to it in about a day. No issues at all sleeping I don't even know its there. I was very skeptical of the pump for years and kick myself now for not doing it sooner. It has never been an issue wearing it 24/7

[HollyB]

It took Aaron about a day. About as long as it took me to get used to wearing glasses.