Is the Insulin Pump worth getting?

Question

I have diabetes and I am so tired of always having to take shots and keep track of them. It's also a hassle to take insulin at lunch (i'm in high school) around so many people, and going to the bathroom to take it takes up a lot of time. So I'm thinking about getting the pump, but I'm worried about it falling off or getting wrecked since I participate in sports sometimes. And I am also worrying about it getting in the way, since I wear form-fitting shirts and not the really loose ones. (i'd rather not have it stick out)

woahhs, you can't take a shower when you have it on? or only every 3 days? D:
woww, if that's true, that's def. out of the question XD

Answer 1

I'm a long time pump user (type 1, just like you). I'm going to answer these in the order you asked them.

1. Pumps have sport guard cases that can protect it during sports. However, it's recommended that during contact sports you take it off.

2. Pumps can be disconnected without removing the infusion set. The sets have a "tail"...a few inches of tubing that comes from the actual cannula that's in your abdomen. The pump can easily disconnect from a juncture.

3. Pumps have belt clips that just clip to the waist of whatever you're wearing. They are about the size of a pager so it shouldn't get in the way. They look like pagers (mine is often mistaken for one). You can tuck the tubing into a pocket or under the waist of your clothes. That's what I do.

4. Some pumps are waterproof, others are water resistant and others can survive an accidental dunk. When I shower, I disconnect my pump while I'm in there. Mine is not water proof. I disconnect it to swim or shower.

5. As for wearing the pump at school, make sure the school knows that it is a pump and not a pager. Many schools do not allow students to carry cells or pagers with them while in class.

6. You will have to check your sugar even more frequently...about 6-8 times a day. You will have to be very vigilant about your sugar levels.

7. If you get a pump, you will have to attend a pump training course to learn how to use it. I strongly suggest that one or BOTH of your parents go with you. The company of whatever pump you choose will provide you with information on the class.

8. The infusion set should be changed every 3 days. It really doesn't hurt...you can get an injector device that just shoots it in. The needle will be removed...only the plastic cannula stays in your skin. It will take a few tries to get the hang of it.

9. Sleeping with a pump takes a little getting used to. You can clip it to your PJs or undewear or just put it next to you in the bed (that's what I do).

If there is anything else I can help you with, feel free to email me through Y Answers. If you have any other questions or whatever, I'll get back to you.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

EMT

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have a Deltec Cozmo insulin pump. It is about the same size as my cell phone (I admit, a cheap cell phone) and I wear it on my belt and it is often mistaken for a cell phone.

The reason the Cozmo pump is a little bigger than the other pumps is that there is a glucose monitor attached to it. I stick the strip in the pump and put a drop of blood on the strip. The reading shows up on the pump and it calculates how much insulin I need.

You still need to check you blood sugar at least as often as when you take shots, but I can give my insulin by pressing a few buttons as I am waiting in line to get my food.

Pumps do not become un-attached easily when you don't want them to.

I detach my pump when I get into the shower by disconnecting the tubing from the port that is on my abdomen and re-connect it after the shower. I do the same when I am having an *ahem* intimate moment with my wife. I do the same when I play soccer. I check my blood after I re-attach the pump and give myself a bolus if I have to. I wear the pump when I run and program it to only work at 66% while I am running.

I would never go back to injections. I love the fact that on the few days off that I get, I can sleep in because I don't have to worry about my long acting insulin. Same thing for not having to worry about being late for a meal.

Please try to find somebody your age who wears a pump and ask them some questions.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

To my opinion the insulin pump is worh getting . I am a highschool student as well and it has been a trumendise help. Instead of recieving shots daily with the pump you only have to change the site every 3 days.
At school i was always affraid of everyone finding out about my diabetes but with the insulin pump i dont care aboutit anymore .
It will change your life style to so much better. I have the metronic minimed and it has been so great. you can go swimming with it and just put you bloodsugar and carbs in it and it will calculate how much insulin you take. That was very good for me because i used to hate calculating how muich insulin i took and now i dont have to .

I hope this information will help you in this decision.!!!!!

Answer 6

Here you can find a very effective natural treatment for diabetes: http://diabete-cure.gelaf.info

Diabetes can be "reversed" or go into "remission". I believe that what that is is decreasing the need to take medications. A person who has diabetes will always have it... but there are cases where a type 2 can either reduce medications or even eliminate them... but will still need to watch diet, get plenty of exercise and keep their weight down. This is called management and control. However, that does not mean that there will never be one. Research has taken huge advances and the more scientists learn about it, the higher likelihood that a cure might come about someday.
While I did recently read an article that stated gastric lap band or gastric bypass MAY be a potential cure, more research is needed and even if this one day is a cure, it would only be effective on type 2s who are obese since neither of those procedures are performed on people who are of normal weight or body mass. Stem cell transplants are still highly controversial and most likely, have a long way to go before it is approved as a diabetes cure by the FDA. Since the vast majority of diabetics are type 2 (roughly 90%), those of us who are type 1 seem to get lost in the shuffle. EMT type 1 for more years than I care to remember, use a pump. Let me add that when I mean diabetes can be controlled and managed without medication but with diet, exercise and weight control, I'm referring to type 2. This is not an option for type 1s, who must take insulin, either by injections or a pump, to survive.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I think it's worth it for sure! But it's not an easy option and is A LOT of work! You have to do millions of basal rate tests to get it set up which involve not eating for 12 hours at a time :( lol that's esp bad when you've had a life time of needing to eat every few hours for your diabetes! but the benefits make it well worth it. You can easily take it on and off when you shower - it's v hard to describe but there's a really cool clip thing that means you can just clip it on and off and you don't need a new needle or anything! (i think the above lady is spkin about a long time ago - modern infusion sets are v easy - you still need to change them every 3 days but you can shower every day without any probs lol!) I drop mine etc. all the time and it's fine - doesn't come out. The main down side for me is being attached to something 24/7 hasn't been great for my self confidence - however hard I try to hide it people point it out or ask what it is a lot and it makes me feel pretty crappy. Wouldn't go back to injections though - it really changes your life so much being able to totally eat what you want when you want and not having to eat when you're not hungry - it's amazing! It's a personal thing if you think you can live with it or not but it's not a problem at all for sports etc. - you should deff find out more about it at least! Only other prob is funding, esp in the uk. xxxx

Answer 9

I love my pump. I have been using it for about 4 years. It will take a little while to get it set up and get the dosage adjusted. During this time you have to do even more finger sticks. But once it is set up, it really is so convenient. I usually wear mine on my belt. Most people don't even notice it, so many people wear cell phones and stuff on their belts now. When I wear a dress I generally wear it in my bra. It is pretty durable too. I have dropped mine a couple of time and it's still going strong. I have a minimed pump, which can't get wet. I just disconnect to take a shower or to go swimming. The infusion set, which is a little plastic needle that goes in you, needs to be changed every 3 days. That is really no different then giving yourself a shot. I would strongly suggest the pump.

Answer 10

First you can disconnect from the pump to take showers/swim/and even play your sports. I was on the pump when i did cheerleading and i kept it on, i know other guys who would take it off when they played football just to be safe. The pump, to me, is much easier than shots as you only change your pump site every three days. meaning you are still having to poke a needle in to get insulin, but its only every 3-4 days instead of several times a day. You still have to test your blood sugar, but Mini-med is doing wonders with that even. As for it getting in the way, i never had that problem, and it just clips to your pants like a cell phone/pager case would. Most people will mistake it for a pager or even a MP3 player now. I highly recommend the pump if you are interested. feel free to contact me, and contact mini-med