My son is 4 and I think it's too young, but there's a little girl in his PRESCHOOL with one. Does anyone know what the benefit would be for a child THAT young to have one? I can only see disaster!
2007-10-19 03:45:27 · 16 answers · asked by ssgjwyf 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
YEAH A INSULIN PUMP IS GOOD TO HAVE IF THATS WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS IT DONT MATTER HOW YOUNG HE IS WOULD U RATHER HIM DEAD ARE ALIVE
2007-10-19 03:49:55 · answer #1 · answered by lmsvplayer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-17 18:38:36 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-19 16:11:57 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I've seen a story of a 10 day old (yes, day) on a pump. The pump does have child lockouts on it, and some companies make a pump specifically for kids. I recommend talking to the parents of that little girl and get their thoughts on it. Something thells me they went through the same thoughts you're having.
As long as his control is good, and he's not experiencing frequent swings of sugars, then he might not need the pump, but I personally think every diabetic on insulin should have the pump at some point in their life.
Also, the pump is very sturdy. Not water proof, so has to be removed during water activities, but that's a very minor inconvenience compared to all the benefits.
www.insulin-pumpers.org is a great website that you can check out for more info.
as is www.minimed.com
2007-10-20 06:32:39 · answer #4 · answered by J 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I started on the pump at age 12- I was the youngest kid (at the time) at my elite hospital- Joslin Center for Juvenile Diabetes to be put on a pump. SInce then I know very young kids have used and succeeded with pump therapy. I honestly don't think 4 would be too young.
The catheter is a big downfall for a kid that young- but he would only have to have 1 shot every 3 days! Thats awesome for a little kid who is used to mulitiple shot a day!
Secondly, his eating schedule wouldn't be near a strict since you can bolus whenever he wants to eat.
Lastly- most people have much better control, and more freedoms. Since we are still a long way off from a cure, good control is the only hope of living a long life.
My daughter is 2, if she is ever diagnosed with diabetes I will push for an insulin pump as early as possible.
2007-10-19 07:48:32 · answer #5 · answered by Jane 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My pump trainer told me that they can put a pump on an infant. I think that it is a wonderful idea. The control would be so much easier. No multiple daily injections, and not having a restrictive diet for your young child could only be improvements. The minimed pumps have a lock on them to disable the buttons.
Have you talked to the little girl in his preschools parents? They could probably give you insights into the reality of having a young child on a pump.
These days, pumps do not have many drawbacks, and so many benefits. I can only see improved health for your child.
2007-10-19 16:59:05 · answer #6 · answered by Tamarak 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are never too young for a pump.
On infants and small children there is of course a lock out device that doesn't allow the child to do anything with the pump.It's all up to the parents.
It is easier to get one "shot " every three days compared to several a day.Parents love them.
As for your child, if you get a call from pre-school saying they are having cup cakes and your sons sugar was just tested to be 140, you can tell his teachers how much insulin to bolus.You don't always have to be there.
I wish you and your son the best.
One of my daughters has had diabetes for 15 years now. She is 17, on a pump since about 11 yrs old and is doing well.
2007-10-19 05:40:16 · answer #7 · answered by Cammie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Infants and toddlers have been on insulin pumps. The benefit of a child that young having it would be better control. There is code to lock the pump, so only adults can do anything with it. If my child was doing well on injections, I would keep him or her on them, but if my child's diabetes had a lot of fluctuations between highs and lows, I wouldn't hesitate to start him or her on pump therapy, no matter what age.
2007-10-19 04:11:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
From what my pump trainer told me a week ago (I finally got a new pump and retired my old one), pumps are now even used on babies.
I find that amazing but with lock-out features on newer pumps, kids can't mess with dosages and such or even get the buttons to work. Parents can program the pump with the lock-out feature.
I don't think your son is too young for a pump. If he gets one, just be prepared to go through the training with him as he will be far too young to understand how it works and since kids are naturall very curious, they will want to play with it and such.
Call a company that manufactures pumps and ask them about it. Minimed is the biggest and they have been making and distributing pumps the longest (I have a Minimed Paradigm 722). Go to minimed.com or call 1-800-MINIMED.
Good luck!!
EMT
Type 1, pump user
2007-10-19 11:20:10 · answer #9 · answered by emt_me911 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter is 11 and is on the animas pump. When we took our pump class there was a couple who had a 2 year old that they were putting on the animas pump. I have seen them several times since and said that they love it! Before pumping you have to tell a child, sorry you can't eat that or you have to eat even though you are not hungry. With the pump if they want a snack (cupcakes at school) you just put in the carbs to the pump and the pump will tell you how much insulin to bolus. If they aren't hungry, you don't have to force them to eat because they had their shot, with the pump you just figure out how much they really ate and give insulin for that. No more fustrating meals. No more having exactly the amount of carbs required. Before the pump my daughter was required to have 60 carbs at dinner. Now, we can really have a low carb dinner if we want (her favorite is lobster!). Also, my daughter's A1C has improved drastically.
Talk to your endo about it and see what they suggest. If they say it is a good idea, I highly recommend it. My daughter says that she got her life back because of the pump.
I also wanted to add that my daughter is in the animas pump that is waterproof. So, she goes swimming with the pump with no problems. You can check it out at www.Animascorp.com
2007-10-19 05:56:28 · answer #10 · answered by GuessWho 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the insulin pump is great...especially for young children. i know a little girl who is 2 and and on the pump and her diabetes has been so much easier to manage since she was put on it. they make a special pediatric pump so that that you can lock the buttons so your son or any other child can't press the buttons when they don't need to be messed with. check out minimed.com for more info on it.
2007-10-19 04:06:05 · answer #11 · answered by **STARR** 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋