Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pump?

[Scoop4]

I also don't understand the needle part as yes there is a needle used to put the tube into your body but then the needle is removed so any activity shouldn't be a problem. Are there pumps out there where you keep needles inside you as an only comment on mine which doesn't. I agree about the CGM working on lag time this was not explained to me when I was being monitored on the CGM. I was very confused one night when i awoke in a hypo but the CGM was telling me I was ok took my blood sugar and it confirmed I was hypo CGM didn't catch up for a while.

[glucosegirl]

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 15 months ago and I'm on MDI. I was offered a pump by the endo at my hospital about 14 weeks after I was diagnosed but I said no. I'm not squeamish but the idea of a pump makes me feel physically sick as I see it as like being on a drip. Having a tube coming out of me (yes, I know about the OmniPod) would make me feel like I was dying. My HbA1c has stayed below 5.5% the last year so I don't see staying on MDI as a problem.

[TallGirl]

I'd love to go on a pump - really struggling with injections at the moment. I graze constantly food wise throughout the day so injecting the right amount is proving near impossible for me. My Hba1C was 78 at the start of May so there's plenty of room for improvement but my DN doesnt think I'll get a pump

I asked for a referral to a consultant in March, but heard nothing, so I asked again in May and I'm still waiting....

[Scoop4]

The thing is every one has a choice you need to go with what is best for you. I feel better on the pump to me iit just feels like any other new piece of equipment like my mobile phone, iPod this takes away some of the problems with being diabetic like bruising, injecting in public. I was once asked what I was listening to on my MP3 player when I was programming my pump(its very discreet). I don't know about any body else's pump but I am able to disconnect from it for up to an hour without to much of an effect on my sugars so I don't feel like I am constantly connected to my pump if I was to go swimming, bathe, or go in the shower. I just think of it as something like all my other toys that is making my life easier. I have been diabetic 17 years and had had enough of injection.

[diabeticmumof4]

I have had my pump since December 2010, and at first it was a bit strange, but I soon got used to it. the freedom of not having to inject, and the worry of constant hypo's has helped greatly. The pump is not easy at first, and does take a lot of work, but it certainly seems to reap the benefits. My hbac was good was 6, but I got one, if you feel it will make a difference to the quality of life, I say push for it. I am lucky as my hospital is very pro pump. Someone mentioned earlier about having a needle attached to you constantly, that isn't the case, its a cannula which you can't really feel, its soft and flexible, and you can exercise fine with it. I horse ride, swim, icestate, nothing stops me doing what I want. The only downside is wearing it all the time, but you soon forget about it, I would hate to go back to mdi, most people who get given one keep it. If you are lucky enough to get one, make the most of it I say.

[Izzi]

Hi I have been on the pump for about 2 years now (just under), and I would never in a million years dream of going back on injections. For me, it was almost necessary because my hba1c was far too high. Now, over the past couple of years my hba1c has come right down, and although it doesn't seem great my most recent one was 7.6%. this was a great achievement as I have never in my 12 years of having diabetes had my hba1c come so low. (I am now 14). Of course, the pump does take some work and effort from you, and some getting used to, but my life is so much easier to live with diabetes now I am on a pump.

[scottishbrian]

I was put on the pump about 10 years ago, but had to quickly come off it.

For me, and my Hba1c results, it worked wonders! The nurses and doctors couldnt believe the drop in the results after being on it for only 3 months and we were all ecstatic!
Soon after tho, the pump broke without me realising and left me very unwell.. putting me in hospital for a week!! The doctors decided not to put me back on the pump... STUPID PEOPLE!!!

[SophiaW]

Barrie Smith - the needle does not stay inside you, it's used to insert a teflon (flexible) cannula and then the needle is immediately removed. There are steel cannulas (which my daughter uses) and that stays under your skin you but they are very small and once in cannot be felt. They pose no danger at all, I don't know where you got your information from but I'd have to say it is very inaccurate. The only danger a steel cannula may pose is if you go through an MRI scan and forget to remove the cannula first. CGM is not necessary with a pump and does not make pumping dangerous without it. You do need to finger prick several times a day to test blood glucose but then a person trying to manage their diabetes well with MDI would probably do several tests a day too.

Scottishbrian - how did the pump break without you realising it?

[Beav]

I hear good things about a pump but I like the idea of a jab because you can do it then get on with life. I do a lot of mountain biking and weight training. If I fall of my bike with a pump in it could be nasty.

[Scoop4]

That's why you need to insure it. My pump is on my home insurance it's is what you do with expensive items in case they get broken. The pump would probably be good for you if you exercise that much it can be really fine tuned to your body.

[Beav]

That's why you need to insure it. My pump is on my home insurance it's is what you do with expensive items in case they get broken. The pump would probably be good for you if you exercise that much it can be really fine tuned to your body.

I mean incase I come off and it gets taken out of me. I know you can take them off for showers etc. How long can you take them off for?

[SophiaW]

Beav, I think you'd have more damage done to you from falling than from the tiny cannula getting ripped out that's if it got ripped out as they are fairly secure. When my daughter exercises her bg usually drops so she can comfortably do an hour without the pump, sometimes she can go longer. If she wants to be longer without the pump then what we do is after an hour we test bg, if it's still low enough she can go another half hour with us testing every half hour. If her reading is creaping up a little then we'll plug the pump back in, do a small bolus and then unplug again and she's good for another hour. She's been swimming and gone 2 hours without the pump doing it this way and it has worked fine for us like that, haven't tried it longer than 2 hours but it might work this way for longer, would need to test and see.

[Scoop4]

The pump providers say you should only disconnect from the pump for an hour at the most as longer can lead to loss of stability as the pump only deals with fast acting insulin. While your daughter sounds fine on how she exercises it's not something they recommend.

[SophiaW]

The pump providers say you should only disconnect from the pump for an hour at the most as longer can lead to loss of stability as the pump only deals with fast acting insulin. While your daughter sounds fine on how she exercises it's not something they recommend.

This was suggested by our DSN and it works well for us. As I say haven't done longer than about 2 hours and there is a small bolus done after the 1 hour mark if necessary so not quite the same as disconnecting the pump and not receiving any insulin at all over this period of time

[Scoop4]

I get wrong from my consultant cos I disconnect for hours at a time as when I have a hypo it can last for hours keep getting told about ketones. They tell me to programme in a temporary bolus but I think you know your own body you should do what works for you.