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Changing from injections to pump?

Catallen2712

Catallen2712

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi I have been diabetic for 16 years, recently attended the NEWDEAL training course and was switched from Lantus once daily to Levemir twice daily to avoid overnight hypos. BGs are a lot better but I have a skin reaction to levemir every time I inject, so am looking to go onto a pump. Can anyone help out with the pros and cons of pump therapy to help me decide? Thanks!
 
Take a look at INPUT, it has lots of information & advice on insulin pumps and how to get one on the NHS:

http://www.inputdiabetes.org.uk/

After 9 months pumping I can honestly say the pro's far outnumber the con's by a long long way. Good luck.
 
Catallen2712 said:
Thanks! My head says go for the pump, but I still have a few fears! Is it comfortable while sleeping, and can you wear it in the shower?
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I'm sure we all had fears and concerns pre-pump, most disappear once you start pumping.

I use the Omnipod pump and its waterproof so showering and bathing isn't a issue, as for sleeping, I try not to lay on my side where I've positioned my Pod but not had any issues sleeping so far.
 
Hi @Catallen2712 I've had my pump for nearly 2 years after being on injections for 24 years, I absolutely love it. As @noblehead said, the pro's far outweigh the cons!

What are your fears? For the things you have mentioned above, my pump just rolls around with me when in bed, I lay it by my side as I go to sleep then which ever way I turn it just follows, it doesn't pull or tug & has never ripped out, throughout the day there is various places you can keep it.

As for in the bath/shower I just un clip mine and leave it in the bedroom while in the bathroom, you can have it off for up to an hour.

Hope that helps

Abbie :-)
 
Thanks guys, it's really helpful hearing real-life experiences from pumpers. I have an appt next week to get things started, although the NEWDEAL course apparently is the usual first step and I have just completed that. How long did it take you both to get up and running from about this stage?
 
I resisted getting a pump for quite a while, but I can honestly say it is the best decision I made. It is no where near as intrusive as I thought it would be. As said earlier it just lies on the bed beside me when I sleep and moves with me if I turn over, I unclip it for showering and if I go swimming. It has reduced the number of night time hypos dramatically. I am able to control my levels whist exercising much easier too. I still have the odd days where I am high or low for no apparent reason. If you do go for a pump don't expect to get it all sorted straight away, it took me about 6 months to get all the ratio's and basal levels about right, and still has to adjusted now and then.
 
Hi @Catallen2712
welcome to the forum:)
I started pumping 6 weeks ago and I can honestly say it is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
the pro's ( no more injecting) outweigh the cons ( cannula going in once every 3 days ) those are the main 2 --

I too have the omnipod patch pump so don't really notice it is there - i sleep on my sides so just avoid the side it is on if in a side of stomach site -- have used my arms as well which don't impact on my sleep position.

it has taken me nearly the whole 6 weeks to get my mornings right ( huge dawn phenomenon) but I am seeing flat and stable BG's unlike anything I have seen on MDI thoroughout the afternoons and evenings
 
Catallen2712 said:
Thanks guys, it's really helpful hearing real-life experiences from pumpers. I have an appt next week to get things started, although the NEWDEAL course apparently is the usual first step and I have just completed that. How long did it take you both to get up and running from about this stage?
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From seeing the consultant to pumping insulin it took around 3 months, from first discussing it with the DSN it might have been around 5 months.
 
Thank you all, it seems the pump is the way forward! I am also terrible at remembering to take my am levemir and generally forget to eat until about 3pm, so it sounds like once I get the basal rates sorted the pump should give me much better control. As I've said, it's amazing hearing real life experiences and has settled my remaining fears. Thanks so much
 
Catallen2712 said:
Thank you all, it seems the pump is the way forward! I am also terrible at remembering to take my am levemir and generally forget to eat until about 3pm, so it sounds like once I get the basal rates sorted the pump should give me much better control. As I've said, it's amazing hearing real life experiences and has settled my remaining fears. Thanks so much
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To prepare you now and when you start on a pump I'd recommend that you purchase the book Pumping Insulin by John Walsh & Ruth Roberts, the information and advice it contains is second to none.
 
I started on my pump just over a month ago and had similar reservations but it has been great. I saw the Pumping Insulin book recommendation on this site and purchased and read it before getting my pump. It really helped me get my head around it and even taught me things I never knew about diabetes, so I would thoroughly recommend it (and the pump!)
 
Thanks I'll look that up. I'm trying to kind of treat this as a science experiment if that makes sense, to save me getting over emotional as can happen so easily when thinking about diabetes!
 
I managed to get hold of a pump about 6 weeks ago, and it's brilliant. Found it very easy to come to terms with quickly and it is great for maintaining glucose levels. My standard deviation has definitely dropped. To maintain levels I dose many times daily and it's been a godsend for that!

I heartily recommend it. I personally don't think it requires any more brain power than MDI for someone who is already intensively and dynamically managing their diabetes.
 
Thanks. I'm hoping it will reward my efforts more than my current MDI regime, as I sometimes think why am I bothering testing 8-10 times per day and still not getting the results I want? Combined with red itchy lumps all over my injection sites it's frustrating to say the least! I'm actually starting to look forward to this new adventure as a pumper, thanks to you all for your comments and advice
 
I have been a T1 diabetic for past 23 years and on MDI for that time. Just started on a Medtronic 640G pump almost 7 weeks ago and it's the best decision I ever made! Absolutely love my pump. It is also waterproof up to 1.8 meter but I usually unclip it before having a bath/shower. It's no probkem to sleep in as I pop it in my Hid-In body band (www.hid-in.com) and I almost forget I'm wearing it now it's so comfy! :-)

Best of luck! :-)
 
Spicey245 said:
I have been a T1 diabetic for past 23 years and on MDI for that time. Just started on a Medtronic 640G pump almost 7 weeks ago and it's the best decision I ever made! Absolutely love my pump. It is also waterproof up to 1.8 meter but I usually unclip it before having a bath/shower. It's no probkem to sleep in as I pop it in my Hid-In body band (www.hid-in.com) and I almost forget I'm wearing it now it's so comfy! :)

Best of luck! :)
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Hi Spicey245 - I'm reading through some posts on Insulin pumps as I'm going for a consultation soon. I know absolutely nothing about them so trying to get information; could I just ask, my DSN mentioned I wouldn't need to take a basal insulin, but nobody seems to mention this. Also, is the pump also a BG reader? I currently am using the Freestyle Libre for testing.
Thank you
 
asa35 said:
Hi Spicey245 - I'm reading through some posts on Insulin pumps as I'm going for a consultation soon. I know absolutely nothing about them so trying to get information; could I just ask, my DSN mentioned I wouldn't need to take a basal insulin, but nobody seems to mention this. Also, is the pump also a BG reader? I currently am using the Freestyle Libre for testing.
Thank you
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@asa35 Pumps only use fast acting insulin (so no basal, just the fast acting). They release this in tiny amounts day and night, a bit like a working pancreas, and this then acts as your 'basal'. The amount the pump releases day and night is called your basal rate because it's the background insulin, even though it's a fast acting insulin, as I said. Then you bolus when you eat, which means you use the pump to give yourself an appropriate dose of insulin for what your about to,eat.

The pump itself can't test your blood sugar, but some pumps eg Animas Vibe, can support a CGM.

I suggest you look at the websites of the pump manufacturers so you can get an idea of the pumps available. You can also watch videos on YouTube :)
 
@azure many thanks for this post, it's a great help. Now I understand the basics better now, I can do a bit more homework!
 
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