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Fashion design student, seeking advice and support to help those with type 1 Diabetes (pumps)

ilinca

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Prefer not to say
Treatment type
Other
Hi all,

My name is Ilinca and I'm a fashion design student currently studying at UAL, my recent project has tasked me with researching into type 1 Diabetes for a new clothing collection.

The ideal objective of the collection is to help those who have Type 1 Diabetes to have the benefit of wearing their pumps attached to the clothing in order to make the process of wearing a pump much more discreet and private. I want to ensure that my work is fully beneficial for those with type 1 Diabetes and in order for me to achieve this I had a few questions that I was hoping to get answered.

My questions are as a follows;

1. Those with type 1 Diabetes which would you say is more commonly used, the insulin pump or the injection?

2. If it would be possible, could the pump be disconnected for a very short space of time? (this is the clothing can be designed around the correct usage for the pump itself and to ensure safety for the user.)

Thank you to those taking their time out to read this, I look forward to hearing from you.

Ilinca
 
Hi @ilinca

I usually wear my pump clipped to my belt or waistband. I don't mind it being visible. Sometimes I use a pump case or a pump belt or bra bag (where it hangs from my bra under my arm). It depends what I'm wearing. I position my pump where it's most convenient.

1) Most Type 1 do injections

2) Yes, tubed pumps can be disconnected for a short time

I hope that helps. You might also want to think about suitable pump holders/clothing for young children. Why not look on Google and see what's currently available?

Good luck with your project
 
Hi
Good to see you are asking questions such as this. Azure above has answered your questions. I also have been wearing mine in a pump pouch. However recently I have stopped doing this and just clip it with the supplied clip to the pocket of my jeans. I now have a Dexcom cgm on trial which sends data to my pump. Because of this i can simply pull it off my pocket press one button and see a glucose reading. When in bed I just let it loose in my bed alongside me. I have seen somewhere a few do put their pumps in an old sock, for protection. It might be good to design say a pouch ( shape of a glove mitten with no thumb ). This could have a slightly enlarged opening into it to allow a fast entry to putting it in. This pouch could then be kept in the pocket of jeans. Same as a sock but designed for the job
 
I now have an omnipod which is tubeless but when I was on a tube pump I used to wear it clipped to the bit on the middle of my bra (can't think what it's called...the bit between the cups) or tuck it into the band of my bra in the side.
It would be great to have a pocket sewn into the clothing

Best of luck with your project...what a cool thing to do!
 
I use an Animas pump which is tubed, I find it a struggle sometimes to find clothes with pockets to put my pump in. I try to look for dresses with pockets and trousers. At night I just clip it to my pjs. I find if I clip the pump onto trousers it is too bulky when you have a nice top on over them. Good luck with your project we need more people looking at different ideas for us pumpers
 
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