How long for diabetes to settle with insulin pump

[TraceyJ]

Hi

I'm wondering how long it takes for diabetes to settle once you start with an insulin pump and how long it takes for hba1c to settle.

I've been offered a pump due to sensitivity and frequent hypos.

I'm hoping to start trying for another baby as soon as possible so this is possibly affecting my decision.

Tracey

 

[Riri]

Hia - I think the honest answer is 'it varies from person to person'. From my own personal experience I had a pump fitted in Novemember and I've had ups and downs ever since then so we're still tweaking it here and there. My hba1c has however come down from 8.9 to 7.5 and im hoping for an even better 'score' at my pump clinic next week. I don't want to tempt fate but the last 2 weeks have been excellent so I may have got there. My friend also had a pump fitted last October and her BSs were almost spot on after the first few weeks. She only has a couple of basal rates set through they day whereas I have 9 different rates at different times - so again were all very different. All the best and I would recommend a pump to everyone even though it takes quite a lot of effort and perseverance to get things right.

 

[pickle76]

Hi,

My main reason for going onto a pump was also to get my HbA1c and day to day control as good as possible asap. We also want to start trying for another baby NOW! I've gone from 7.8 to 7.0 in 4 months, and one of those months was completely thrown by having some medication that screwed my blood sugars up. So if I hadn't had that I would prob be lower still, and I know it's still dropping. I would thoroughly recommend a pump and feel so much more confident about getting pregnant again.

Like Riri says though it is dependant on the person and we're all different. It's a lot of hard work, but to get good results I think it's worth it. I'd love to stay in touch on here if you want to go through the 'diabetes and trying to conceive/pregnancy' journey with someone. Take care, good luck, and PM me if you want a chat. No offence taken if not!

 

[jacqueline perry]

Hi

I'm wondering how long it takes for diabetes to settle once you start with an insulin pump and how long it takes for hba1c to settle.

I've been offered a pump due to sensitivity and frequent hypos.

I'm hoping to start trying for another baby as soon as possible so this is possibly affecting my decision.

Tracey

Hi

My 9 year old son was diagnosed with diabetes 14 months ago and has decided to go on the pump, mainly due to frequent hypos. How many hypos is normal for a type 1 diabetic? Will the pump reduce his hypos?

Jacqui (Mum to Luke )

 

[jopar]

To answer the original poster, depends on a lot of things, but on average 3-6 months! But at the end of the day a pump is only as good as the user...

@ Jacqueline

It's difficult to say, pretty individual I get a couple of mild ones a month!

The pump can help to reduce hypo's has it can create a more flat basal profile to work from, and the basal profile is the kingpin to control..

But also, due to features like the TBR (Temp Basal Rate) you can turn the pump down for different activities ect that with injections might bring on a hypo or if BG's are dropping to avoid a hypo... Also turn it up as well to avoid going high..

All pumps come with 3 different bolus deliveries...

A standard, dose all at one go (just like a injection)
A extended wave, where you program the pump to deliver over a period of time, starting from 15 minutes and increases of 15 minutes..
A Multiwave, where the dose is split into two, first part is delivered at one, the rest is delivered over a programmed period of time

And the good thing about the bolus's settings is that if little one doesn't eat what you think he's going to eat then you can cancel them out, or use the TBR feature to curtail the amount of insulin being delivered... Another good feature if they decide to eat more than you programmed in, then a couple of button presses is all it needs to give a little more insulin..

And as pumps can deliver 0.005 upwards... Lot easier to deliver just the right amount of insulin..

Don't worry if the above sounds complicated, you can start of with basic functions, and bring in the advanced functions in when you'll ready..

Pumps are good with children as the parent can use them both in a pro-active management way, but also quick as a flash use them in a reactive management.. Which is handy when kids throw a growth spurt, hunger strike, decided to become friends with the latest bug going around ect...

 

[SophiaW]

Hi

I'm wondering how long it takes for diabetes to settle once you start with an insulin pump and how long it takes for hba1c to settle.

I've been offered a pump due to sensitivity and frequent hypos.

I'm hoping to start trying for another baby as soon as possible so this is possibly affecting my decision.

Tracey

Hi

My 9 year old son was diagnosed with diabetes 14 months ago and has decided to go on the pump, mainly due to frequent hypos. How many hypos is normal for a type 1 diabetic? Will the pump reduce his hypos?

Jacqui (Mum to Luke )

Jacqui, it depends on why your son is having the hypos. A pump will not solve the hypo problems if they are due to miscalculating carbs eaten and the amount of insulin given to cover those carbs. But if your son is having hypos because the basal insulins are not flexible enough to correctly cover his insuin needs from hour to hour, or perhaps basals need to be reduced for sport and exercise, then the pump will help to avoid hypos resulting from this. Pre-pump my daughter was having frequent night-time and mid-afternoon hypos, since getting the pump these have almost all been avoided but she does occasionally get a mild hypo however that usually is down to us making a miscalculation in the amount of carbs she's eating or miscalulating the level of exercise she will be doing. Equally we get the occasional highs too but they are far fewer and her overall control is much tighter and better. Understanding how diabetes, insulin, food, exercise and the pump all work together gives you a better chance at getting it right, the pump is only as good as the information you put into it. If you can understand how it all works together then the pump is a wonderful tool to finetune the control and minimise highs and lows.

 

[spottymadliz]

Hi
I've been on a pump now since 2005, due to night time hypo's etc. For the first three weeks I was hypo'ing almost constantly, due to my insulin requirements being alot less (Your body can process the insulin so much more efficiently on a pump). I frequently asked myself if it was really worth it? However once I'd sorted this problem out, it only took a couple of months to get it all stable, and I've been 'tweaking' it ever since! I've hardly had to adjust my basal rate over the last couple of years, only if I'm ill, doing lots of exercise or eating too much (Christmas!). I'm no saint and I do have the odd times when it all seems to be going wrong, but with a pump it is so much easier to get back on track. It is definitely worth the initial frustration, I certainly would recomend a pump to anyone and I wouldn't be without mine for anything! Keep on Pumping!!!!

 

[llynettejb]

I have struggled with daily hypos since the birth of my son 27 years ago, I was fitted with an Animas 20/20 pump in January and although I have had some problems I am now getting some sign of low blood sugar, different to my old signs but signs nonetheless. I have a new found freedom and have gone to see my GP on my own for the first time in 18 years. It really has given me a new lease of life. My control is better and I am seeing a future free of the drudges and dangers of daily hypos,before the pump I could still be walking around and doing things with a BM of 1.1 and I am hoping that this is now a thing of the past. It took 3 - 4 Months to settle down but I think I am getting there now, it is hard work to start with but the rewards are worth it, well for me any way. I wish you and all new pumpers success and freedom with your pumps.