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Insulin Pump. Pros & Cons?

T1Taz

Member
Messages
24
Location
Ireland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I'm new to the forum & I've read so much on here about the benefits of the insulin pump. I'm living in Ireland & feel my endo was doing nothing to help me improve my diabetes, no new information, each appointment felt like a free lecture for student doctors, I always end up being the one asked what I think cos I have it so long. So I'm waiting on an appointment with a new consultant at another hospital. I'd like to look into getting a pump but want to have my research dome which is where you guys come in.
I've 2 kids under 6 & pillow fights & wrestling are a daily occurance. What are the chances of a pump being pulled out?
 
i have a 2y6m old and a 1y4m old and i have had my pump for 3 weeks with no mishaps as yet. I was worried too as i feel like i am constantly carrying one of them and thought it would get pulled out but it hasn't happened yet and the longer i have it the less i am noticing it myself which is all good, so far
 
I have had more grief from the knobs on the kitchen cupboards and my own clothing than I have from my boisterous little ones. A little education is required of course.

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Hi

I wish u best luck with pump
Im irish but live in england
My 4 yr old has type 1
Im looking into pump as he is black and blue with the injections
But we only found out oct 2013
So its still all new to us
Plus we need to b on for 1yr before we think about pump


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Thanks guys & gals, I don't have any other diabetics to ask so it's great to know ye're here. The doctors can only tell me so much, it's yer experiences I needed to hear,
Thanks Averil
 
I've had a pump for 2 years now. Before that I had injections for about 14yrs.

Pro:
I can adjust my basal rate depending on the time of day which allows me better control. For some people I believe this is really beneficial in the morning because of the dawn phenomenon.

For high fat meals (eg if you've eaten a pizza, creamy curry etc) you can take some insulin straightaway and extend the rest over a given time period, for example 5 hours. This I find helpful to avoid hypos.

1 injection about every 2-3 days for me.

Cons:
A lot of work to set up initially ( lots of testing BG and adjusting). But for me this has definitely been worth it now.

More stuff to carry in my bag (I carry around a spare insulin pen incase the pump fails, pump supplies etc).


I've probably forgotten some points so i will add them later if I think of anything else!

I would recommend a pump




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in 5 months I've pulled mine out twice - once mums dog did it (i didnt tidy my wires away properly) and the second time was I think a faulty set it just came away. but it happens and its not a big deal! pros far outweigh cons
 

First of all do your research, ie, buy yourself the book pumping insulin by John Walsh. Can be bought on amazon.
Can you carb count and adjust your insulin to your daily needs?
Pump cannulas do not get pulled out unless a faulty one with very little stick or if you do not take the simple precaution of taping the tubing. Which means a small bit of tape across the tubing a couple of cm from the cannula. Thus if the pump tubing is pulled the tape takes the strain. No tubing is on show but if you have long tubing just roll it like a hose pipe and tape. I've pumped for over 7 years and only ever pulled the cannula out once and that was due to breaking the simple rule of not using a bit of tape.
 
I'm due to start my pump next week. When a DSN mentioned pump to me a gawked at the thought of it, tubes, cannulas etc.
But I have to say what got me over that initial fear of the unknown was reading on here and watching lots of the youtube videos you can find if you do a search on there for "insulin pump".
Good luck, hope the new hospital is much better. Don't forget, you can always ask for the students to leave if you feel you are being used as a teaching exercise rather than being treated as a patient.
 
Spiker said:
That's my goal, but how do you achieve that unless the pump has a full functionality remote?
Click to expand...
Pump is either in my pocket or on my pocket or waistband tubing is tucked under shirt or tucked into my trousers. At very most 3 inches of tubing is on show if attached to my pocket. Never had anyone comment or notice it. Having the tape across the tubing to stop the pull on the cannula has worked for situations where sheep sheering is taking place or worming cattle or trimming horses feet. If foot trimming the horses though the pump always went in my back pocket out of the way just in case a foot was waved to close for comfort.
 

T1 tax, where in Ireland are you based, I'm in dublin and there is a T1 group that meet up once a month, half the group are on pumps , and have loads of good advice, let me know if you want more info


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I have been on a pump for two years. I have a two year old who thinks I'm a climbing frame and I work as a teacher in a pupil referral unit where scraps are broken up daily. Never has a cannula been pulled out or even come close.
A pump was a new way of life for me and I would recommend one without doubt.
 
My 13 year old son is due to start using an Omnipod next week but he plays rugby and is a forward (prop). Have no idea how to manage this.
 
I've had mine since Nov 13, better than I could have expected. Easier control, would not hive it up. But a lot of hard work, but well worth it.
 
Spiker said:
I have had more grief from the knobs on the kitchen cupboards and my own clothing

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Click to expand...

This made me laugh spiker. I though I was the only one with that problem.
It is actually worse when the wire to my earphones get wrapped around those nobs too


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Pros
Less hypos
Less injections
Better flexibility for exercise
I now eat when I'm hungry rather than feeding my insulin

Cons
Nd to carry lots of spares

Ps I gave a 3 year old son and 4 year old daughter and a very busy life. I love my pump and I wouldn't give it up for anything! I would strong recommend an insulin pump to most people


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