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Needles or The Pump?

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Axelanderson

Newbie
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Hello I am switching back to the needles (insulin pens) in a few days. The reason being is , well there is a few. 1: I will finally get my bloom sugar good and I will be happy I'll eat a full dinner and my site will leak with out me knowing and I will end up extremely high at like 26 . 2: with needles you do not have to go through the pain of filling it up then rewinding loading and priming it you just slip the vial in. 3: the supplies for the pump are extremely expensive a box of sites in Canada is at least 400$ a box. What are your guys' pros and cons? And what do you use? -15 year old diabetic.


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Hi there,
Just have to say I'm so surprised you've switched back to needles after the pump! I'm 23 and was diagnosed with T1 when I was 7. I have always been on needles and recently have been weighing whether I should be using the pump or not. I've heard only good things about it so I'm sort of relieved to hear some negatives. Was the fact that it was constantly attached to you a big negative? I feel like it would take over my life! I think until they actually invent something more effective and less complicated I'll probably stick to needles. Less hassle and I can manage my blood quite easily with them.
Did you find that your hba1c was better or worse when you were on the pump?
 
Hi also surprised as I've only heard of people who swear by being on the pump. The things you mention don't sound good at all, but I bet there are people on here who can tell you how to get round the site leaking one, as for the others I think I would feel the same. The main reservation I have about going on the pump, well there are two - learning to carb count, I sort of tried when I was pregnant and found it too much hassle and daunting (another story) the main other reason for not going on the pump after nearly 20 years of being type 1 is the same as Rachems - I don't like the thought of something permantley attached to me, having to find somewhere to put it, in underwear some people do I think. I like the freedom of needles but I guess a lot of pump users wouldn't call it freedom, but the needles are by far the least of my worries or problems with diabetes, they slot into my life so easily and are painless (very very rarely hurt), it's the blood tests I like the least - I'm squeamish about squeezing my finger too hard as it feels weird, but I test a lot. Anyway I digress, as usual!!!! I too like Rachems wonder what it is like to have it permantley attached like a foreign body?
Sorry I feel like I've hijacked this post and maybe should of started another thread [POUTING FACE] x


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It would be easy to see what's it's like to have it attached to you, just get a small block like an mp3 or something a bit of string my tubing is about 60cm long others have 30 cm or 15cm. get some medical tape stick the string to somewhere on your tummy, thighs or upper arms and see how you feel with it in your pocket or tucked in underwear etc or if you have one with a clip on try attaching it to clothes. See how you feel with it that will be the easiest way to give you an insight into it.
The main reason for going back onto injections is that people don't like having a bit of machinery attached to them, best to try before you buy so to speak. The other problems that the op talked about are fixable, an instrument is only as good as it's operator. When starting a pump off you need to be really intensive with testing and experimentation. The main reason for people getting a pump is better control and tighter control, but if you already have that then there are lots of people who don't who would love a pump. If you wanted to tighten up your control maybe some intensive testing and experimentation on injections would be better than going on a pump.
I love my pump I would never give it up, but I understand it's not what everybody would like. I spent years begging for one and in that time I researched every detail I could about it, so I was 1000% that I wanted one. If there are any questions you want to ask here is a really good place.
 
Hi I am thinking about going on the pump as I keep having Hypos and its getting more and more I am like a women with no brain when it happens. My partner is at his wits end trying to deal with me as I am a naughty child and wont take anything and deny I am low. I dont know why this has started happening as I have been good for years. I swim every morning for 1 hour I am not overweight would just like some advise on the pump :wave:
 
Hi everyone, in the insulin pump category on the forum I just posted about my first 5 months having a pump, feel free to give it a read and I will answer any questions, hope it helps! Sarah


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Hi I have been using a pump for 12 months and I would never ever want to give it up and go back to needles
.my control is excellent now . Before the pump my readings were always in double figures
Now pretty much always between 5 and 8 even with my Inslin in intolerance I am still using
40% less insulin now. So yes I would highly recommend the pump and all the good
Bits you may read about are all true.
 
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