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New pumper and getting used to wires/pump

Juicyj

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Hi all,

My first post in this forum !!

Yesterday I got my first pump a medtronic minimed 640g, am on saline for 2 weeks to get used to it before insulin is installed but very happy to now be a pumper, couple of questions..

- What do you do with all the tubing ?

- Where is the best place to keep it without it getting in the way ? It's a little bulky so can you get a belt or something to tuck it into ?

- Any pumping tips for a new user ?

Am hoping it will give me much better control but also a sense of normality back
 
Welcome to the pump forum

Really pleased that you've made a start and hope it all goes well when you do go live with insulin, I've no experience with a tubed pump but some tips nevertheless.

Do purchase the book Pumping Insulin as it really is a fantastic book for those who are using a pump or contemplating moving over to one, plus also make sure you keep a separate record of your basal rates etc just in case your pump fails and you have to transfer this data across to a another pump.

Just keep in touch with your pump team and don't be afraid to ask for help, it can take weeks to get the basal rates right so don't get disheartened if your bg control goes astray in the first few weeks. Good luck.
 
as a bloke I just use a belt clip to clip it on to my belt of jeans pocket, any hanging tubing is just tucked into the waist of my trousers......

in the early days I didn't tuck it in when just in the house, but I soon began to snag the tubing on door handles etc, never ripped it out right enough, strongly fixed on....lol....

as I am sure your aware, the basal rates are the most important thing at the start, so lots of testing/fasting to get them as close to perfect as possible will be required.....

enjoy it though, not having to manually inject becomes very nice......
 
I keep mine in a sock in the middle of my bra so the tubing is all under my clothes, I hardly notice it.
 
I usually clip my pump on my belt or waistband and tuck the tubing in. When I wear a dress, I use a 'bra bag' which clips on my bra under my arm so the pump is invisible. Then the wires are just under my dress.
 
i didn't have to fast for my basal rates ? but yeh im running low mainly >.< maybe thats why. You will have to test every 2 hours though i just clip mine onto my trousers if its in my belly, then i use a shorter wire if its in my leg i run it through the boxers and up through >.<
 
Thanks for the feedback all, have had 2 incidents today where I've dropped it and the pump was dangling by the tubing to my tum which was an odd feeling, otherwise it's been ok, was thinking of rolling the tubing up and sticking it to my tum with a plaster as that's the only thing that's really bugged me about it, but that's it, it's fab ! Roll on insulin infusion..
 
be the best thing that has happened to you with regards to being diabetic, I,m still struggling with the tubing but I where a pimp your pump belt most the time and just stuff the tubing under the elastic band of the belt, wish you all the best for when you "go live"
 
Hi you can get loads of 'attachments' like a belt or leg pouch and stuff. I normally clip mine to my bra or onto my waistband. Have you got the right tubing length? You can get different length sizes. I have medtronic one-do find that the belt clips break quite easily though.
Defo get your basal rates first-do some carb free testing in the time frames and test a couple of times in the night too. Also know what your carb ratio is for your bolus and what your correction doses are.
 

Thanks Sarah, I have a great DSN who's pretty on top of this, I have also discovered that when I download my results that I can send them to her too, so we can both play around, she has warned me that my HbA1c will go up on next test, but as it was 68 on my last one I don't think it will, am not sure if it's the placebo effect but even with wearing the pump this week and using saline to test my results have been much better already and am not doing anything differently to before, however i've really struggled even eating lo carb to maintain good results. Am looking forward to the fact that at some point I can link a CGM sensor to it which will take away finger prick testing, feel like i've just entered a new world !
 
Juicyj I use the Medtonic 640g and CGM but unfortunately you still have to still have to finger prick test.Good Luck when you go live with insulin.The pump has been life changing for me,after injecting for 53 years.
 
I am on the 640G too and have been niw for 4 months (was injecting for 23 years before that. I have a hid inn pouch belt for my pump at nighttime (I take the clip off and pop the pump and tubing into the belt pouch). During the day my pump has its clip back on and I clip it to middle part of my bra and just tuck the tubing into my knickers/leggings/trousers. Usually though it is just loose under my top. ;-) Buy the book that is mentioned above (Pumping Insulin), it's a great book.
 
What do you do with all the tubing ?

Depending on where the pump is hooked if it's on my trousers/leggings I just tuck the tubing under the waistband, if I clip it onto my bra or put it in my hid-in band I just let the tubing roam free, it's not bothersome at all it's light enough that you don't really notice it.

Where is the best place to keep it without it getting in the way ? It's a little bulky so can you get a belt or something to tuck it into ?

When I'm at work (housekeeping) I hook it onto my trousers same with when I'm out and about as it's less noticeable for me there and is out of the way. If I know I'm going to be trying on clothes depending on what I'm wearing I'll either hook it on the middle of my bra or put it in my hid-in band somewhere.

Any pumping tips for a new user?

First things first sort your basal rates as those are the foundation for getting everything to run as "smoothly" as possible. And as I've always been taught don't be afraid to ask any question to your team, no question is a stupid question.

Happy Pumping!
 
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