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Pulling pump/sensor off

L

lauralouise96

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help please. My little brother is four and has the insulin pump and sensor he pulls the line out nearly every day for both of these even though they hurt him to put back on. Is there anything you can suggest to make it harder for him to pull it off? We have tried putting it in hard to reach places but no joy.

Thanks in advance.
 
Has anyone explained to him the need to keep it in or is it just a kid thing - it’s there to be taken off so I will? I found that the better it is explained to a child the more willing they are to listen. As for keeping it stuck on some T1’s will no doubt be along with helpful advice. Take care of him.
 
Is he pulling it out because it hurts him?
 

Hi Ann,
We’ve explained hundreds of times he’s going to be poorly if he takes it off. Even banned him from having any type of treat for the rest of the day when he pulls one off as a type of punishment for doing so but he’s just not interested. He hates keeping it. It’s like he feels free without it but the constant injections were no good for him so we can’t go back to them sadly
 
Hi @lauralouise96 , sorry to hear about this!

When I first started pumping a couple of years ago this month (and bearing in mind I am 38 years older than your brother!) I was terrified of pulling the hosepipe out......

For a few weeks I used a bit of Micropore tape to stick the hosepipe to my skin quite close to the cannula. If I accidentally pulled on the hosepipe it would pull on the tape rather than the cannula. It provided some much-needed reassurance as a newbie pumper!

I have pulled my cannula off once accidentally. It was fine, although a little messy! I can't think what to suggest though if he's pulling them off on purpose (although to be honest I really don't blame him, poor chap. Bless him. I was 11 when I was diagnosed and found life with diabetes hard enough - your wee chap is only four).

Sending hugs and extra stickiness-of-cannula-stick!

Love Snapsy
 
Last edited:
CarbsRok said:
Is he pulling it out because it hurts him?
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No he just pulls it off because of the fact of it being there, he peels around the sides of it then says it’s loose so he has to pull it off to get a new one that’s not peeling :/
 

Oh bless you, we have tried everything he likes to have it just above his bum, so we tried putting it a little higher but he just looks in a mirror to peel it off as soon as it catches his eye.
I was just wondering if people knew of anything such as a sticky tape or something that isn’t going to look tatty on him but will make it difficult to pull off so he just didn’t bother anymore. Don’t think there’s anything we can do. Just got to hope he stops eventually, he has been diagnosed 7 months this month. Can’t imagine how you feel have having it for so long!

Big hugs xxx
 
Have you had a look at places like funkypumpers and the various sites which "accessorize" sets with stickers?

Was just thinking that most boys of any age from 5 to 55 like their rucksacks and jackets with lots of pockets, so maybe a 4 year old might be taken with the idea of a "batman" or "camouflage" pouches/belt and associated stickers for the set just to make it a bit less insulin pump and more "special secret agent mission kit" so might end up liking wearing it. Just a thought.

https://www.funkypumpers.com/product/batman-ribbon-pump-pouch-16″-23″/

www.funkypumpers.com/product/small-childs-spibelt-in-green-camo/
 
Am I correct in understanding he is purposely pulling the cannula out because he hates wearing the pump? If he hates wearing the pump, why is he pumping? In what way we're injections no good for him? Most people (children/parents) are able to manage type 1 on mdi. If he hates the pump and/or is too young not to just pull the cannula out then managing on mdi seems sensible.

I would be really careful about punishing for pulling cannulas out, if he is being made to wear a pump that he hates and then has to have another cannula put in when he pulls a cannula out I would suggest that that is quite enough punishment.
 
lauralouise96 said:
No he just pulls it off because of the fact of it being there, he peels around the sides of it then says it’s loose so he has to pull it off to get a new one that’s not peeling :/
Click to expand...

If that's the case then he needs to go on injections again. Those cannula's cost £10 each and as he isn't happy with them then it's rather unkind to keep replacing them.
 
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