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Pump and exercise

Kelsie

Kelsie

Well-Known Member
Messages
144
Hello, sorry if this has been asked before! It has been suggested by my diabetic nurse that I may be a suitable candidate for a pump as I am very sensitive to insulin and suffer a lot with hypos as a result of my very active job and exercising a lot. It does have a lot of appeal-it would be nice to have proper control without peaks and dips etc! I was just wondering where do you put the pump when exercising? I was thinking when I'm at the track doing sprints etc, I have this image that the pump would be flapping about on my waistband and be worried that it won't stay on! Also when I'm in the gym doing burpees and plyometrics, I imagine it not staying on then. Probably being v silly but any information would be appreciated :) thank you in advance


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I have a soft Lycra band with a pocket that the pump goes in to. It holds it tight to me under my top

I have also clipped it to the top of my sports bra too when running which also helps keep it secure


Blogging at drivendiabetic.wordpress.com
 
I do lots of exercise, but not running..just physical work. Mines on my arm trapped between two pieces of tubigrip, the tube then feeds downward and back up to my shoulder and the down tony bum where my sets are. I worn like this 4 years and wouldn't change to any other place.the tubing and pump is under clothes normally but during the summer... Yes people can see it but I'm not bothered. It stays on for the whole time when in bed etc. I've never caught the tubing and it's no bother wearing skorts as I do most of the time.
It's so secure and snug you never have to worry about taking it off for the loo or for running etc. Only sport that would be a bit tricky would be the high jump!


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Kelsie said:
Hello, sorry if this has been asked before! It has been suggested by my diabetic nurse that I may be a suitable candidate for a pump as I am very sensitive to insulin and suffer a lot with hypos as a result of my very active job and exercising a lot. It does have a lot of appeal-it would be nice to have proper control without peaks and dips etc! I was just wondering where do you put the pump when exercising? I was thinking when I'm at the track doing sprints etc, I have this image that the pump would be flapping about on my waistband and be worried that it won't stay on! Also when I'm in the gym doing burpees and plyometrics, I imagine it not staying on then. Probably being v silly but any information would be appreciated :) thank you in advance


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Click to expand...
Have you thought about one of the patch pumps like the Cellnovo or Omnipod if they are offered?

The Cellnovo has a very short tube, just a few inches and can be removed and reattached (as can any other tube pumps), wereas the Omnipod is a fit and leave for two-3 days before disposing of the whole thing.

I'm starting on the cellnovo in October and that was also one of my concerns with cycling, running, yoga etc.
 
I meant to have mentioned the tubeless pumps too. They afe a great idea. I couldn't for me as I only use my bum and couldn't sit down with one. Sets in my belly fall off due to heat and sweat from working, so this is also another consideration.


Loving life
 
Yeah as above, i was once offered a pump but i refused due to the amount of times i do circuit, exercise, running and cycling classes. I would of thought the amount of sweating / showering i do would have unstuck it and the inconvenience of attaching removing the pump itself if needed.
 
I have a pump and actually take it off for running as I don't need any basal when I'm exercising. If I do need to keep it on I just clip it to my shorts. The set never comes unstuck and I obviously do sweat when I run. I have the set fitted just above my bum as I found my stomach bruised too easily.
 
Thank you everyone :) I have the same issue Drifter....hence why for me the pump is appealing as due to my v little body fat, all my injections are v painful and especially the stomach ones bruise a lot, so I was hoping a pump with less injections would hopefully be less painful! I would probably have to stick with bum too. I have the smallest needle of 4mm and even all of them bruise me


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Drifter said:
I have a pump and actually take it off for running as I don't need any basal when I'm exercising. If I do need to keep it on I just clip it to my shorts. The set never comes unstuck and I obviously do sweat when I run. I have the set fitted just above my bum as I found my stomach bruised too easily.
Click to expand...

Like, like.. You are the only person I have heard of that found stomach bruised and using above bum. My sets I knew were going to be bad in my stomach when putting them in as they hurt. My saying is 'if they hurt, they don't work'- never even got so far as bruising!! So glad to actually hear that I'm not the only person!! Even plastic sets were dreadful because they didn't hurt when going in but occlusions and the highs were just too many to consider continuing. I think this is because of my muscles.


Loving life
 
Accuchek currently do not do a 4mm set, so if looking at pumps you may wish to consider a pump that does have 4mm sets. Don't know if their new pump may offer 4mm sets, I so hope so.


Loving life
 
I've been T1 for 31 years and always used stomach for pen injections. I tried stomach when put on a pump but had so many issues with kinked canulas and then bruising and scarring I was really concerned I wouldn't be able to keep the pump. After moving the site of the sets I've not had a problem. I'm slim so didn't have much room for fresh sites!! I also changed sets from quickset to silhouette which made a big difference too. I would highly recommend a pump!
 
Me too, for recommending. So nice to know I'm not an odd one out for sets in stomach...


Loving life
 
I too tended to bruise a bit when injecting in my tummy so most of the time my upper arms were used for the bolus and my backside for the basal. Never used my legs. The only reason to use tummy is to enable bolus insulin to work fast but the arms can also be used too.

Re wearing the pump......you can tuck it away in one of those lycra t shirt type bras as seen on the tv shopping channels but can be bought at reasonable low cost in shops and markets and ebay. For those who dont like bras, there's Spibelt which are good and loads of peeps use them for sport. You can also use Tubigrip if you want. Nothing is impossible.......just needs a bit of thinking

Re exercise.......if you can plan in advance in turning the bssal rate down on a pump about 2hrs beforehand, then bg levels and hypos will be better but you can also just eat some carb before exercise and then that will help to prevent any serious low bg.... There are many options to use with a pump so yr dsn would do well to read Pumping Insulin and find out a bit more info
 
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