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Pump Holidays

tim2000s

tim2000s

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
8,936
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
With @Spiker, @donnellysdogs and @azure recently moving off pumps and back to MDI for either a holiday, or an extended period, depending on how it goes, I wondered how essential an annual pump holiday of maybe 4 weeks per year might be, just to give the body and mind a break.

It would be good to hear from those who practice this annually and those who don't!
 
Hi Tim, I've never had a pump break would in fact hate to do so, or even know how to go about it now.
 
I've only been pumping insulin a short time (5 months) so probably not the best person to answer this, but for now I wouldn't be keen on going back to injections as using a pump with its ability to fine-tune insulin doses is much more preferable over MDI anyday.

However I think some pumpers do take a break for occasions like holidays, I'd imagine some people may see a pump as being awkward when sunbathing on a beach and this is why they take a week or two's break and return to injections.
 
Hi Tim,

I'm not planning a pump holiday in the near future ( but I hope to be getting a new pump). I've had problems with my sites but the thought of going back on long acting insulin is terrifying.

I think the idea of letting your sites recover is a great one, but i wonder if it'll work for everyone. When I first had my pump, I used my tummy as I was told to do that. I used my tummy only for 4 years, then suddenly it stopped working. This was approx 7 years ago, and I still can't use my tummy. So that whole area doesn't seem to have recovered : /
 
Like Engineer88 ,they would have to fight hard to get my pump and I'm only in my 3rd week pumping.
 
The control I get with my pump is great and I wouldn't want to give that up. The state of my cannula sites is not good after 16 years of pump use with some long standing no go zones with poor/erratic absorption.. Even if there was a guarantee that taking a break from my pump would improve the damage done to my sites I would be terrified to return to MDI and basal insulin night time hypos.
 
Pump holidays seem to be much more common in the US where it's a very normal thing to do. Some doctors say it's a must in order to continue being able to pump successfully long term. 4-6 months seem to be recommended when sites begin to tire.
 
MushyPeaBrain said:
Pump holidays seem to be much more common in the US where it's a very normal thing to do. Some doctors say it's a must in order to continue being able to pump successfully long term. 4-6 months seem to be recommended when sites begin to tire.
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Thank you Mushy.. Don't feel so idd now at 5 years!!
 
I have only been on my pump for about 1-2 weeks, and am already having mixed feelings. So far my sugars have actually been much worse then when i was on MDI and am hoping that i can sort this out asap.

So far having this thing constantly attached to me is more of a pain then i was hoping it would be, I can certainly see an annual pump break in my future.
 
Diamattic said:
I have only been on my pump for about 1-2 weeks, and am already having mixed feelings. So far my sugars have actually been much worse then when i was on MDI and am hoping that i can sort this out asap.

So far having this thing constantly attached to me is more of a pain then i was hoping it would be, I can certainly see an annual pump break in my future.
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... I think it's 'normal' for things to get worse before they get better on a pump... It's what I've heard, so is kinda what I'm expecting... Which is to say don't feel disheartened -- I can't say from personal experience but am reassured by others that once you've 'cracked it' things will be soooo much better... Hang in there! :-)
 
@Diamattic
I truly loved my pump... Still do... Just a case of getting used to it when newly pumping.. They can be so brilliant!! Honest I can remember posting here 5 years ago that I did not love my pump.. Mainly cos I knew tgere was probs with sets at the time. I then started to love it. Accuchek know I loved my pump.. Just can't put up with changing sets daily and having them fail due to being myscular and lean... Perhaps at some point if I changed job etc I would go back to it.. But I love my job, my fitness etc and do not see why I should change my health to put fat on...
 
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