Pump upset

Most pumps can be put on thigh or buttocks can't they? Surely she could still have one as long as she rotates those sites properly

Where does she currently do her injections? I'm sure if you drop it for a while she might come around to the idea, even if it's a year from now.

I'd love a pump so send her one up to me instead haha!

Hi Shell,
sorry to hear you are having a rough time. A pump can be put anywhere you can do a injection, most people start off with the tummy as it's the most common place people feel like injecting and it is apparently the quickest absorbing point. Ask your dsn to see if she can give you some sets to take home to have a play with. see if you can get your daughter to put one on you (don't flinch or make a fuss even if it does hurt) don't push it either if doing anything with a set causes a fuss put them to one side and try again later. Maybe she could see you put one in another family member? I would try and make it so she feels in charge and it's her descion to do it even if she is gently persauded to. Also you can get lots of different types of sets ones that are the ones where you just push a button and others where you angle it in gradually yourself. I don't know why but I've always found them a bit less threatening than the push a button ones doesn't make any sense but it's whatever you're most comfortable with, they also can come in multicolours as well if that would help any, might make it feel a bit less medical if possible. I've found that it's sometimes better for the child to do it themselves then it's their decision it just might take a bit of time. the less stress around it the better.
Good luck,
Laura

The omni pod can also be used in the leg. So that is 4 sites to nice it around to. Would she consider that?

Pros and cons make sense and if you're able to have a play with some sets for her to get used to that would be a bonus! Slowly slowly is probably key with this. The fear of the unknown is a big thing, especially when you're only 9!

Hi shell, sorry to read this must of been upsetting for all. Good advice already but pump can be worn on arm as myself and other.pump users do. Can get shorter tubing to be worn on arms with a suitable pump pouch holder and a strap that threads through the back of the holder, or, tubigrip can be used as an alternative. This is with the accu chek combo pump.

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Not sure why they would say not arm, tbh, I find that the easiest place to have it as its strapped on, leads tucked away. Handy to have a bit of help from the mrs though to connect, disconnect if needed. As the cannula goes in the back of the arm. I can put the cannula in fine but if needing a shower bit of a struggle without stretchy arms to temp disconnect from cannula. Took a few weeks to get ok levels, but a few months to get fine tuned. Alot of testing, recording, adjusting at the start. Still get the odd high/low but more often than not am between 5~8.

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ask her to hold a piece of ice on her belly until it melts then let her inject! it makes it numb and gives her a chance to prepare for it! this was my mums favourite trick as I too hated it in my stomach! she might come round once she's had a think x


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Hi Shell,
I would keep asking why not the arm, a lot of pump users have it in there arm, if she's fine to inject there she should be fine with a cannula in. It may just be because her arms are so small that they aren't happy about using it there, Stick a post on the parents part of the forum there's a few who have pumps on there ask if any of there kids can wear it in their arms. Omnipod might be a good idea as when I have my pump on my arm I usually tuck it in my bra or have it strapped on my arm it might be a bit to bulky strapped to her little arms. make sure sites get changed regularly as she will have it for the rest of her life, keep the scaring to a minimum, but I'm sure once she's up and running she'll have more confidence and will eventually take over putting everything together and trying new areas like her tummy.
Good luck with it all.

My 7 yr old son has had a pump for 18 months now.
We really like it and it makes so much easier as he can eat what he wants when he wants.
This has been a godsend as he has always been a picky eater. tea times used to be very stressful when we were using insulin injections. :O(
My matthew is fine wearing the pump . He tends to have the cannula for the infusion set in his bottom . he says that's where it's most comfortable and it is quite discreet here.He also sometimes has it in his thigh or his belly. He has never been keen on the cannula change so it wasn't long before i started getting anaesthetic cream on prescription for this. We use Emla cream which is applied and left for an hr to work with a Tegaderm dressing over the top. This makes the set change much easier for matthew but the hr wait can be a bit of a pain if I'm changing set because bs has gone high. I have been thinking of trying the anaesthetic spray which works instantly.
Could this be something your daughter can try. I'm sure the nurse will let you have some of the cannula equipment and you could arrange a prescription or even buy the cream and dressings to try as well.

Hi,

I always disliked injecting in my tummy and mainly rotated between my arms and my thighs. When I went on an insulin pump I was told, like you, that I must not insert the cannula in my arms - I asked the reason and she couldn't give me a decent one, she just said that they discourage pumpers from injecting in arms. Now i've been on the pump for 4 months and always use my arms and thighs - i've used my tummy once but find it more comfortable on my arms and thighs - it's us wearing the pumps not them, and it works just as well in the arms and in my case, it seems to work even better. What the DSNs don't know, won't hurts

I really hope your daughter comes around and decides to give it a go, it has made my life so so so much easier and I wish more people had the opportunity to use an insulin pump.

I enquired with the pump dsn and the pump rep as to whether I could insert infusion sets in my arm and was told best not to as I haven't got a great deal of meat anymore now that Ive got older.

I do think that if infusion sets had 4mm cannulas or steel needles, more diabetics would use their arms instead of tummy, backside and legs. Sadly, none of main pump companies have thought to produce 4mm cannulas (for children?) and only produce them in 6mm being the shortest. Emla cream is not the only numbing preparation..... there is also Xylocaine spray which is used to numb earlobes for ear piercing and there's also good old frozen bag of peas which works within 5 mins and is available right from a fridge.

Lots of children and adults hate multi injections and many dont comply and become ill. The world doesnt need to revolve around mdi, twice daily insulin is still available and although it doesnt allow for eating varying amounts of carb, many feel much happier.

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