Trial pump

Only as an adult, but loads of parents around with slightly older and younger children....

I wouldn't go back, and if I had this pump when I was diagnosed 25 + years ago, it would have made the last 25 years a lot easier....

Do you use numbing cream when inserting a cannula?

It does feel slightly different to an injection, to me i can feel it more, but it's also painless. Still can't be nice for a 5 year old!

Maybe the more she experiences the cannulas the better she will feel about them.

Do you use lift sprays or wipes to help the adhesive patch come off with ease??

I use a lift spray as the cannulas i use are very very sticky! and it feels ALOT different when you peel it off without any apray to loosen it first.

Also with more practice the cannula insertions should get easier and quicker, and you should be able to recognise more if there's unusual pressure which can usually mean it's a bad site and it more likely to be painful so you can move to a better area and save her some hassle.

If you have better control with the pump and it benefits her in the long run i would definately go with the pump, it will be good for her as she's growing and running about like 5 year olds do!

Also depending on what pump you have it can be very discreet which would be good for being around other children and school if she's a shy child and may find having injections near dinner time and at the thousands of kids parties i assume she will have to attend!

I've seen alot of parents comment on how the pump helps with control over night. Less testing and more sleep for both the child and parent when you have gotten used to the pump and have good control with it.

I've had diabetes since i was 20, and got an insulin pump back in february, i waited over a year to get one and now i have it and worked so hard i would never ever ever give it back unless i was pinned down and it was torn out of my hands! :lol:

I'm sure the pumping parents will be along soon to give you more experienced based advice directly from children but i hope some of this helps. I know i was desperate for a pump but before i decided i wanted one i did alot of research and thinking beforehand so i know it's not an easy decision.

All the best for you and your daughter

I also think that your daughter may long term basis (teenage years) be better on a pump-solely for the fact that some teenagers can be a little bit rebellious toward their insulin regimes-taking out insulin pens etc and injecting and wanting to fit in etc....pumps needn't be obvious, and with remotes etc that will be so far more smaller and better etc I think a pump would allow long term stability a lot better to be able to manage...

Also, don't forget it is till very much early days for you and your daughter, and a pump is a totally new regime from MDI...and you have said that levels have been more stable...and that has to be a huge part in managing diabetes and living with it on a healthy future looking basis.

Sure some parents will be along soon.....in the meantime wishing you best wishes.....

My son has been pumping now for just over 3 weeks and we love it!

It is hard and we are still testing through the night, but his control now overnight is better than it has been for ages. I also love the fact that I can correct at night if necessary without waking him and also if he decides he wants a bit more food I can just zap him with the remote rather than having to give another injection.

I believe that we are always learning and I know I've got a long way to go before I will get everything finely tuned, but I would never go back to MDI. My son would not go back either. He still gets upset when we do a change, but loves the fact that he doesn't have to have so many injections. He is already a whiz at bolusing and I don't think it will be long before he will be able to do his own pod change!

Stick with it - hopefully you will reap what you sow!

The one i use is lift plus 'non sting' medical ahdesive remover.

It's cold when sprayed on so she might be a bit alerted if you use it with no warning, so may be a good idea to spray it on yourself first if you do decide to get a spray so she can see it's safe if mummy is doing it

I find the spray better than wipes as with the wipes you have to pull and wipe under the adhesive patch to get it off.

With the spray you literally spray over it wait a few seconds and peel it off. Easy peasy

my doctor would only give us one ametop at a time which was no where near enough so i bought some from boots we have now moved to numbing the area with ice before doing a site change which works well too and we have a spray to remove the old site all these things help make the pump a more enjoyable stress free experience

anna marie