I am somewhat tired of injecting myself with my pen, but I just can’t wrap my head around the fact of having something inserted in my stomach, attached to me at my hip daily. I’ve heard that the pump really helps, but I’m not sure I want to try it. I’ve had diabetes for 4 going on 5 years and a lot of people have put pressure on me to get the pump. I am terrified. Please help!
When I was in 4th grade (late 1980’s), I had a classmate who was T1 and was moving out of state. At the time, she told me that her parents were going to put her on a pump. I shared this with my mom and she couldn’t believe it. My mom had heard the horror stories of pumps and infections. So, this idea stuck with me until I was 18 (1998) and got my first pump. I had been on MDI for 16 years and was a freshman in college. I wish I had gotten a pump sooner. Think of it this way: you are already connected to stuff-meter and pen-a pump is just going to make administering your insulin easier, and hopefully better control and more freedom.
Thank you so much for the advice! @powvens
Hi @blehxmada,
For my first 47 years struggling with T1D I used every method for surviving EXCEPT the pump. n the 1980’s doctors offered me the pump because I feared, yes FEARED, that the pump would control my life. How wrong I was.
I finally surrendered and went on a Minimed pump and found how much the pump freed me to really live life. It allows flexibility in scheduling events such as activity/exercise and meals. The meal flexibility really paid off when I was a corporate executive and had to attend functions where cocktails and finger foods were served and meals weren’t served until 8 PM or later; plus delayed luncheons, etc. The pump will make this schedule possible. Add to ths, I went from 1,488 shots in the year before I went on the pump to one insertion every third or fourth day.
I don’t know you or your life style, but I would suggest that you seriously consider using a pump. Let’s talk about your particular situation and how you are working with your diabetes.
The pump is a life extender, which is the best way to think of the choices. And next year sometime, the first of the artificial pancreases (or APs), which are all based on insulin pumps. It will free us from much of the labor we now must perform to maintain glucose control. Check JDRF.com for more info about the APs.
Pumps are a lot of work when you first start out, as you have to find out what your correct dosage of insulin needs to be. However, it is SO worth it in the end. I did shots for 16 years and I’ve been pumping for 16 years. I don’t ever intend to go back to shots. Most pump companies will let you do a free trial of their product before you commit. You can wear a pump with saline in it (instead of insulin) just to see how you like wearing it, get used to pushing the buttons, etc. Your doctor should be able to put you in touch with whatever pump company you want to try (or should I say that your insurance will approve).