Does anyone have any input on the mini-med pump and a cgm for an active 5 year old boy?
Thanks!
Amy
I have a minimed paradigm pump and I think it's great. I use the minimed CGM and I liked it for getting data to helkp me tune up my basal rates.
I suppose anybody at any age could benefit from pumping and CGM, but I wouldn't suggest to anyone on shots to do the pump and CGM thing all at once. too much to learn, too many needles in you at once, simply overwhelming.
So, what's going on with your 5 year old and why are you interested in pumping? (your answers will generate more people with input) =)
Amy,
My 5 year old daughter has a minimed 522 pump and she will be getting the cgm very soon. I LOVE her pump and I am excited to start the cgm. Let me know what questions or concerns you have and I will answer them. My daughter is very active. She plays soccer, softball, and swims. It never gets in her way and it has actually helped get her sugars in better control so she can play sports to the best of her ability. Before the pump she would shift from high to low and it was hard to keep her in a good number but now we have the pump set up to run differently on sports days. It takes some practice but it is really worth it!
Kathie
I have the minimed pump and the cgms. My 6 year old has the minimed pump and I would not get the cgms for her. The needle is too big for her. When I put it in myself it is painful. The combination of the needle and sensor is too big. The process of inserting a regular infusion set into her is body is a game of cat and mouse.....I usually have to run her down, try to psych her up "you're tough...you can do it" . I would not put her through the cgms insertion process. I hate it myself and I'm an adult. It would be too big for her little body. Just my opinion.
Thank you so much for everyone's input! We are looking at trying to keep from having high and low blood sugars with my son and have heard good results with the pump. We are on a schedule for shots now which is so rigid it makes it hard to be flexible. As parents we know our kids have events, school and just getting home to cook and eat by a certain time can be challenging. Keep the information coming it is very much appreciated!
Amy,
The pump could be a blessing for both your and your son. Just realize that it is just as much work dealing with a pump as it can be for dealing with MDI. The CGM is another great option, but I would err on not rushing into it. I would see how your son handles having a pump attached to himself before investing in the CGM. As was stated the CGM has a big needle and can at times be a bit painful, however, it should not be a deterrent. I loved my MM 722 and CGM, before I switched over to my Ping and Dexcom. I would just encourage you to investigate the matter fully before making a choice and decision with the CGM. i.e. weighing out the options of why you want it, and what you are expecting from it.
Thanks for the great advice. It looks like we will be going with the pump. We will not be doing the cgm until he has been on the pump for at least 3 months. This is our hospitals protocol and medtronic mentioned it is a bit of work in the beginning so they do not like to do both either.
Thank you, thank you!
My 5 year old was dx June 19, 2009 and we are still in the honeymoon phase. Our endo has concerns that it is too soon to have him on the pump. She tells me the catheter will clot off because he should be requiring more insulin for a pump. When I met with the reps of the pumps their opinion was the opposite. I am so confused and upset. I don't know which way to go. I want to do what is best for him. Thanks.
[quote user="Amy"]
My 5 year old was dx June 19, 2009 and we are still in the honeymoon phase. Our endo has concerns that it is too soon to have him on the pump. She tells me the catheter will clot off because he should be requiring more insulin for a pump. When I met with the reps of the pumps their opinion was the opposite. I am so confused and upset. I don't know which way to go. I want to do what is best for him. Thanks.
[/quote]
Clot off? I've never heard that before...
I've had a minimed paradigm 722 for 2 1/2 years now, but I remember that when I was trying to pick which pump I wanted, all the reps were really nice and truly tried to fit me with a pump that fit my interests/needs. So don't think that what the reps say is just to make you want to buy the pump--- in my experience they just want you to be comfortable and happy. And depending on how much interaction they get with putting new pumpers on the pump, they might be right in their stance.
I guess what your endo means is that the insulin will be going in too slowly, and so it won't go in well and blood will clot up the cannula. But since a basal rate is always running and delivering at least a small amount of insulin every few minutes, I don't understand how this would be an issue. That's just me though.
Any docs/nurses/endos out there who have heard of this?
I was just put on the minimed and cgm 2 weeks ago, I was just diagnosed in August 2009 with type 1 and I am in the honeymoon phase and it is working great for me, was never told of any clotting. Hope this helps
Hi Amy,
I have a few things to say, so bear with me. I have been on the pump for 7 years and I love it. I am trying to get a CGM now for the same reasons you want one for your child. I have traditionally been of the group that children are too young for a pump. I also believe that it is good to get used to diabetes before going to a pump which makes life "easier." As a camp counselor, we had a child who was not allowed to touch his pump, and it had to be locked. I couldn't believe that this was worth it.
In one of my last classes, I did a project on young children and insulin pumps. The major conclusion I found was that there is no medical difference between shots and pumps, but the stress level of the parents is much less in parents whose children have pumps. I still have a lot of the research that I used, so if you would like more information, I would be happy to get it for you, and I hope this helps.
Broc