I've only had diabetes for about four months, but the day I was diagnosed, I was told that eventually I would want to be put on a pump. I wasn't a fan at first, but now it seems like being on a pump would be 10X easier to deal with diabetes. As much as I want one, people keep telling me the downsides, like not wanting to have something attatched to your body, or that it looks weird under your shirt, etc. I'm confused and I don't know what to think, espesscially since I hate the shots. If this matters, I don't really play any sports so I don't have to take that into consideration. Any advice?
I have had diabetes for 5 years and honestly the pump is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am on the omnipod. I didn't want any pump because i was affraid that someone would rip of the tubing. Well when i got the free omnipod just to see how i would like it on my body and i loved it. If u wear not super tight shirts it bearly shows! the best part of this pump is it is waterproof. You just have to change it every 2 days. If i were you i would deffinatly go on a pump it changed my life and made it easier.!
-Amanda
What if you DO sometimes wear tight shirts? How much does it stick out?
This may seem funny but there have got to be a million other diabetic girls out there that do this...I hide the pump in my bra, sometimes depending on what I'm wearing. It works great with strapless, low cut dresses, sundresses and tighter shirts too!
Haha that is funny! And creative. :) I am hoping to convince my doctor to let me have a pump in about a month when we visit again. After all, you can just switch back to injections if you want, right?
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 14, I am now 23. I recently just got on the pump in January and it IS the best thing that has ever happened to me. I hide my tubing underneath my pants and it hardly ever shows. Considering I do wear skinny jeans and tight tops, I just latch it where you'd attach the belt, or in my bra. It does stick out a little, but it isn't that bad at all. My blood sugars are in better control and it is much better than shooting yourself 3x or more a day. You just need to change the site every 3 days. I think you should go on it, it'll be a very good decision. Plus if you're not crazy about it, you can always go back to the shots. =)
Thanks for your input. I'll keep it in mind when I go to the doctor's tmrw. :)
Amanda,
im sorry this might sound dumb, but i'm recently diagnosed and i want to get an insulin pump (my sister has type 1 and she has one so i see the benefits), but i'm wondering what the difference is between the omnipod and other pumps?
Omnipod doesn't have the tubing that runs from the part you push buttons on to give insulin to the site that goes into your skin (aka "pump site").
Check out the websites:
Medtronic: http://www.minimed.com/
Animas: http://www.animas.com/
Omnipod: http://www.myomnipod.com/
thanks!
Do it! I am recently diagnosed, too (almost 9 months, but hey, who's counting, right?) and I just got hooked up to my minimed pump a couple of days ago. It's awesome! I am so happy that I did the research, found the best option for me, and talked to my diabetes team about it. As long as you're motivated and informed, and you REALLY want the pump, there's no reason why you shouldn't give yourself the best opportunity to take control.
As a fellow recently diagnosed... my heart goes out to you! I've been told it gets easier, as I'm sure you've heard as well.
--Nomoreneedles
Hi Gwyneth, If you haven't gone on a pump yet, I would highly recommend it. I did 10 years on injections before I went on my pump. My endocrinologist wanted me to be 12 because at that time they didn't put little kids on pumps yet. We talked him into letting me go on it two years early, and me and my mom convinced my dad. He was the one saying, do you really want that connected to you all the time. . . but you're under good control on shots, why should we switch. Answer: I only have to change the site every 3 days, they had me sold at that. I hate needles, so only having to deal with it every 3 days was a dream come true. I love my pump. I don't mind having it on me all the time. The first week was awkward, but you get used to it. A couple of months ago i had to go back on injections for a few days because my pump broke over 4th of july weekend, and I kept feeling like I was forgetting something. I would reach for my pump and it wasn't there which scared me a couple of times, lol. It offers a lot more flexibility too. I'm in nursing school right now, and there is no way I would be able to handle the crazy schedule without my pump. Good Luck =)
I LOVED MY PUMP!!!
Sorry for shouting, but pumping was the best thing I ever did and I wish I had started it sooner. I had a minimed and the tubing didn't bother me. I wore it usually in the side band of my bra and either went under my shirt or through the neckline to access it. No problems. I got much better control because I could fine tune the dosing so much better. Also, the different basal rates were excellent in helping with dawn phenomenon and differing insuiin sensitivities during the day. One shot every 3 days versus 4 a day was fantastic too. And it was nice to be able to more easily skip meals or eat a little more than usual and just take an extra bolus rather than an extra shot.
Don't get me wrong, it is a lot of work. You have to test a lot and learn all your ratios. But it is worth it.
Cora
Gwyeth,
I've been on the pump for a little more than 10 years of my 14 years of diabetic life. It definitly changes life for the better, in my opinion. I have heard of people returning to shots but usually after a couple years of pumping. I wouldn't suggest pumping for a month and deciding to go back to shots. :) the draw for me for the pump was the no needles for 3 days. :) That's a really nice feature. One thing about the pump though is that there are several things that some people don't like about it and you named a few in your originial post. I think you need to know there are some "downsides" to getting a pump, however once you have everything under control it makes life SO much easier. The best thing that ever happened to me was getting a pump but some things like going low, and getting ketones can happen for often if you aren't careful. If you hit a bad spot with your site or if the site goes bad... high numbers, ketones and you have to change the site and get a shot (so that the insulin definitely gets there quick). also some people don't like having something attached to them all the time but you get used to it. I do tuck it into my bra on occastion but usually just clip it on my waistband and it might bulg just the tiniest bit. There is a thread on this somewhere about how girls wear the pump maybe in women only... I'll try to find it and tell you where
there are several in the group "insulin pump thearapy"