Today is a special day for me, it marks 4 years for me on an insulin pump. I can’t believe it has gone by so fast.
Starting out
I really don’t like needles, so I liked the idea of only one needle every 3 days. I was on 70/30 novolog / NPH before the pump, and my A1c was 6.9, but my fasting numbers were really high at 200 to 250 (11.1 to 13.9). I had hopes I could drop my fasting by 40 points.
The first morning after pumping all night, my glucose was 107 (5.9)! Yeah! It was a learning process that never ends, but it does get easier as time goes on.
There are several reasons people give for not using a pump, the cost involved can be one, but please don’t assume - find out what your insurance will pay, you may get a good surprise on that score.
Many reasons amount to wouldn’t it interfere with xxxxxxx ? The thing to remember is, you can disconnect for 15 minutes, or a weekend, or a 2 week vacation, if circumstances dictate. You are not giving up the right to inject. I’ve personally not run into any of these situations, but if given the opportunity to go scuba diving, that day might be one.
If your glucose is high, your body gets rid of some of it by dumping it in your urine, and turning much of the rest into triglycerides - storing it as fat. When your glucose is normalized, this won’t be happening, so you need to eat a bit less. Your body is more efficient at processing food.
One reason given that really bugs me, is "I am afraid of gaining weight on a pump."
If your attitude is “Now I can eat anything I want, as much as I want, any time I want, and just take more insulin”, well - surprise surprise, there may be a weight problem, just like most non-diabetics would have - unless you are young and very active.
Here is what a pump, and 80 grams of carbohydrate a day has done for me.
Today I bought new jeans with a 36 inch waist. They fit just fine! 4 years ago, my jeans had a 42 inch waist. I have not been able to get into 36" jeans since I was in my 30’s, and I am now 60.
My LDL is 52, Triglycerides 112, average glucose 90 (5.0) and A1c 5.0