If I am able to raise enough money I think I may need/want a pump… I have extemely bad control and I am starting to experience complications. I hate the idea of having something stuck into me all the time - worries me that it will be unattractive and cumbersome. But I guess i do like my eyesight and feet too… lol… sorry, maybe not so funny for me at this point. I am terrfied by the complexity of the pump too but I dont want to keep getting sicker and sicker. I have had diabetes now for 14 years and its never been in good control, it controls me. Side note - I really had a terrible struggle with anorexia starting at age 16, in treatment by 18 and I still struggle, sometimes more than others - any experience with being someone with eating/body image issues and using a pump would be appreciated too. Thanks so much : ) I am scared, but I dont want to be sick either and it sounds like if I can come up with funding and budget monthly supplies a pump may help me
Rose,
I wrote a little about my experience with the OmniPod tubeless pump, here: http://bewarethepenguin.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-experience-with-omnipod.html
It is very discreet, probably more than any of the tubed alternatives.
I had much the same reservations in 1998 when my doc was pushing a pump. Finally acquiesced in 2000 and have never looked back. Most people honestly don’t feel tethered to something because it allows you so much freedom. You no longer have to worry about the timing of a long-acting shot (waking up at a certain time, spacing out meals a certain way). You no longer have to carry syringes everywhere you go. You can dial back the insulin if you decide to work out or eat less or you can easily take extra if you decide on dessert after a meal.
As far as body image is concerned, there are a few factors. I am a high school teacher and know teens on Animas, Minimed, and Cozmo pumps who all slip the pumps in their jeans pockets where they’re indistinguishable from pocketed cell phones. The tubing can be easily tucked away in the pants or a pocket. I did this from age 20-29 and then started on the Omnipod this year, which I find even more discreet. I wear it on my back and butt mostly and no one has noticed it in nearly 5 months. On a pump, you can eat varied carb amounts at meals and snack between meals (which could cause weight gain if you relish the newfound freedom like I did), but you can also skip meals when you’re not hungry, and in general, take less insulin overall (which helps reduce weight gain). I reduced my insulin intake by half when I started pumping.
We have several members here who have written candidly about diabulemia and other diabetes-related eating disorders. A pump won’t magically solve that, of course, and could even be misused, so you want to go in with a clear head. But the fine-tuned control it promises is often life-changing enough that it can change your outlook in general, leaving you feeling better and with more energy to tackle all the mental health baggage that comes with life with chronic disease. Best of luck to you!
Hi Rose, Pump its just one way to recieve the insulin we need for life. I start pumping 1 year ago and before that I have been in multiple shots for around 34 years an so.
Pumping its very expensive so consider it, and be aware of insurance coverage and limitations.
Pumping give us more freedom in how to administer insuling but requeries more care from us like diabetics , more blod on a finger test, take to much care with infusion sites, keep the insuling on the pump fresh and away from direct sun ligth.
For me pump its just one tool to control my diabetes BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE. On daily use Pump its OK you can change your basals fast, you can eat more frecuently and the pumps help to keep controled how much insulyn you have on board, trying to do that on multiple shots its very dificult, but not impossible.
Pump its no easy to handle if you like to go to the beach or pool, infusion sites require extra care and you have to be very aware.
For me the only way to now if a pump is good or bad for me , was using it, so my recomendation for you is go to your endo consult a diabetes educator, review your A1C actual and objetive values, make a plan a go for it !
As my personal experience can show for me pump its just a tool we can use, but not have to be the only tool to control our diabetes values.
Go For it , but dont think that the pump its going to solve all your diabetes requeriments, its just a new tool think onm that
Good Look !
YOU WILL NOT REGRET GETTING A PUMP!!! My diabetes didn’t “get worse”… as a matter of fact… after 2 month of being on the Omnipod pump, my A1c was 5.6… and it’s been that for almost a year! Pumping makes life SOO much simpler and i feel so healthy and alive. I had to go without my pump for 3 days last week… and I thought I was going to die! I’m pretty sure you’d love pumping as much as i do! The pumps are not complex… they ease a lot of the work. I honestly only press a couple of buttons a day. i like the omnipod because i can put it in so many different places (plus, the upfront cost is pretty awesome!). I’m not gonna speak bad about any type of pump, though. any pump would be better than MDI, in my opinion! good luck on choosing what’s right for you!
Speaking for myself, I LOVE my MM722/CGMS. I suffer from hypounawareness and that can be lethal. Remembering that CGMS is not a exact science, it allows me to see my “trends” and will alarm me to let me know when I reach a certain BG level. True, most times it is not equal to my finger stick test, but all I am concerned about is the “directions” my BG is going. For that, I love my CGMS. It has saved me more than once at least. As so many say, “YMMV”, which just means we are all different and it will be different for each of us.
For me, it works as I need it to work and I can not imagine not using CGMS now. Just like I am “hooked” on my pump and can not imagine going back to sticking myself 3,4,5,6 times a day. Did that for 20 years and I don’t need anymore practice.
I wish you much success with your diabetes and how you handle it.
Ron
Just wanted to put a quick note here in hopes you all will see it -
Thank you so much for all of the responses. I am still struggling to find a way to afford a pump in the first place but the more I read and learn the more I feel the hard work to learn and balance a pump would be worth it! Its typical for my BG levels to be in the 400 range, My feet are hurting or numb and I feel crappy - its time to do something different and I will put in as much hard work and considering I am already doing 5-7 blood tests daily monitoring a pump would not add to my testing times! This site is really amazing. I have spent a lot of time resenting my diabetes, but what i really need to do is accept it, try to deal with my eating disorder and realize the issues of that and diabetes are integrated, learn as much as I can and seek support! You are all awesome! Thanks so much again!
First and formost think about your health.I was scared to death of the pump but it is eaiser than shots,much better control overnight.Do it for yourself,who cares if you have to wear a pump,if someone says anything about it just tell them what it is and go on
your response makes me smile - thanks : ) I just got my most recent A1c and after considering shredding the paper and throwing a small fit in my head I am pretty solid on wanting a pump if that means I can get my life back and hopefully not suffer to much more damage from long term complications. Thanks : )
Hi Rose, I’m getting on the MiniMed pump soon. I’m doing it because I have to have my blood sugars level. For the past 7 years I did’nt want to be one the pump. Did’nt want something hooked up to me 24/7. I been a Type 1 for 33 years, since I was a small child. But my blood sugars constantly go up and down. I been losing my hair for about 7 years and several M.D.'s told me the blood sugar constantly going up and down can mess up alot of thing in the body. And Rose I have had a eating disorder to. Bulimia. It ws pretty bad 20 years ago. Now I just don’t eat alot because I have to keep my weight down. I can lose more weight but my Endo. said that will cause more damage. I also been treated for depression. Was diagnosed with Major Depression 20 years ago and been on anti depressants ever since. So I can relate to you. My pump is’nt wireless and I’m going to hate those tubes coming out. But gotta do what we have to do.
Connie
Connie, have you considered the OmniPod tubeless pump? http://www.myomnipod.com
Like you, I was a Type I diabetic for many years and always turned off by pumps. That was, until I saw the OmniPod. I’ve been on it more than a year and a half and it has really changed my life!
Check out this description of some of my experiences with it: http://bewarethepenguin.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-experience-with-omn…
Hi Rose,
My name is Jane.
I started on the Omnipod about a month ago. It’s wonderful! I’m a type I (for 22 years now) and am 54 years young. 
My long acting insulin was no longer working for me as it should, so it was giving out after 7-8 hours, even though I
was taking two shots each day then taking a bolus shot of short acting pre-meals.
Now, with the Omnipod pump, it takes less than a unit of short acting insulin per hour round the clock as my basel and
my bolus amounts pre-meal are much less than they used to be. I believe that this is because my basel blood sugars are now better controlled, I’m keeping better records of what I’m eating, and overall I just plain feel better. Another plus is
the ability to lower the basel dosage before, during and after exercise. I lower mine by a temporary %age during this time, and it’s just perfect! The unit is SO easy to use. You will have NO problems, I’m sure. And if you have questions,
the Omnipod trainer is available 24/7. They’re GREAT!
When I feel better, I am able to make better decisions about what to eat and how to live my life each day…one day at a time. I know you will, too.
Would I recommend the Omnipod? You bet. Life without multiple daily injections is WONDERFUL! Life with normal waking blood sugars is WONDERFUL! It’s ALMOST as good as a real pancreas.
My advice: Try it, you’ll like it!
And as a woman, the PDM (personal diabetes manager) is the computerized pod controller and blood sugar unit all rolled
into one compact unit. So it’s very easy to put into a small evening bag. No more bottles of insulin or syringes to carry around! That’s such a nice thing. I wish the batteries lasted longer, but maybe they’ll change to rechargeable ones in
an upcoming model. That’s my only minor complaint. (it’s not ‘green’) Ha! Ha!
Good luck to you! (and oh, by the way, Omnipod personnel were GREAT at submitting EVERYTHING to my insurance company for me…and my insurance covered a SUBSTANTIAL portion of the cost…yours may, too. Give Insulet Corp. a call, I’m sure they would be happy to assist you).
Happy Trails!
Jane
I’ve been on a pump since the first part of September my a1c last week was 6.3 using a pump is the best thing I’ve done for my diabetes
Go for it!!! I have been a pumper since 9/11/01, and could NOT get along without it. I have been a Diabetic since 1935. I thought the greatest thing to come-along In my life time, Was" Humalog" But MY GOSH ,along came the home BG meter I am on no.11 meter no. three pump, a model 722 Medtronic. It is truly a wonderful device Scott
Hi Connie, so sorry about the eating disorder, I hope the antidepressants are helping. FYI, my daughter is on omnipod and she is loving it! She totally forgets its even on most of the time. Good luck with whichever pump you choose. check out omnipod users group.
Me three............ (not a me to person....lol)
I am looking into a possible minimed???????
I went to MDI over 4 years ago and got my a1c down below 7 from an 8.6. Then refined it and down to mid 5s to mid 6s. Now I am considering pumping. I hear medicare is a bit of red tape, and picky.. With my great a1cs I questioned if I even have a shot at it, but with my kidney function level, below 50 eGFR, I might qualify anyway.
(plus my endo is concerned about possible hypo-unawareness)
Q 4 pumpers...... when you switched from MDI (Lantus & Humalog here) how did you figure your starting basal rate. I figure starting a little, few units below, my current total daily basal.
Any tips??????
Gomer