I see an occasional post here by someone raising an objection to using an insulin pump. There are also many questions by prospective pumpers. I read recently that there are about 200,000 pumpers in the U.S., which I calculate at less than 10% of Type I diabetics.
The question:
Do you feel pressure to switch from MDI to a pump? If so, from who? This community? Your physician(s)? Diabetes literature/manufacturers? Someone else?
If all of your objections to pumping, if any, were resolved, would you stay with MDI anyway?
Actually my physician wants me to get a pump, everytime I see him he sells me the idea. Unfortunately I can’t afford one so I don’t have one. I don’t really have any objections beyond the cost and the idea of learning another system.
I have been blogging a little over 3 years now, and have received some actually mean-spirited emails regarding my “antique” method of treatment. I have also encountered a few people who think that I have nothing of value to add to a conversation because I don’t pump. It is not a good feeling.
My doc thinks I’m doing just fine. And I think that I need to continue to work on resolving some deep-seated eating issues before I invest in expensive technology.
I do, however, feel that a lot of my questions about pumping have been answered by reading other people’s blogs. I think I could make a pretty smooth transition. This year my employer switched to a less-coverage insurance plan. I already spend over $500 per month on my co-pays for strips, insulin and oral meds. Pump supplies would up that significantly.
Thank you for bringing up this question, Terry. I’m really interested to hear what others have to say.
I have to say I do feel some pressure to switch from MDIs to a pump. It’s never pressure from my doctors. It’s mostly from my partner, my brother, a diabetic (pumper) coworker and both diabetic (pumpers) and non-diabetic friends. When I have a bad hypo (every few months), I start getting the calls that I should get a pump. Last week I told my non-diabetic brother to try one out for a month, and let me know what he thinks. I think this is a decision I have to make, and I’m starting to resent the pressure.
My main objection why…I don’t like anything attached to me. That’s just me. I wore a CGM for a while. It was fine, but eventually I stopped wearing it because of the attachment issue. For now I think I’ll stick with MDIs.
I’ve had people tell me I should go on the pump as it would make my life easier. But I dont want anything attached to me. I dont even wear jewelry (except for earrings) but other than that I dont wear them. I also can not afford one as my pending case with medicaid doesn’t cover the pump. Maybe later on in life I’ll switch but for now, I dont mind giving myself injections.
I was pressured to switch from MDI to a pump by my endocrinologist about 10 years ago. My main objection was being attached to something all the time, so I first agreed to just wear a test pump loaded with saline so I could see how I felt about it without having to deal with actual pump therapy. Once I realized it was not any worse than carrying a cell phone (and in some ways a cell phone is even more of an inconvenience), I was sold.
I really do not believe that any Type 1 who desires good control and is willing to test often and pay close attention to their condition has anything to gain by staying on MDI.
It angers me to hear that anyone would dismiss you because of the method you use for treatment. Just goes to show you that you can find ignoramuses in any group.
Don’t you carry around insulin and syringes everywhere you go? There may not be a tube connected from those supplies to your body, but the attachment is just as real.
My PCP brings up pumping frequently. Wouldn’t say he pressures me, but I’ve expressed my lack of desire enough times by now. I have one friend who’s been a Type 1 for most of his 35 years & he pressures me. Before pumping, he didn’t test frequently enough, guesstimated his doses & had frequent hypos.
Yea, I’ve gotten attitude from people because I don’t want a pump. Yea, I resent it.
Reasons: additional expense & the not wanting something attached to me, which seems to be a common concern for us non-pumpers. I don’t mind MDIs & don’t feel any lack of freedom or flexibility.
I believe it was Scott S. who posted research several months ago that showed that people who had good control before pumping did not show lowered A1cs when switching to a pump. Some people, if I’m remembering this correctly, had worse control & gained weight because of the ability to eat more.
I think any Type 1 who tests often, eats low carb & understands how to dose, doesn’t necessarily need a pump to have good control.
Great topic!
I switched to pumping about 4 months ago ONLY because the Ontario government has funded insulin pumps for adults with Type 1 (after years of funding children under the age of 18).
There are two different worlds of diabetes - the online world and the real world (not to offend people, but really!)
The online community is a powerful tool and filled with many opinionated people. Those who are good with online technology are also up-to-date with diabetes technology, so it’s not surprising that online is more pumpy than offline.
I have found that over the years, the ‘pressure’ to start pumping has been largely from the Online Community.
In the real world, everyone on the pump has told me the same message - the pump is only a tool that will allow you to be as controlled as you wish. The mantra seems to be 'If you are doing well on MDI - stick with it! If you get frustrated with MDI, then you should look into pumping!"
A few years back, similar to Kathy, I got a blog comment after complaining about sugars being bad for a string of days (because you know, that NEVER happens to anyone on the pump… [I was still on MDI]). The comment just bluntly told me that I should start on an insulin pump.
For the record, I MISS the flexibility I had with MDI. My daily lantus actually lasted 24/25 hours and my body/life were in tune with that cycle, so things were great. In response to oneless, my pockets hate having a pump attached all the time. Mostly out of spite for the paperwork I went to for the pump program funding, I’m going to stick with it for quite a while, but we’ll see how things turn out…
nope…I eat mostly at home (better for carb counting). If I do go out to eat, I do my insulin before we leave the house. I only do insulin 2 times a day (breakfast and dinner) and those means I am mostly at home.
You’re brave! What happens if you get to the restaurant and there is a much longer wait than you anticipated, or you get stuck in traffic on the way home and your blood sugar is high? I guess if you stay home all of the time and only travel short distances, very rarely, you don’t need the flexibility the pump provides.
If we are going out to eat and I know its a 30 min drive, I bring a snack :). I dont do corection insulin. I was never taught that. My dr does not feel that I need that right now. And in another diabetes community I’m in I got yelled at for not knowing correction. But my dr doesn’t feel the need for me to know how yet.
Your most recent A1c is 10.7%…time for a new doctor. You’ve had diabetes for over two years- you most certainly should know how to correct high blood sugars with insulin and do so when the need arises.
Type 1 is not a disease for which you can depend on anyone but yourself for the best care. Your doctor provides the medications and guidance you need, but the day-to-day care is your responsibility. I’m not yelling by any means, but I can tell you definitively that never correcting with insulin and walking around with a 10.7% A1c is going to lead you to some very bad places.
Saying this only from concern, Oneless is right–time for a new doctor & to take control. An A1c of 10.7 is an averge BG of 260. This is extremely dangerous. Don’t know what your doctor is waiting for & he sure doesn’t care about your health.
I was taught how to correct highs immediately. Since you’re high a lot, your insulin doses must not be right either.
