I was just curious about what others prefer. I personally prefer the pump. I have been on the pump for eight years now. I do not think I will be switching back to shots anytime soon, I love my pump.
I love my pump too! I have no interest in shots.
Both, for different reasons. I love my pump, but if i am ultra high, I use a shot. So i do not need to do that much but I do maybe 1 per month, seems reasonable to me? Sometimes shots are effective.
I agree with both acidrock and rick. shots are for quick corrections. Just today, My Infusion set ripped out overnight, and I was not wearing CGM to alarm me. Thus I awoke an hour ago to a Blood sugar of 365. I was so not wanting to nurse it back down so slowly through the pump. I injected with a syringe. I initially let the bolus drip out from the unattached quickset ending, to get the IOB reading; attached the set, then, injected the correction bolus. I use shots for high corrections.
Additionally ,when I am favored to go to a beach weekend for swimming and/or boating, I will go untethered such days like that. I will inject with MDI, using Lantus and Apidra. My Revel is not waterproof!
Other than those occurrences, You could not pry the pump out of my tight fingers for day to day maintenance.
God bless,
Brunetta
i have my pump and love it, but, as rick said, if i am really high ill use my pen, it is more effective then in my opinion.
Those shots are part of using your pump and prove you're on top of your game when you use them!
I prefer my pump. The CDE who did my original pump training seven years ago said I was the only person she had come across in 15 years who cited better control as the reason for wanting to switch (rather than convenience). The pump does offer me much better control.
There are times I get seriously annoyed with the pump, though. Like when infusion sets cause irritation and my body "rejects" several in a row. Or occasionally when my pump just won't stop alarming.
But for the most part, I definitely prefer the pump.
I prefer the pump, and I guess nearly all PWD's would if not for the cost and initial learning curve. I am a typical example of someone who hesitated and now will never voluntarily go back. Amazing how my site changes keep going smooth, time after time. No issues at all.
I prefer my pump, too!
To me, it is not what I prefer. It is what gives me the best control, and that is the pump.
I love my pump. I don't ever want to be without it. I'm not without injections completely though, as with every meal I inject Symlin.
Wait until a meters fatal design flaw(s) cause endless/a single delivery error(s), sustained adhesion is impossible, the skin prep makes your skin raw, you set does not work through no error on your part, tubing gets caught on something continously, site infections because of the canulas, you bleed because of the camula inserton, you are severe brusied by any number of factors, did I mention DKA... the expense of the pump equipment, the extra mandatory equipment for changing a set. How about the endless alarm(s) which occur because you are now wearing an externalized device 24-7-365.
The list is pretty long... no thanks I'll keep the shots...
neither
Neither what?
I prefer neither; but since I have to I will do the pump.
Very shortly after the corrected diagnosis to T1, my CDE started talking up the pump. She got me into one of her pump classes and I started to do my research. My recollection is about 90 days later, I was pumping. Fast forward about a year, I was in the ER two days in a row with high blood sugars. The second day, the ER doc came in and told me that he had consulted with the endo group and it was their recommendation to remove the pump. I went back on shots for about 3 weeks and during that time I was examined for scar tissue that would be causing the issues with absorption. I started up again with the support of the doctor and endo nursing staff and within 3 weeks I was back in the same boat. This time I pulled the pump before going high enough to get myself into the ER again. I've been on shots since the end of May of this year, so roughly 6 months now. As I write this, I've had about 2 weeks of higher than average numbers. The good (no great!) news is that my last A1C number was down to 6.5!!! Lowest I've seen post T1. Neither is perfect. Our bodies do what they want to do and we can't always keep up. One thing that is much better about the pens is going through security at the airport. Piece of cake (pun intended!!) With the pump, I had to allow at least 15 to 20 minutes extra. I know that they will want to have me return to the pump to balance out my numbers. As of now, I'm staying with the shots.
Best to all. NorCal T1
I used a pump for 12 months, and ditched it, same with my 9 year old (she was 5 at the time). I far prefer calculation-supported MDI and 0.5 unit pens, and when the 0.1 unit pens come out, we will switch to them. My A1C is consistently 6.5% and I do not eat like a monk!
I prefer pens/syringes. I haven't used a pump though. But due to pain/inflammation etc. a pump would be not a possibility for me. Having something on me 24/7 also not something I want. And due to pump failures/errors etc. I don't trust them, but I know many people love them and get better control.
Well, money is a factor as well, but I'm pretty happy with MDI right now. I've got a system and it works. I also have a Dexcom. A1C is around 6, but I think I can improve on that.
I have only tried the Omnipod, but my impression is that the absorption with a pump isn't as fast or consistent (day 1 vs day 3). I had a lot of other issues with the pod. But the big issue for me is gear. I have a half filled syringe in with my BG meter which I injects a few units at a time from, and there isn't much gear to worry about. If my numbers are right and BG is stable, I might just carry my Dexcom and some sweettarts in my pocket, but it all just fits in a pocket or two.
I prefer the pump. I was on MDI for 3 years, and on the pump for the last 15+. I have so much better control on the pump, in part because I use very little insulin per day (my TDD is ~20 units), and I think the pump is better for fine-tuning at the low doses. I also am super active, and it's easier to just turn my pump way down at least one hour before exercise. But yes, I use injections for faster corrections, as others do.