Due to a recent issue with Animas, on top of multiple other issues with Animas and the fact that we're on our 7th pump in 6 years, we're contemplating ditching the pump and putting my son back on shots.
His A1c trends a little high and his bg numbers fluctuate all the time with the pump. We just want to try to get more consistency.
Any input is appreciated if anyone in here has made the change themselves.
I didn't use a pump very long , but I did have to transition back to shots even with only using it for a short period as the week or so after using it I was fluctuating between needing less lantus and needing more lantus then needing more novolog to cover my meals . I find MDI controls me better than a pump anyway (muuch less hassle as well) so it's just finding the right doses. As for the basal though it also requires figuring out the right time. I take mine at night, while it leaves me a tad lower in the morning, it evens me out all day better than the morning (when I don't have a consistent schedule to give myself a shot every day anyway) . I'd suggest getting your son to his diabetes educator to talk it out with them though ,they know the best way to go about this.
Hi Ethan:
I've taken a hybrid approach that works well for me. It gives me the convenience of bolusing with an Omnipod pump and great basal consistency with injected Levemir. I posted more detail on this approach on another thread just recently: https://forum.tudiabetes.org/topics/first-pump-vacation-ever-since-2008?commentId=583967%3AComment%3A3467967
Christopher
Thanks for the feedback! I'll check into that link.
Unfortunately, his diabetes educator comes off as fairly abrasive and we've had issues with her for years. Living in a relatively small city/surrounding area, I'm limited to only the endo unit we are currently using. The next closest one is about a two hour drive each way.
I appreciate the feedback. I'll see if we can figure something out so my son can get some friendly q&a in with the educator though.
I pumped from mid 2006 to the end of 2012. I've been on shots the last 2.5 years.
Previous to pumping I had been 911'd eight times with a best A1C of 7.3%. While pumping I was 911'd once and had a best A1C of 5.6%. My incidence of severe hypos dropped dramatically. On MDI I've been able to maintain my pace with a best 5.7 A1C (helped by Victoza) with minimal hypos.
At the end of my pumping stint, I was getting set occlusions too often, every 2 days. Control was great when the sets worked, but those super high spikes were intolerable.
The biggest thing I learned from pumping was my true basal profile. I cannot easily match it with MDI, but I do fairly well. I split my dose, take my evening dose after 9pm, and shoot 6u of rapid at 6am when I wake. The rest of my regimen is the same.
That's very sad to hear that you have had so much trouble with Animas. I love my Animas pump and simply can't imagine life without it. I would be absolutely devastated if I had to go back to MDI. It was such a pain to have to inject in public, ect. I have a very busy and hectic lifestyle so the pump definitely helps me out tremendously.
Although I've never had an Animas I've been pumping for 15 years and will continue as long as I can. I've done well pumping in fact I refer to my pump as my manual Pancreas because I've had good a1cs since pumping. I stared pumping with a Disetronic H-plus for four years then I switched to Medtronic and have been using them for 9 years (2 different pumps). Maybe when he gets older he will be able to make that decision and will be more mature.
Yeah, because we can't really give medical advice here I don't know if I could tell you to just try to switch from a pump to a basal/bolus mdi routine with lantus or levemir and how to go about that. Mostly because the basal rate is reduced on a pump for most if not all people and he might be using very little basal and would need more lantus/levemir than that. I used 4.2 units total basal on my pump but I used 10 units of lantus before that , and now I use 11 units. More than a 50% reduction. I doubt his insulin to carb ratio would change though. Do record any insulin related stuff from the pump if you have't already like ISF (Insulin sensitivity factor) , I:C (insulin to carb ratio), his correction factor, and how much he uses for basal . Try to explain to his diabetes educator that the pump isn't working out for him anymore . A diabetes educator should be understanding of this, but if they're not, maybe his endocrinologist? someone should listen to you.
I am going to bring up my concerns to his endocrinologist and see where we get with that. He's really great so I see positive information and response from him coming from any conversation we have.
And as far as the numbers and info goes, I'm incredibly good with numbers and remembering numbers so I actually have all of his ratios and ISF and target BGs memorized... sadly (OR amazingly). :) I should probably write them down though just to be safe.
We use Novolog in his pump and his daily basal total is 6.95, I don't remember what his Lantus was for the day because it's been so long since we've had to use it.
Thank you for responding to my post. I truly appreciate any info and ideas anyone can give me.
911'd? Is that hospital visits due to BG? I can't even imagine. I've never had to bring my son to the hospital because of his numbers. To get those results, though, I check him every 2-3 hrs throughout the day and I only get about 3-4 hrs of sleep per night as I stay awake to check him while he sleeps (he tends to have higher numbers while he sleeps). Literally zombie status sometimes after long nights when his numbers are a little out of control.
We have had his A1c as low as 6.1 on the pump, but his endocrinologist told us to back off and aim more for 6.8-7.2. The main reason for this is because my ex can't seem to understand diabetes and has his numbers in the 300-400's constantly while she has him, and then to counter that I try to maintain 80-110 range when I have him. We have 50/50 custody, so unfortunately my son's numbers fluctuate half the week at a time. :(
I kind of want to get off the pump because I don't like the idea of completely relying on a piece of technology to keep my son healthy. I never have liked the idea, tbh. I'd rather he learns how to do the math and carb counting and all that the real way so he doesn't become dependent on the pump to take care of his diabetes for him, ya know?
I agree that it's sad about the Animas struggles. I hate the fact that a company whose device helps to keep my son healthy keeps failing me though. Unfortunately the pump specialist here in Burlington has said she hears similar complaints from Medtronic users as well.
I guess I'll have to weigh all options and see what my son wants to do ultimately after we get all the info we can.
That's kinda my thought process. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad you've had smooth sailing from the sounds of it with your pumps. :)
I recently switched to shots from my Animas. I really love it!
After 40 years of shots I guess my thought were that I needed something new and pumping worked out for me but not without some bumps in the beginning but I was determined.
That's what I'm hoping would happen if we decide to make the switch. :)
I appreciate the feedback. Can I ask, though, what were some of the reasons you ultimately decided to switch back to shots?
Yeah I guess there will always be bumps when trying something new. I'm glad it's worked out for you though and I appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
That really sucks that you are having problems with Animas; I have usually heard they have great customer service but sounds like you got some lemons. I spend two weeks every years at the diabetes camp in my area working as a nurse and haven't heard issues such as that.
I have been on a pump for 16 years and just recently started a pump vacation, I am getting the same control with it; but then I already know all my I:C ratios, and my ISF so really the only hurdle was actually taking shots which I am finding difficult to do after so long on a pump.
I don't mean to press = but it sounds like the A1C is a bit high due to your co-parent not understanding diabetes, and I know if my sugars bounced around like that I would kind of feel horrible. Do you think that going back on shots would be more effective for your co-parent to understand/manage control?
And can I just ask how old your child is?
I was having a lot of site issues. A lot of bruising and absorption issues. I was changing my sites every two days (sometimes two or three times a day in order to find a good one). I would stay high for 24 hours prior to a site change and it became very frustrating. I've really enjoyed shots. I rarely have lows and my highs are much easier to correct.
Thank you. Some of the issues you described are things that are on my mind. My son is only 9 and has been using a pump for 6 years. I feel it's only a matter of time before he develops bruising and/or scar tissue and has absorption issues as well. I feel he will eventually run out of places for insets...