I’ve received a few welcome emails and I just wanted to say Thank you. I really do feel welcomed and I hope to get to know a bunch of you and discuss all kinds of things. I’m really excited! I was diagnosed when I was 7 and I’m now 53. Things have changed so dramatically over the years it just boggles my mind. I’m not using a pump yet; I was so against them because I thought it would get in the way of how my clothes fit. I’m passed that now and would like to hear what anyone has to say about their pump. I’m ready to get one but don’t know a lot about them. Thanks again and I hope to hear some comments soon!
Howdy!!! Yourvery welcome here!!! I got Type 1 when I was 10 and am now 48. I pump was so against it 23 years ago but my pump went on the blink last month and to be honest I felt like I had just got the D diagnoses again. I use the MMand as of Monday I’m getting the MM723R. I like it. Yes I have had to wear loser fitting clothing but let’s be honest here…My body isn’t shaped like it was in my 20’s or 30’s LOL!
I love my Ping. It took awhile to figure out the logistics of wearing it, but I found most of my clothes work just fine between using the clip, shorts, etc. There are things you can buy such as the spibelt to hold the pump as well as leg holders. It was definitely a learning curve to get used to the pump, but as long as you have down carb counting, I:C ratio, tweaking your own numbers, ISF, etc, you should do fine. The freedom it gives you is amazing. I resisted it for awhile thinking I didn’t “need” a pump, but then I realized the majority of the women in my Type 1 Women’s Group have a pump and it is the standard of care. Good for you to be willing to consider something new in your diabetes care. And welcome to TuD!
Exactly Doris! That’s what I’m thinking too. I’m not wearing anything that would reveal the pump and even if I did, it’s just another bump. 
Hi Zoe! I just received information about the MiniMed Paradigm Revel. It’s looks amazing. They included all the paperwork for me to fill out, but I want to do some more checking on other units before I make my decision.
Nice to meet you, I love my pump. It is an inconvenience but it’s SO much less work than shots and guessing. I went from R/N to pumping (in 2008…) which may explain my fondness for it but I’ve really enjoyed having it. Even if it gets in the way of how my clothes fit.
The way they got me to wear one (now you must remember I got mine 23 years ago when cell phones weren’t the norm) was they told me it would look like I had a cellphone on my waist (they have a clip with them) and I would really look “hip” LOL!
I think each of the pumps has a different advantage to it; seems like most people I know have either the minimed or the animas. I have an animas ping myself and the advantages I’ve found it has over other pumps is that it has a “meter remote” you can do all your bolusing from and you don’t have to take out the pump itself. Only downside I’m aware of is the damn buttons start flying when you hold it down and you inevitably go past your number and sometimes past it again on the way back down.
The minimed has a remote too. At an additional cost.
Welcome, Pat! Knowledgeable people here to help guide you. Let us know your decision.
For the most part, I really like my pump. I use the Minimed Revel and have been quite happy with it. The pump has helped me get my A1C down considerably and I feel that I am overall more in control of things. I am fairly insulin sensitive and, when doing MDI, am often unable to correct unless I’m close to 200. With the pump, however, I can delivery very small corrections. In addition, I am becoming more and more proficient at using features like the dual-wave and square-wave boluses. They are really nice for when I eat out or eat foods that are high in fat.
As for clothes - I have not had too much trouble hiding my pump. Some of my favorite places to stash are are clipped to the inside of my waistband, down the middle of my bra, and clipped to my waistband in the small of my back (for when I’m wearing a skirt, like today).
I definitely think everyone with T1D should at least give a pump a try. It’s not for everyone and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with doing MDI if that’s what works for you, but I have definitely enjoyed the convenience of the pump.
Hi PatPie:
I’m new here too and so far I really like it and feel welcome. I asked a question and within 5 minutes had great answers rolling in. I, like you, am a long time Type 1 and a cat lover. I don’t have a pump yet either-I was approved but chickened out-I am thinking on it again and I am very interested in the answers you’re getting about this. So welcome from another newbie and we’ll share the wealth on this issue if you don’t mind!
More than happy to share all answers on any subject. I think we should try the pump together Woodfairy. Maybe do some comparisons. I think I’m going to go with the Minimed Revel.
Welcome!! Happy you are here Many wise people on TuD and you will get the best advice/support regarding the Pump and many other questions, etc.
Hi Pat, nice to meet you! I started pumping with the minimed pardigm 723 in December after going through a long period of resistance to pumping. Now I don’t know what took me so long to start pumping because it has really worked well for me. Pumping may not be for everyone, but for someone who is willing to put in the effort it will likely work well.
My Pros for pumping: Better control. I use quite a few different basal rates throughout the day and find them most effective to combat my aggressive dawn phenomenon. I can dose as small (or adjust) as 0.1 units for a bolus and 0.025 units/hour basal to great precision. CGM. The CGM takes extra work and learning but has led to control I did not think was possible 2 years ago. Improved log book. Minimed has great software that records my data much better than I would have ever bothered to do in a journal. This has led me to be able to adjust basals, I:C ratios, etc. much more accurately.
My cons for pumping: Swimming. Swimming is now quite frustrating with a pump due to disconnecting,then figuring out how much insulin to bolus for missed basals and always seaming to get it wrong. Wearing a pump can and does cause some irritation from time to time.
Overall, the pump has been much better for me than MDI. I recomend that you try one and see what you think. If a pump does not work for you, then you can always go back to MDI.
I was in to see my PCP today and told her I was getting a pump. She told me I would still have to take lantus injections with the pump. Does anyone know if this is true? I decided to finally go with the pump believing and having been told I wouldn’t need injections anymore. Any comments would help! Thanks.
No, it isn’t the same, PatPie. Animas has the patent on the meter remote. I’ve seen the minimed remote - it’s a keychain like thing you can use to bolus, say in a dark movie theater by hearing the number of beeps. The Animas remote is a “meter-remote”. You use it to test your blood sugar and then you can do anything from it you do from the pump: program in your carbs and the wizard gives you the bolus, ditto a correction, a combo bolus, etc.
Uh…your PCP knows about as much as most PCP’s - namely nothing! No, you don’t take Lantus injections with the pump. You don’t use Lantus at all. Your basal insulin is provided by the pump in tiny increments all day and you use the same fast acting insulin you use for bolus - only one type insulin in the pump. The basal is one of the biggest advantages of the pump because you can set it for different doses for different times. For example if you have a problem with DP and need a higher hourly rate right before waking. I have mine set for 7 different “time zones”. It’s a lot more exact than just taking Lantus once or even twice a day and expecting it to cover you 24 hours. Nope, no Lantus and no injections needed.
Oh, and someone mentioned swimming: The Ping is waterproof in up to 12 feet of water.
Hi PatPie. No you do not take Lantus injections with a pump! It’s a good idea to keep a vial or pen of Lantus in your fridge, or a prescription, just in case something goes wrong. But a pump gives drips of fast acting all the time, which is the basal; when you bolus for a meal or take a correction, you take the amount needed. I’m sure others will explain this better than I just did, but you do not take Lantus while you are connected to the pump.