Hi, I'm a type 1 diabetic who was dxd in 1980 and started pumping in 1999. My oldest was recently diagnosed with type 1 in October of this year and we were told that she would be a great candidate for a pump because of her insulin sensitivity and my experience already with them. We are researching pumps at this point but I'm concerned over sets "fitting" her.
She is 4.5years old and only weighs about 29lbs. She has always been petite and did not lose weight prior to her diagnosis. Right now she takes diluted humalog for meals (carbs) and Lantus for her basal. We use the short needle syringes and mostly arms and legs at this point. No inch to pinch on her torso.
She is VERY skinny and I'm hoping others may have suggestions for what type of sets would work for her? Suggestions on where to put them?
I too have a super skinny newly diagnosed 6yr old (she just turned 6 in Oct. and is pushing 35lbs). We are only two months into our diagnosis but I am planning on moving forward with the pump when she is six months past her diagnosis (sometime in March). I am very nervous about infusion sets. Right now we can only use her arms for her shots (luckily we only do 2 shots per day, which I'm sure could increase any day). Her legs are too thin and her torso has no fat to grab at all. I would love to hear the answers you get about infusion sets. Also, does anyone have advice on how to get her to gain weight!!!?? I'm even adding oreos to the end of her dinner to get her to finish her dinner and get the added calories. Maybe I shouldn't worry about her weight but it does weigh (no pun intended) heavily on my mind.
My darling is 7 yrs old, dx'd last fall and started pumping the last week of May. I was very nervous about starting the pump and the site changes etc. Our pump nurse fro Animas walked me through the insertions until I was comfortable doing it on my own. We had the best pump start, way better than I could have imagined - she even took us to lunch a few weeks after the intial start up to help me figure out how to handle a buffet (sweet tomatoes). We went with the Animas Ping (love it) and have found the best set for her so far is the inset30's. I don't have to pinch up anything at all. The other insets don't work as well for Naomi and it is because she has low body fat, yes - not much to pinch except on her tush! The inset30's have been fantastic. Naomi is able to wear the inset30's anywhere, the others only work on her buns. I was a bit intimidated by the insertion at first but it's really no big deal, do it 5 times and it's like riding a bike! :) Good luck!!
Oh I would add for Heather's comment that I have started giving Naomi whole milk and peanut butter in hopes it will help put some fat on her. :) I have found the whole milk is also much better on the post meal bg than the lower %'s, figures of course it has more fat! :)
Thanks. We are still on whole milk for both my girls as they are skinny minis! I've found it works well for my bgs as well. Good to hear on the Inset 30s. I think they are the same as my Comforts (or Minimed's Sils). Do you use the shorter needle ones though? Thanks!
Thanks! She must be very skinny like my daughter. I'm not sure how to help you on her weight gain as we are just starting to work on that as well. She is eating more at meals but cutting back on snacks to avoid another shot. Right now she has 4-5 a day (one is her Lantus). Hopefully you'll get some good information from this question as well! :-)
LOL Both my girls HATE peanut butter. At least my youngest loves guacamole and avacado and I can get some calories in her that way. Other then slather extra butter on things I struggle to find things my oldest will eat that are more caloric and yet she LOVES broccoli raw or steamed and will eat bowls of it.
I believe the needle for the inset30 is slightly longer than the straight insets but it really doesn't seem to cause my daughter any more discomfort than the others. I have found as long as I keep the entire contraption behind me and out of Naomi's sight then she handles the insertion pretty darn well.
Might sound gross but...try sunflower butter. If you have Trader Joe's there's is slightly sweetened, I prefer the all natural - to me it's waaay better tasting than peanut butter. I just tried it for the first time three weeks ago and I'm on my second jar already! Also - coconut oil, it's hard like butter but it's pretty tasteless and super good nutritionally speaking. You could put it on toast and it will melt down a bit or even spread a light layer on a sandwhich and I'm sure they wouldn't probably even realize it was there. Just a couple ideas! :)
