My endo says I should consider pumping. I have sensitive skin so it could be tricky and I'm wondering how you all feel about pumping. How does it help you?
I install my CGM sensor on the back of my arm, I get a rash if I put it on my stomach. So what is the pump like? How do you connect it? How does it feel? Do you wear it all day/night? Does it interfere with sleeping or showering? What brand/model do you prefer?
I love my pump and wouldn't ever willingly go back to shots. My A1C is lower but maybe more importantly it just makes management easier. I now wonder how I ever managed with dosing that had to be rounded off to whole units. If I need 1.75 for a meal now, that is what I use. This is particularly useful for basal. Instead of expecting one or two shots of long-acting to give me 24 hour coverage I now have my basal set at different rates for my naturally varying needs over the day and night. I change my set every 3 days on average instead of giving myself shots five times a day! I don't need to carry as much stuff when I go out. I use the Animas Ping which has a meter remote so in public it just looks like I'm pushing buttons on some strange looking electronic device, just like everyone else!
Yes, it is necessary to wear your pump most of the time to not break the flow of small bits of basal insulin. However when I take a bath I just disconnect at the site, with no need to remove the set. Everyone finds their own way to sleep. Putting it under the pillow didn't work for me. I just hook it to sleep shorts in summer, thermals in winter and hook it on the back because I generally sleep on my stomach or sides. You can actually lay on top of it with no harm. The tubing is what people worry about ahead of time and then afterwards you realize it's no big deal.
Having said all those good things. A pump has a pretty steep learning curve; it takes awhile to learn all you need to know and get things running smoothly. Then the pump comes with it's own set of problems, different than shots. Yes, some people have problems with skin - I don't so I don't know what people do about that. You do sometimes get problem sites for various reasons and may have to change it out due to high numbers. If you have a totally blocked site, your numbers can very easily get quite high. But you can prevent that with regular testing. I usually try not to change my set at night so I don't go all night without testing; during the day is better.Finally pump supplies are expensive, so the quality of your insurance is important. Bottom line, for me, and I think for many of us, the negatives far outweigh the positives!
I have the medtronic revel pump, since April, and I love it, no more 5 shots a day, I change it once every three days as well. Much better control. I bought a leg sleeve to put my pump in @ night since I am hot blooded, but have slept on it all night with no problems. My insurance cover most of it, but I would never willingly go back to shots!! I unhook to shower or take a bath, no problem, doesn't interfere with anything, not even intimacy with my hubby! I say go for it! You might be glad you did!
I love my Animas Ping. It certainly doesn't bother my skin. I connect to my stomach, legs, butt and arms -- basically anywhere I would give injections. The infusion set to connect is painless. I only take it off to take a shower. I have it clipped to my belt or waist mostly, and it doesn't interfere with my sleep whatsoever.
I was diagnosed in 1974, at age 3. I took injections for 38 years. Since starting on the pump in July of this year (less than 4 months ago), I've already determined that I don't want to go back to injections!
I suggest asking each company for a sample set, and wear it just on its own for a couple of days to see if you are sensitive to it.
I am get allergic reactions to my MM sets, but not to the Animas sets.
That could make all the difference to you once you find out if it is a problem.
There are ways of dealing with it even if you do have a problem, But finding out beforehand is the way to go.
Pumping is worth the lack of trouble. The advantages of pumping has led to lower A1-c levels for me, a stabilization of my kidney function and an over-all ease of management, so that I can eat what I need when I want it, and having the ability to readily take the necessary insulin to cover the food.
This does not give the freedom to eat whatever is desired. My guess is that my diet has been more controlled since beginning on the pump. What it does is to eliminate the huge dose from a needle injection, a correction two hours later and a long-acting dose at night. That's right, for me, it was seven shots per day, usually at the most inopportune time in my schedule.
I have an Animas Ping, and like it very much. It has a nice colour screen, it has a great food catalog option, programmable warnings and reminders, a meter that talks to the pump and vice versa. The battery lasts, for me, about a month. The pump is water-proof, easy to load and maintain, and seems to be trouble-free and durable. The pump is worn 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The infusion set is moved about every two to three days and is worn in the abdomen area, butox hip, leg or arm. There are various types of infusion sets from which to choose, so I am sure you will be able to find something that will not trigger and allergic reaction. You can take off the pump while swimming, showering or for intimacy, and there is a plug that goes into the infusion set to keep it dry and clean. There will be a learning curve to get to know how to run it, but your pump trainer, CDE or the company hot line will help you with everything that you need.
I like the Animas because their customer service, for me, has been excellent. The trainer was complete with the presentation and answered all my questions. When I saw him a year later, he still knew my name. I would recommend the Animas Ping to anyone.
Please keep us informed as to what you choose.
Be well.
Brian Wittman
For me, yes, pumping has really been worth the hassle. My pump did annoy me at first, but once I saw the benefits, it was less of an annoyance and more like a really good friend. Now I just feel naked without it!
Try out different pumps if you can. I use the Minimed Revel and love it. Read this forum for some real-life discussions of the various pumps and their pros and cons. Each pump has different features and you need to pick the pump that has the features you’ll find most valuable.
Read Pumping Insulin by Walsh. Get the newest edition. This book is the pumper’s bible. Read it several times (I known I have).
Realize that pumping is not instantly wonderful. It took me a good 3 months to get things set up (basal rates, I:C ratios, etc), and I still tweak a fair amount. Be committed to the process.
If you’re even thinking about it, give pumping a try. I do have some skin irritation issues, but it’s pretty easy to experiment and fin s
I have used a pump for 14 years, and it really has made my life better and easier. I also am very insulin sensitive and have a relatively low TDD (total daily dose), so a pump makes doing small boluses easier and more accurate. It's great if you are athletic--just turn your pump down for exercise. I have the Animas Ping, in part because it is waterproof. I just got back from Maui, where I had a great time snorkeling and swimming in the ocean while wearing my trusty Mr. Pumpy. I do have very sensitive skin, but I haven't had a problem with my insertion sites. I disconnect my pump for showering, but other than that it is on 24/7.
You know that Medtronic and Animas sets are made by the same manufacturer? Oops, this reply should be to Timothy, but I can’t figure out how to move it.
+1 pump endorsement. I didn't find it any trouble at all. I wasn't counting carbs, although I was sort of guessing at it, taking lots of wild shots, etc. and it was doing ok but things really fell into place with the pump. Less work, better BG, more flexibility, etc. I don't notice it these days. I like the Medtronics as I got a CGM after pumping for a couple of years and like the all in one gizmo.
Short and to the point: Pumping will change your life!! Sleeping, showering...quit worrying and give it a try.
I recommend the idea of samples if you have senstive skin, but don't forget the other part, such as IV wipes.
Learning curve but VERY worth the time. Good luck!
Excellent. Thanks for the input. I will contact some vendors tomorrow and ask for demo stuff. I am a little leary. I recently started using the Dex7+ again, got enough sensors to keep me stocked till jan 2013. Now they have a newer model, the G-4, 25% more accurate...I'm nervous that I'll get a pump and then the new ones will come out. Any idea when the Animas Vibe will be approved by the FDA?
I have problems with irritation/allergic reactions at pump sites. My problem seems to the the adhesive (as I have the same problem with Band-Aids) but also the area where the cannula is gets very itchy and usually has a hive there when I remove it. I put Tegaderm under my sets and it helps. I also change them every two days (or sooner if they get itchy). Often even with those measures sites will get red and itchy and will itch for a day or so even after being removed.
Despite all that, my pump is a HUGE benefit to my control. There is NO way I would be able to have as good control as I do with shots. For me, it's absolutely worth it.
But everyone is different. My pump trainer said I was the only person she had met who cited "better control" as a reason for going on the pump above "convenience", but having said that it's also much more convenient than shots.
The one downside (as far as I'm concerned) is that if there is any interruption in insulin delivery, my blood sugar and ketone levels shoot up very fast (within a few hours).
I started pumping a couple of years ago after 25 years of MDI. IMHO, diabetes is trouble, period. I haven't found a way, yet, to make sticking myself with metal objects multiple times a day seem like typical behavior. The only question with MDI versus Pumping is what particular flavor do you want your trouble to come in.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. I find the advantages to pumping outweigh the advantages of MDI and, conversly, the disadvantages of pumping to be less than the disadvantages of MDI.
Specifically, the ablity to more precisely meter my doses and more accurately control my basal outweigh the disadvantges of cost, having a foreign object stuck to me 24 hours a day (Omnipod, and having to carry around bulkier supplies.
My overall control is measurably better, I have a lower TDD, and after getting used to a pump, it just feels less intrusive to have to push a few buttons to dose rather than shoot up.
As always, YMMV, but you are never married to your choice. You can always switch back if it just doesn't work for you.
I'm an Omni pumper with a latex allergy. My skin seems to handle it just fine. I shower with my pump, swim, am planning to go snowboarding next month ect. I carry more stuff now and I deal with an object stuck on my body, but I no longer have to poke my skin sometimes over and over to inject. My A1C is improving yes, but I just feel better and I like that better than measuring myself by that damn A1C number. I have more energy, my hunger levels decreased (from steadier sugars my CDE said), and overall I feel less tied to my diabetes even though it is now attached to me. And thats just one month in!
Alison;
How do you prevent the occlusion errors? They seem to be the biggest negative in the OMNIPOD reviews. The OMNI idea sounds great but the connection to the body doesn't appear to be very stable.
It's actually pretty darn stable! But you have to get used to it! I use a pinch up method to apply no matter where I apply and that helps as well. I only inject my insulin at room temp. I try to stand during a large bolus (5 units or more) seems silly but it seemed to me that i got most of my occlusions seated so I tried standing up and it helped A LOT! I read the reviews before I went Omni and I was worried about it as well. I have a two year old in my home though and I was really really worried about a pump with tubes and buttons attached to me and a curious toddler. I also didn't want to say things like "Mommy can't go in the pool" to my son. Also, my endo RX'd me a two day pod change instead of a 3 day. I have insurance. They cover my supplies (which include Pod's 100%) so if they send me 15 in a month even if I have a few occlusions I am not stuck on shots. Fails are covered by Omni. Omni will next day or 2 day air mail you replacements for any true (non-occluded fails) People talk negatively about Omni and I get that. Its not for everyone. I think you need great insurance, patience, and a you have to listen to the trainer about how to put it on. You cant be lazy about it. If it's on you WRONG that's on you. People don't like to admit they pulled insulin right out of the fridge and filled it, or didn't pinch up their skin when the pod inserted because it was a hassle with the site they were using. They don't want to say I knowingly put the pod right on a stretch mark and then boom it messed up. They want it to be the Insulet's fault, and sometimes it is, and sometimes it's operator error.
For me in my current life situation Omni was the best choice. If my life situation had been different I would have done Tslim because it has a rechargeable battery and I liked the interface when the rep showed it to me! I was going to the pump no matter what and its totally 100% worth it! It really is! Whatever choice you make on brand, they are all going to change your life for the better. You are going to be happier, healthier, more energetic, and less under diabetes thumb.
Oh god yes.
the biggest plus to me is that with the pump I no longer have 2 types of insulins to deal with. When I was on MDI I came close to giving myself the wrong insulin.
No more guessing if I already gave myself a bolus or not.
It's already approved in Europe and now the FDA had approved G-4, so it would seem like it would be approved shortly.