I'm going to a class about diabetes to learn about insulin pumps. It makes me nervous to think about it because all of my life I have fought against the idea of having a needle stuck to me 24 hours a day. Really I dont know anything about pumps, but my life style may make it hard to deal with a pump in the first place( mainly my job). also if i do commit to a pump my secret is out and all of my friends and co-workers will know that I'm a diabetic and that scares the crap out of me. I know I cant stay in the closet forever but it sure has been safe...... to a point! I have to admit Ive been lucky, no real compilations other than being late to work because of unexpected lows. I'm sure we all herd different things on what people say and do when they find out your diabetic, i hate it with a passion. I hate feeling less of a human being because of what others think. guess thats why Ive been in the closet for so long............. One way or the other I'll get through.
Hi, Master bs. If you are actually taking R and N to manage your diabetes, you will most likely find that you have much better control on the pump with a fast acting insulin. When your basals are set correctly on the pump, you will also probably have fewer lows to make you late for work. Maybe those reasons will make it worth while to come out of the closet. It's also possible to wear the pump quite discretely (like wearing it on a spibelt under your clothing -- www.spibelt.com). Good luck, you will get through it!
I know at least one long time type 1 on a pump here who is not "out" - you can also cut a small slit in the top of your pants pockets and keep it completely hidden too.
I completely relate to your privacy issues and it is also tied to how much I hate the disease. So many on this site are pump ambassadors whereas to me it my T1 never has been and it never will be the public's business. Right after I was dx'd, a CDE said I would love a pump but at the time the idea made me nauseous. I envisioned it was like wearing an organ on the outside of my body! I'm over that and I want to pump as soon as I can afford just to be free of the daily jabbing. I'm going to have to come up with the right kind of non-committal response that will shut down inquiries from people who notice my pump, although if I knew the other person was T1, I would feel differently! Good luck.
thanks all for the suggestions, im sure I will have more questions as time goes on
If someone asked then tell them you are diabetic. With the pump if can conceal it so no one will know unless you want them to. I think after you go to the class you will be more informed and want to pump rather than inject. I took three months to decide two years ago and made the plunge. Good luck to what ever you decide to do.
Think about it this way......if you try the pump and don't like it you can always go back to MDI. Give it some time to get used to. I also like to think of us (PWD) as "more than human", instead of "less". This disease isn't for sissies!!! When someone makes some comment or makes a stupic suggestion (I know they mean well, but still) I just want to say "do the d for 37 years and then come back and we can talk". None of this is easy.......and I think we are all pretty special and unique for coping with it the way we do.
Bug74, Your right about the sissies thing, I dont want my co-workers or friends to think less of me.. I dont want people looking down on me with pity or remorse any of it... I've seen it before and I HATE what people have said, especially my co-worker and friends. I would love to get out of the closet but my fears out weight my freedom every time. I'm terrified of what people say and do. I find it amazing what other people say about diabetics when they think your "normal" its just unreal to me..... Truth is I need to get out of my closet and share, needed to for years, being in denial just isn't working for me any more. But every time I try I freeze like its 100 below outside.... and then I also have a co-worker that pissed me off about another diabetic at my work that I didn't even know was a diabetic.....
As you can see I have a few issues to work through......... again thanks for the comments everybody
I have only recently started using a pump and up until now no-one really knew I was Diabetic. Obviously they all saw this contraption on my hip and most thought it was just an old fart trying to keep up with technology and was using a beeper (that's what it sort of looks like). Anyway, after a few weeks of use I realized that for me to use the pump and CGM to get consistant results I moved the CGM to my thigh and ensured my infusion sets for the pump were on the same side of my body. I now "conceal' the pump by doing what others have suggested, cutting a slit in the top of my pant pockets to pull the tubing through and keeping the pump in my front pocket. Some pant manufacturors have extendable waists, these already have an opening in the pockets as well I have noticed. The only way others know I am wearing a pump is if the alarms sound, but again you can turn these off and have the pump just buzz if required.