i have been thinking lately and have been slowly been wanting to try out a pump. the only thing is getting my boyfriend on board. he is super supportive when it has come to my diabetes. he helps with shots. always test out my sodas in restaurants. but for some reason he said a pump would make him feel uncomfortable. has anyone had this problem??? should i just get a pump for a test try and see how it goes???
Sounds like a great guy. Did he say what specifically makes him uncomfortable about a pump? Hard to address not knowing what bothers him. Maybe it's just the uncertainty of something new that has him concerned for your well-being. Some people are freaked by the idea of something tethered.
In the end, it's your body & you need to do what's best for you. Give it a try & bring your boyfriend along for the training.
Psychologically, going to a pump can make a person feel like they've regressed into a worse form of diabetes because it requires a constant connection to a machine. People may draw parallels to someone who used to use an inhaler for asthma periodically and now needs the constant help of an oxygen tank/mask to breathe.
But it's not like that. Using the pump doesn't mean your condition has worsened, it just means your treatment is improving. By eliminating the long-acting insulin, you significantly reduce the possibility of sudden, unexpected hypos when the insulin decides to "peak" -- that's the best perk in my opinion. It gives you better control and more confidence over the same situation you've had before. It probably even uses the same (short-acting) insulin you use now.
If the concerns are social ones, there are lots of ways to "hide' a pump (if you choose to do so) beneath clothing. From Day One, I've had my pump set to vibrate only, because I don't want to be in public and start beeping. If it's intimacy-related, well, I always disconnect during those times so it doesn't get in the way -- disconnecting a pump one-handed is easier than unhooking a bra (pardon the detail). With the increased activity, I'm not likely to have my BG go high afterwards... just need to remember to reconnect.
It's hard to know exactly what his concerns are since you didn't describe them, and he himself may not know. But if a "test-drive" is an option for you, and he's on-board with that (he seems very supportive!) then I'd say to go for it. Give it a fair amount of time before rendering a verdict though. The learning curve, both in using the pump and in setting dosages, can be a bit tricky at first, and Day One could be frustrating until you've got everything settled.
I would get together information and/or pamphlets about a pump to inform/educate your boyfriend. Does he not have much knowledge about pumps? If he were to learn more he may be much more excited about it? I would highlight the positives (Scott listed them well).
Also, if funding the pump is not a concern (they are expensive on most insurances) then I would get one. You can try the pump and if for some reason it does not work for you (or him) then you can always go back to MDI.
his concern mostly, from what he tells me, is that he does not like the fact that there is something sticking out of me all the time. i told him that they have pumps that are wireless and tube free but he still seems hesitant.
I have to agree that the pump shouldn't make him uncomfortable. I am reading Gary Taubes' book "Good Calories Bad Calories" and the parts about the mechanics of complications are quite a bit worse than "uncomfortable", they are very alarming! I have always been very sort of "meh" about that stuff but as I've gotten older, it seems a bit more real.
The advantages that I've found in the pump that weren't stressed as much in the "marketing" or "training" are that the data is that it always kept track of data *much* better than I would ever do on my own. It also seems to be quite a bit less time consuming to fix things that get a little out of whack or just in general. I found myself with tons of extra free time when I got my pump. Maybe not tons as I was really busy but I was doing stuff besides yutzing around with my BG.
Personally I have been on a pump no for almost 5 years. I was in college when I got mine and was very anti pump and against it! i just didn't trust the technology and was afraid it would make me stand out. Well..my BG crashed bad one night and I didn't wake up until noon the next day and no one knew anything was wrong! Super scary! Thats when I decided to take the plunge and at first it was an adjustment but I haven't looked back since!! I dont have to worry about forgetting my insulin when I go out to eat and I definitely do not miss the 6 plus shots I was doing a day! Did I mention I love to snack?! This makes it soo much easier! As far as the boyfriend thing goes mine hardly notices mine unless it falls out of my pocket or something! At first he was worried about getting caught in the tubing or accidentally bumping my infusion sight but anymore its like its not even there AND they are totally disconnectable so you can totally suspend it and take it off for short periods of time! I would definitely at least try one out. and if your boyfriend is as supportive as you say he is he will totally understand if its going to give you a better quality of life and control over your diabetes!
I would compare the infusion sight to a piercing...totally removable and if he accidentally brushes it or bumps it, it usually doesn't hurt.
Stated very well.
I'd agree with that *except* I've had very occasional gushers w/ the MM sets and CGM needles. I sort of know where the spots are and I think I avoid them so I haven't hit a gusher but they can be rather alarming. Although if he's sort of "nursey" (Munchauseny?), that should not scare him too much? The first couple took like 15 minutes of pressure and lying on the floor with my feet up to stop the bleeding.
I love how your boyfriend "tests" out sodas at restaurants. My husband does the same thing!
Try a pump and see if you like it. If the whole "tethered" thing freaks you out, you can always try the omnipod. Sleeping with a pump can be a bit daunting, especially in the beginning. I've had mine for about 7 months and I think I was dreaming and grabbed the site and pulled it right out in my sleep!
this has been super helpful. thank you guys. i can use the info you all gave me to help persuade him.
Please let us know how it goes! Like I said earlier, if you are offered a "trial" period, that's the best way to find out for sure!
If you are thinking about the omnipod, you can always try one out for free. it might help your bf confront and overcome exactly what bothers him about it. He sounds like a great guy and although we have to do what’s best for ourselves aa diabetics, we have to be sensitive to the feelings of the people who give us the most support without ever having to ask for it.
Best of luck