So I was diagnosed in January of 2001 and I am now a senior in high school.
I think I finally talked my parents into getting me a pump. Although I am excited,
I am a little bit nervous and scared…
I think I am going to get the One Touch Ping.
If anyone has it could you tell me about it… (the good/bad/scary)
Thanks…
Also could you compare MDI to pumping…
What do you like better? Dislike?
Thanks =)
Hi Hollie, I just started on a pump after 10 years on MDI and can say now, you can take my pump off my body when I’m cold and in my grave, NOT BEFORE ! I was tied to a meal schedule and “feeding lows” all the time. Now if I’m not hungry, I just skip that meal and the bolus that goes with it. I’ve got freedom to eat and do what I want, when I want ! After setting up and doing the carb count routine for a month prior to my pump start my endo felt that I was ready. I’m still tweaking the pump and the rates but I’ve already noticed my control is 10x better (not that it was bad but now it’s better !). You can’t put the pump on and forget you have Diabetes, it is still work. The age old carb counting thing still is prime. If it goes in your mouth, count it ! The PING has a food db built in and I’ve customized it for my favorite foods, including some of my home-made stuff. Smoothies, sourdough bread, sourdough pancakes…and it makes carb counting somewhat easy but it is still that nag. The other thing I fond out quickly was door-knobs are not my friend. Middle of the night runs to the bathrooms snaging on a door know tends to wake me up fast ! Anyhow I’ve only been pumping for a short time but I’m so happy and my numbers reflect it as does my mood !
The good… It’s waterproof, showers and swimming come to mind, as well as washing the dog !
The bad… first night sleeping with it … adjustment, reminder alert going off at the theatre right after I tell folks to shut off their cell phones… oops ! Door knobs… owch !
The scary, going back to MDI…
Good Luck and let me know how it goes, email me if you want to ask questions… I’m here often…
There are lots of great pump discussion in the Pumping Insulin forum.
Hi Hollie,
I was diagnosed in Feb of 2003 and started with the Ping in March…best thing I ever did! Ping makes life so much easier no shots nothing to carry. Everyone thinks it’s a cell phone. I’ve only had one problem infusion set due to self error. It’s all a bit scary at first but when I look back and see what I do now, I really don’t know what all the hesitation was about. Down side is it’s with you all the time attached minus showers and a 1 hour workout. Good thing is you can’t forget it like you can with the pens. Nothing scary once you read Pumping Insulin by John Walsh you’ll be a pro. Good luck I know you’ll do fine.
HI Hollie! Just switched to the Ping in May after about five years of MDI. Best thing I ever did. It’s a long process and requires a lot of learning but to me it was well worth it. I can agree that sometimes it’s annoying having it attached to me all the time but I’ve learned what works for me and it’s much less annoying than MDI was. I also have much better numbers than I ever had! I love the fact that I can eat little things throughout the day without having to use a needle every time. You can take just one unit of insulin for something small and I could never do that with MDI. For me that results in much better control. I also love that I can very discreetly press a few buttons and be done instead of having to excuse myself to take a shot or do it in front of everyone and answer all sorts of questions. It just gives me a lot of freedom I never had before.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you find what works for you 
Let us know how it goes!
Hi Hollie! Pump in the best. You don’t need to give yourself shots, plus you can get the continuous glucose sensor which is an added tool to keep track of your blood sugars. I was taken shots and moved to the pump, which has saved me from poking myself with a needle several times a day. I love it. I don’t know anything about the ping so I can’t give you any advice. I use medtronic pump and continuous glucose sensors. I have been pumping for 3 yrs and I am the most controlled diabetic in my doctors practice.
Good luck!! If you need any added incentive for your parents drop me a line @ truebabyred@yahoo.com.
Hollie,
I was diagnosed in 1994 and felt odd when I first asked my doctor if I could switch from two shots to 4 or more a day–seemed counterintuitive. But as you know the MDI gave so much better control. Imagine that times two or more. With the pump you are able to give mini injections all day long and it allows for MUCH better control—if you are willing to work at it. I myself finally decided to try the pump this past August and after 3 months I’m still really liking it. As I’m sure you’ve done, I read and talked to each of the vendors before deciding that the Ping seemed the best approach for me. Here’s pros/cons I’ve learned and some I wish I knew before.
Pros/Nice things
Things I’d wish I’d known:
1)The food database is only on the meter.
2)The food database, although very useful, is a tad bit tedious to use. The lists are long enough often that scrolling takes quite a while.
3)Customized foods you add yourself all fall under “Favorites” so even though you know you are entering a vegetable or main dish you have to scroll through all favorites to find it.
All in all, I still think it’s the best pump/meter combo (my personal opinion). I know I’m forgetting things but feel free to post any questions you have and I’m sure many here including myself could answer them. Good luck!!
I take Humalog 1 unit/7 grams, and on 42 units of Lantus… So the whole Lantus thing would stop then I suppose?!
And everything you all have said really makes me feel a whole lot better about this.
Thank you all for the advice… Pump sounds like the way to go, and my doctor says it’s good for us teens.
Since we seems to “slack” off and not take our shots and such… Somewhat true I guess. =P
I just really like the fact of having more freedom and a carb counter there with me all the time… It would be TONS easier.
I mainly see positive facts and everything and good things which is good and I am glad you all told me the cons.
Also is it possible that your pump could come undone while you are asleep and then you not get your insulin?
My friend said this happened to him and he ended up getting sick… That is one thing that is kind of scary too me.
I don’t want any more trips to the hospital due to high blood sugars.
I appreciate your all’s input! Thank you so much. Can’t wait to hear from you all again.
I used MDI for about 10 years and I tell you it is so much easier with a pump. I have the ping also and I love it. I have so much better control than I ever have. I have never had an issue with mine coming off even while swimming with mine. I also love the reminders I can set to check my bg on it. Boy does it help a lot. I had really bad control of bg on MDI so like in three months my a1c after getting my pump went from 8 to 6.4. It is cute too so people just think it is a cell phone. I have been asked where I bought it. LOL Good luck on your pumping I know you will be a happy pumper.
hi hollie
that’s one step toward a healthy life to think about pumping
you are in high school like me
that means no routine and studying and lot’s of stress
by pumping,you can treat all of those with the slightest effort
while on MDI it’s more of a fixed schedule you are following,on the pump it’s a schedule you fix to suit your life
the downss of pumping are;it’s an expensive way to choose
also it makes you gai weight,but that’s a good sign of responding to the medication
it maybe is scary at first,and makes you nervous and(what am i gonna do when sleeping)…but just like when you first strted injecting,it was scary right?
what about now?
just take your time,and know it well,i also recomend pumping insulin,wich is a great guide for those who want to pump,hope it helps :]
Hi Hollie, make sure you get a 2-3 day saline trial on one of the pumps to see what it’s really like to wear one and work the pump yourself. It’ll give you a really good feel for whether or not it’s for you.
I left 6-8 shots and lousy control behind years ago. I resisted pumping for years because I was worried about being attached to something 24/7 but it turns out it’s no big deal (to me at least). Sleeping with the pump is easy, the infusion set “locks” together so it won’t come easily unattached. You can toss it on the bed next to you like I do, or there are many clothing options to keep your pump in overnight so it’s not just “floating” around on the bed. You can keep it in a pocket or in a baby sock pinned to your pj’s or something similar.
I had a Cozmo but have switched to a Ping just recently and I love it, I love the remote feature, I can keep my pump tucked away and just use the remote to ck my b/g’s and operate my pump.
Being nervous is normal. Learning how to use the pump is relatively easy; if you can use your cell phone’s features you’re sure to be able to figure out your new pump. You’ll be a pro in no time. Read Pumping Insulin to prepare ahead of time so you understand the general principles of pumping and most pump features (they’re all pretty standardized). It will help convince your parents and your doctor you’re serious about pumping. Brush up on your carb counting skills if you need to, and your ins co may require you to go to attend classes or more education before they give you a pump (mine did) just go with the flow.
One thing you do need to remember is that since you’re on short acting insulin only, it is possible for you to go higher faster if your insulin supply gets cut off somehow, that’s why pumpers test frequently. And especially at first, you WILL be testing A LOT. Once you get your basal rates settled and your carb ratios and isf factors figured out (all may need some adjustment) you will most likely be able to test less often than in the beginning.
All in all, like everything else in life, the Pump has it’s advantages and disadvantages and for some people it is not a good treatment for their Diabetes. BUT, for the overwhelming majority of people who try them, the pump is the much loved solution to the problem of MDI and bad control.
I’m a newbie around here, but you’re certainly welcome to ask any questions, these forums are the best places to look for real answers to your questions!
You are right–you will be on Humalog only. You are giving very small doses of humalog 24x7 such that you always have insulin actively working. This allows for better control than with lantus as you can change the amount you take throughout the day (more basal during early morning dawn-phenomenon, less during active part of day, etc.). As far as sleeping, I’ve only accidentally yanked on my tubing in my sleep once and it was in the first week or two of doing the pump. Even then it didn’t yank the site loose but sure woke me up!! For me, we found some pajama shorts I can just pull on and we cut little corners out of my pockets toward the top. Put the pump in your pocket and the tubing through the hole in the shorts pocket and connect to the infusion site! Actually works well for all pants/slacks–gives you access to the pump but is otherwise invisible to others (depending on the fit of the jeans/slacks). I sleep too soundly to trust I wouldn’t strangle myself in my sleep with the cord, lol!! Good luck–excited we can help answer some questions!
really did you gain weight on the pump? I lost 5kgs (10 pounds I think that is?) by going on the pump probably because I didn’t have to control my BGs with continuous eating