Hi guys I know this is a bit shallow, but I am a 23 year old student living on London and thinking about getting a pump. The one thing I am really worried about is will boyfriends be freaked out? Could you tell me how your partners find it? Is there any young singles out there that have had to deal with it?
Thanks Eilis
My boyfriend has type 1 diabetes, and uses a pump. It was kind of funny how i found out about it; it randomly started beeping! lol he explained what it was to me, and i dont mind at all. it doesnt bother me in the slightest, i hardly notice it there. From what little i know about the disease and its treatment options, the pump seems to be a lot more convenient than the conventional insulin shots. If its what works best for you, dont worry about what guys will think. Im not freaked out by the pump at all, and i was almost completely ignorant to diabetes and its treatment prior to meeting my boyfriend. I say go for it if its whats best for you!
Thanks Tasha, its really nice to have a partners point of view!!
Hey! I’m a junior in college, went on the pump last year. I had these same concerns! It’s kind of awkward telling people that don’t know much about it. I had one guy think it was really bad that I was on a pump. Most, if they understand diabetes, don’t care. My advice is to tell them up front about it, just casually, before you get serious or get physical with them. Let me know if you have any other questions!
I think this is a rather common concern for people considering the pump so don’t feel bad about it being a shallow one! Pouches are available that can be worn around the waist, or around the thigh/leg, and they even have bra pouches available. This takes the pump completely out of view but easily accessible for you to use. By the time of a second or third date (or whatever) you’ll probably have already disclosed the diabetes to a boyfriend but the convenience of the pouches (which are attached to velcro straps) is that your pump will be concealed when out in public if this is a concern. I use a waist pouch and it fits very snugly around my midsection, with a shirt over it you don’t even know it’s there. I also set my pump on vibrate so no one can hear it if an alarm goes off, which is very rare anyways. Good luck !
Eilis
I’ve been a pumper for about 9 years now. Of course I’m an old guy, so I don’t really mind telling folks about my diabetes. I’ve been married for the whole time, my wife also likes the pump because of the better control I get with it.
About 10 years ago I was on the fence about them, especially about being connected 24 hours a day. Then I met a women who was a pump wearer and she answered all my questions about pumping, including what to do during showering, swimming, sleeping, and sex. (I think there’s a pump company that talks about the five S’s, but I can’t remember the fifth.)
Anyway for showering you can just disconnect it. For swimming, several pump makes are waterproof and can be worn while swimming. You can also disconnect it for a longer period, you just need to make sure you take enough insulin to cover your background dose while you’re swimming. When I sleep I usually just toss it on the bed beside me. Sometimes I clip it to the waistband of my pjs. Either works. For sex I know that some people leave it on. I just disconnect. Then the biggest danger is remembering to reconnect afterwards…I forgot once and had a horrible high several hours later.
I’ve also worn my pump while playing racquetball, running and cycling. It’s about the size of a pager so it doesn’t get in the way.
What I really like is the freedom it gives me. I can skip meals or sleep in if I want to. I also find it makes things like long bike rides much easier. I was never able to do this properly while injecting insulin.
Best of luck in deciding.
hey eilis…i can so relate with you on that…i even felt like that all through H.S…i’ve gone back and forth at times…switching from pump back to shots…and the pump is honestly the best thing invented…lol… and i find it easiest to just be up front and honest to them from day one,… so theres no surprises when they see it for the first time…and its not awkward…and the sites are tiny and really they don’t get in teh way really…i take my pump off when things get “heated” so to speak … : ) …well i hope i helped a little…
as far as the least conspicuous option I chose the omni pod as it has no tubing and only a small
device that needs to be worn at all times. I have been on it for a little over a week now and it is so
small that i have forgotten I had it on several times. After 23 years on shots It is the 1st pump I have ever been on . (Yeah I know it took me long enough…) I am so happy with the pump experience . I have never felt better. I do agree with others that it is easiest to just be upfront with anyone you meet, just be casual about it and I have found people react with the same attitude that you present it to them with.
Best of luck
Hi Eilis! Good questions 
I used to be a single woman on the pump, shortly after I started on the pump, I met the man of my life and now we’re married (I don’t claim that the pump is the reason, but it was never an issue).
Like Bernard said, my husband likes whatever helps me to control my blood sugar.
If a guy is not interested in you because you are on a pump, then he’s not the right person anyway!
I find the pump MUCH more convenient on dates. People are less freaked out by you bolusing at the table than giving injections at the table (which I used to do anyway). Also, I have been able to get much better control with the pump. SO I highly recommend it.
It takes some time to get used to being attached, but now I’m so used to it and you find systems for everything.
There are also a lot of options for cases for the pump and ways to wear it. I choose not to hide mine, but clip an mp3 player case to my belt loop. You can see pictures here: Pump case
I would just advise you to tell someone that you are interested in about your diabetes and the pump before he finds it himself
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I totally agree with Kristin. I am also a proud pumper since 1991. I always wear mine outside, and often in a fabric bag meant for cell phones or mp3 players, etc.
I am new to wearing the Omnipod it’s wireless and I chose it because I have a little bit more freedom. I have a 2 year old and she likes to touch things…lol I was worried she would pull the wire from a traditional pump.
When I first met my husband I wasn’t DX with diabetes. I was DX a few months after we were married and he was in Iraq at the time. I am Type 1.5 and was on meds for a while and now I am on a pump (pod). My husband doesn’t worry about it; sometimes I think it bothers me more than him.
Before I made the decision, my husband said, “I will love you the same with or without the device. It’s not your fault you have to wear a pod or take shots. I’m not vain.”
I would say be honest and if the person you are dating can’t except it…“kick him to the curb”
I can understand those concerns. I’ve had the same ones myself. I don’t date very often (just for lack of time and choices) but the guys I’ve gone out with really haven’t seemed to care. It’s just part of me, up front and center. If they don’t like it, they don’t like me.
Here’s a blog you might be interested in:
http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2007/09/sex.html
Kerri has a wonderful blog and she discusses relationships quite a bit (especially since she just got married in May!). There are other blog posts that she has written that are great, but this one seemed to fit you a little better.
This is also one:
http://www.dlife.com/generation_d/2007/02/love_me_love_my_diabetes_1.html
Kerri also wrote this. She works for dLife.
I hope it helps.
Thanks every1! It has been great to hear all of your experiances. It has really given me another perspective. I should be getting an appointment to see my endo in the next 2 weeks so hopefully I will be pumping my insulin very soon.
OK…talk about shallow, I am a middle aged woman for the love of Pete…but I worry how a pump, specifically an Omnipod, which appeals to me, would work with the slightly fitted clothes I like to wear. I know there are slim woman making it work…I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you just attach that half a kiwi and ignore the bump?
lol! yea that was the other thing I was worried about, how will it look with a nice pair of skinny jeans and a thight top!!!
But from all the replies I have gotten it looks like they either connect it to the top of your jeans, the inside of your leg or even your bra strap if you want! so I dont think it will be too much of a problem.
fingers x ill keep you all informed!
Please do keep us informed. Good luck.
That’s a good question. I’m 44 and married so really don’t care what people think! When people see something “connected” to you they re-act like you’re laying in bed hooked to an IV. Then they watch for you reaction to see if it’s really a big deal or not.
The good thing about the pump is that it has a quick disconnect, so if you want, disconnect it when you go out…or date only diabetics!!! ; )
Don’t let others keep you from doing the right thing. With anything in your life. IMHO
Hi!
I also used to switch back and forth from the pump to shots because of “looks.” Now, I pump 99% of the time. Pumps are pretty easy to “hide” anyway… just clip it on the inside of your skirt, cram it into a pocket… Besides, with so many people clipping phones to their waists, it’s not very obvious anyway. If you are worried about how it will look for a certain special outfit, just switch back to shots for the day. No biggie. It is also easier to disguise taking your insulin with a pump… just press a few buttons!
Good luck with whichever you decide!
If it bothers them, then they are the wrong person anyway…so they kinda self select.
I think needles are more troublesome to others than is a pump.
I was on needles for around 30 years and have been on a pump for about 15. I can quit the pump anyday and go back to the needle…it’s not gonna happen!!!
Best wishes in your decision…
Keep Going…Peace, Bob