Hi,
I was diagnosed in Sept, 2008, T2, but I wasn’t. I was told by the endo 5 months later I am a T1. I already knew that since the treatment my GP gave me didn’t help at all. He got annoyed that I was asking so many questions. I just wanted to feel better and go back to work. GP still doesn’t believe I’m T1 becasue I got it later in life.
So, you can imagine that even though it’s 8 months later I’m still not under control. My Endo immediately suggested a pump. I would already have it except my health plan co-pay is about $1500 for my part. So I couldnt do it.
Anyway, Endo put me on Humalog to accompany my Levemir at night. I had to adjust to that but hten I thought I leveled out. So no need for a pump right? Almost as soon as I lef t the Endo’s office I began going all over the map again. Actual HI’s and pretty low lows. This a.m. I was 33. But I didn’t feel it in my sleep. I felt it 2 early morns ago, yet I was 46 then and felt it. But didnt detect this mornings 33.
So does this mean I really do need a pump? A friend who has a friend who wears a pump says it’s not easy either. That you have to program it yourself. That I would be better off with the needles.
What do you think & hoes has the pump been for you?
Hi Amy…I was diagnosed as T-2, then told I really was T-1. I did the shots for years. There was a period of time where I did not take care of myself, when my father dying of leukemia, and I went into ketoacidosis. After that scare, I decided a pump might be something that would help me. I started with the MiniMed for a year. My A1C was under control, no more shots, and I was being faithful to my medications. After a year, I switched to the OmniPod, because I did not like having tubing. I have been using that for over a year. My A1C is 6.2. I found it less stressful on a pump, and better control. It is worth looking into. I wouold let your doc know you are going low in the mornings. Maybe you do not need two types of insulin. Keep a good record of your blood sugar readings. That will help your Endo know what is going on. Good Luck!
HI Robyn,
Is the omnipod that one that is like a white larger oval type? I think I might’ve heard on that one. It has no tubing right? I wish I knew exactly how they work. Do you yourself have to program it as I was told? Is it hard to use? I understand things are better under control for you and your A1C is better but how is the actual day to day maintanance of the pump? I hope you dont mind my asking.
Amy:)
I started out with a minimed, but after a while it felt like I was on a leash. Did the MDI thing for a few years, and then I found the Omnipod.
Started wearing the Omnipod late last year, and I love it. Yeah, there are a few problems every now and then, but on the whole, it’s been great.
No, you don’t have to program it yourself ( not at first, anyway). You’ll meet with a company rep. He/she will program it according to your dr’s orders, teach you how to use it, and you’ll be on your merry way. You’ll probably wear saline for the first week or so- that’s so if you screw it up, you won’t OD. It’s really not as intimidating as it seems.
Go on the Omnipod site and request a dummy pod. You can wear it for a couple of days to see if you can stand it. They’ll also send some literature. I’m sure the other manufacturers will send information to you if you’ll contact them.
Good Luck!!!
I’ve been on a MiniMed 522 since January 29, 2009. I guess I am still considered a rookie pumper. This is after 52 years of MDI. At 4 shots a day, that adds up to 75,920 shots. Although my endo and pump education team are 75 miles away, Medtronics’ CareLink system allows my pump to upload its data to the CareLink site which is password protected. My endo can check my stats and then call me with minor changes. I’m still doing this about once a week. My highs aren’t as high and my lows aren’t as low.
For example, I tested 94 before my 2 mile walk, so I set a temporary basal at 50% of normal. When I got home, I tested 128. I’ll take those numbers any day and praise the LORD for the pump!
I have been pumping for 2 years and the thought of doing MDI is just not even a thought or an option. Most pump companies will set up a payment plan so that you will start using their pump system. I did this with my Minimed even though my insurance is very good it didn’t cover $865 dollars of it at the time. If you go to the Omnipod website they will send you a free pod so that you can wear it to get a feeling for it and how much it weighs and so forth.
I really like my Minimed but I am ready for a pod style pump. Medtronic is supposedly working on one and that is what keeps me from switch to the Omnipod system. While I think the Omnipod is pretty cool I have a problem with the amount of waste that comes with using it. I realize that tossing infusion sets is wasteful but not as much as throwing an entire pod in the trash every 3 days. If Medtronic does not come out with a pod then I will have to get over my waste issue and get the Omnipod!!!
Go luck and get a pump with or without tubing you will love it-Dave
More than a pump, I think you need a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) to alert you to those night time lows that you aren’t feeling!! They’re much less expensive than a pump. The pump is not going to magically help with your control - you still have to pay attention and you still have to watch for lows.
Many insurers cover CGMs now and the out of pocket cost even if you paid for it yourself is around $600 for the Dexcom. With the Guardian, you have to get the pump, too.
my GP also initially diagnosed me as T2 and I got headaches from the Metformin.
Think of basal as your Levemir except that it has no peak. With a pump, you can customize your basal rate to vary throughout the day and night to better match what your body does so you can avoid overnight lows (don’t worry, your endo can help you with this). This is where a pump is clearly better than shots. Other than that, a pump offers the convenience and comfort of one set change every 3 days vs 4 or more shots daily.
I am also considering the Omnipod as well. If and when I actually try Omnipod, I will carefully watch to see if I experience insulin delivery blockage for the first several hours after inserting a new pod. This “occlusion” issue is an often reported problem by “podders” and some people experience a lot of it, and others don’t, and some only get it if they insert at particular sites on their bodies. If I personally don’t experience occlusions, I think I would love the tubeless design.
I am on the pump after 5 years of MDI’s. The pump requires the same conscientiousness and commitment, it is just easier to physically dose. The benefit of more exact dosing does allow for better #'s, but you are still prone to the unexplainable variations. I find that the ease of dosing has me eating more carbs than I’d like and I have gained a few pounds. Hopefully, that is just the novelty of the pump. I would say to not consider the pump until you feel knowledgeable and motivated…it is not without challenges you must be willing to deal with.
Amy, I’ve been pumping for 20 years and can say it’s certainly my preference to contol my diabetes. I think the pump is going to become more mainstream as people seem to be more interested in it. It only improves your control if you use it properly, MDI can certainly do the same thing. You do not have to ‘program’ the pump, you DO have to input appropriate settings to match your disease and lifestyle. The pump comes programmed ready for you to set your basal, bolus ratios, whatever and those have to be determined by you and/or your health care team. It’s not easy necessarily but it’s not so hard that I couldn’t figure it out. Only you can answer whether you need a pump or not, not everyone NEEDS one to gain excellent control. No matter what type of regime you choose this disease is going to toss curveballs at you from time to time, and even with a pump you will need to make sure you know how to do the MDI thing in case of failure.
