New Member

[Guest guest]

I am new here, and newly diagnosed type 1 - about 3 months ago

actually. I have been doing a lot of research, and trying to learn as

much as possible. I am currently taking 4 injections a day, and

checking my bg 7 times a day. That seems to be my biggest problem -

remembering to test my bg. I am a very active person, and would like

to look into information on insulin pumps. Can anyone help me with

this?

Tiffanie

[Guest guest]

>

> I am new here, and newly diagnosed type 1 - about 3 months ago

> actually. I have been doing a lot of research, and trying to learn as

> much as possible. I am currently taking 4 injections a day, and

> checking my bg 7 times a day. That seems to be my biggest problem -

> remembering to test my bg. I am a very active person, and would like

> to look into information on insulin pumps. Can anyone help me with

> this?

>

>

Hi, Tiffanie, and welcome to the club nobody wants to join. :-)

I am type 2, but I used an insulin pump during my pregnancy (I understand

this is becoming more common) and let me tell you, I LOVED IT!! During my

first pregnancy, I was placed on insulin, and did MDI (multiple daily

injection) the same as you are now. During my second pregnancy, I started

out with MDI but then switched to an insulin pump, at the recommendation of

my endocrinologist, around the 2-month mark. IT WAS AMAZING.

I have to tell you, I was really worried because I thought it was something

that had to be surgically implanted, and I didn't want to feel like a

" cyborg " or like I was reliant on a device to keep me alive, or whatever.

No; it was not like that at all. The pump is about the size of a pager, and

can clip to your waistband or pocket. Some people get little clip things so

that they can wear them strapped to their thigh or inside a bra strap or

wherever. Most people thought mine was a pager. Once every three days or

so, you inject a tiny little catheter - it's plastic, flexible, and about

the length of the nail on your pinky finger - into your abdomen. A small

circle of tape keeps it there, and tubing goes from it to the pump. It's

very unobtrusive. On my model (I assume it's the same for most) I could

unhook the pump for short periods of time if necessary and still leave the

catheter in place. (like for swimming or showering - although some pumps

are waterproof.)

I would definitely look into one if I were you. No longer did I have to

carry insulin needles with me to restaurants if I wanted to eat. I didn't

have to make sure to wake up at a certain time. I didn't have to carefully

time my meals to match my NPH peak. It was so freeing.

I would talk to your endocrinologist and see if he/she has an opinion and

then start investigating what your insurance company will cover (i.e.

whether they will require you to get a particular model of pump). If not,

I'd start hitting the major pump companies' websites and ask them for info.

Medtronic Minimed was the manufacturer of the pump I used, but there are

other brands also (I know of Disetronic and Animas offhand but I know there

are more).

Good luck and if you need any more info on how it worked for me, just ask.

I truly loved the pump and if I ever need to do insulin therapy again I am

going right back to it - no more daily needles for me, thank you. :-)

Molly

[Guest guest]

I am finding it very difficult and sometimes even

> annoying to arrange my schedule around meals, snacks, bg testing.

I¹m glad

> to know I¹m not the only one going through this.

>

>

>

Most definately not. I think it's really normal to go through a period

of depression when adjusting to a new lifestyle. Diabetes is a big

change. When I started working to get my blood sugars under control,

it was kind of fun, a challenge. Now I am facing the reality that I

will be giving myself 5 shots a day for the rest of my life or I will

have to go on the pump. It is a little depressing. If it gets really

difficult for you, talk to your doctor. A lot of diabetic people get

bouts of depression and your doctor may be able to refer you to

someone to help. Don't ignore it, sometimes if people ignore the

depression, it gets worse and they stop taking care of themselves.