More questions

[Akasha]

Went to get fitted for CGM this morning and asked if there was an update with pump. Got told all paperwork been sent. Just waiting now. Shouldn't be long.

Now, for the question, I am going to have to give a long explanation.
On weekends, I do a hobby called LARP (Live action role play). In short wear a pretty costume and run round in woods fighting with foam weapons. Kind of like re-enactment but waaaay more flexible. Make stuff up on the spot. Cross country pantomine as someone called it. 😛

Q1. How do other diabetics cope with levels where they can't always get to check their bloods on a regular basis, whilst doing exercise / Strenious activities?

Q2. How relisient is a pump? (I know they are water resistant not proof)

 

[shiv]

1. hard one to answer. The easy option that is horrific to think about? Keep levels a bit high then you know you won't hypo. The more sensible option would be to test regularly a few times you do it, then using that info you can work out what to do (ie set a temp basal, eat extra carbs at a certain point, etc). Or - get really fast at testing, keep your testing kit somewhere discreet and just keep testing (I'd go for this one).

2. Quite. Animas pumps are waterproof - are you getting Medtronic? You could consider putting it in a pack of some sort ie an Aquapac if you're worried about it getting wet, or wrap it in sandwich bags and put it in a pump pouch. Pumps are designed to be used, but ARE destructible!

 

[Robster65]

Can't answer question 2, but I would agree with Shiv on q1.

It may be that, with all the adrenalin, you will go high, so runnign your BG a bit high to start with could be dodgy. I used to do this with climbing and had to drop out (not literally 😱) after an hour or so due to high BGs. I then realised I had to test and maybe inject part way through to keep the liver and stress hormones from spoiling it.

Like Shiv suggested, if you could do a bit of a dummy run with someone who knows what to do in case of hypo, you could maybe gauge it for the real events.

Rob

 

[Akasha]

I have been testing just before going out. About 3 hours later when back at cars for lunch. (So having food and insulin aswell) and then when i get back before driving home.
I have done on occasion as Rob said, Had to drop out from feeling yuky due to high bloods. I have found though, bloods get quite unpredictable. As I never know how much running (eg) im likely to do. Or not as the case may be.

Yep. Hopefully the medtronic Veo.
I know that pumps are destructable (I would never purposely destroy one 😱 )
I just wandered how much they could take. As i'm now wandering if pump was bad idea..

 

[Northerner]

Perhaps the pump itself could be kept in some sort of hard case? I'm sure such things must exist fr things like mobile phones or mp3 players. Testing whilst exercising is annoying to say the least. I have to test if out on a run over 5 miles and find it really breaks the rhythm of the run to have to stop and do it, plus it's hard to get blood on the meter when it mingles with the sweat and just runs all over your finger. And doesn't stop bleeding because your heart rate is up! Grrr!!! 😡

 

[Caroline]

Can't offer any advice, but the LARP sounds like a great deal of fun. I hope you enjoy your weekend.

 

[bigpurpleduck]

I can't add much more than Shiv & Rob on Q1, but I have a Medtronic Veo and can vouch for it being very hardwearing. Mine has been dropped, sat on, fallen from my pocket and the tubing & cannula have taken the weight and not moved at all, dunked in water... My list of mishaps is endless. I'm pretty clumsy.

I don't take part in any group sports, but I do yoga every other day and workouts several times a week, all while wearing the pump. Once you've had it for a couple of weeks you'll find what works for you with regards to wearing it. For example, when sleeping at night I wear a non-wired bra with the pump in its case hooked on the inside of the bra under my arm so that I can still sleep on my stomach. I'm a very active sleeper and the pump has stayed put every night for the past 2 years. The safest place I've found for it when exercising is hooked in the middle of my bra between the ladies. It gets bashed around far less there and the tubing can't catch on anything.

Got my fingers crossed you get your pump soon!

 

[shiv]

The safest place I've found for it when exercising is hooked in the middle of my bra between the ladies. It gets bashed around far less there and the tubing can't catch on anything.

This is very good advice - I keep mine there most of the time and like Emma says it's pretty hard to damage it when it's tucked away there 😛

Hopefully with the pump you could work out a way to stop the highs ie a temp basal or an extra bolus, but you would need to test this a fair bit to work out what works best - annoying but probably worth it in the long run!

What makes you think a pump is a bad idea? They are tough and can take a lot of bashing! I just meant that they can take a lot, but ultimately y'know...they are plastic and metal, they can break, but it would take a fair effort to break it!

 

[Akasha]

I didn't mean bad idea full stop lol.
The whole LARPing is pretty active and you do tend to take a bashing and fall over. Regulary. and having it hanging from my bra is right on the 'body hit' location. I was dreading what that would do to a pump, should it get hit as aposed to me falling over and landing on it.

Emma, that has made me feel better about it having a little more then general wear and tear. (I am also quite clumsy.)

 

[shiv]

What about putting it in your bra but under your armpit? Less bash worthy zone??

 

[Julia]

Hi Akasha and everyone,

Firstly, I'd like to say hi. Copepod introduced me to this site a few weeks ago (see post in Exercise/Sport on Cycling John O groats to Land's End). I've learnt a lot reading all your posts and have decided it's time to stop lurking and contribute!

As for the first question, I completely agree with Shiv's reply. If it was me I'd set a temp basal of, say, 80% (or whatever) and if you end up eating more or taking corrections, reduce or increase this next time. Sometimes I think I'm going to do a hard long bike ride and will set 50%, but then realise my friends are in a leisurely mood and increase it after an hour or so (and take a correction if necessary). One thing I would say though is if you have a lot of adrenaline kicking around, you may feel low but actually be very high, so I would definitely test rather than just eat if you feel low.

As for the second question, pumps are very resilient. I am a very outdoorsy person and had similar fears before I got my medtronic pump two years ago. I am a horse vet and am always getting bashed/kicked/squashed (occupational hazard!). Pump always been fine, not always true for my body. The one time I have had a problem was running a 17mile trail race in the pouring rain. I was soaked and not wearing a waterproof. Imagine standing in the shower with a tshirt and shorts for just under 3 hours. I was that wet. Went to cancel temp bolus and ACT button stuck down and went crazy. Medtronic were brilliant and sent me a new pump within 36 hours. It seemed to dry out and work after a few hours, but I was ready to let it give me basal (which is seemed to be doing fine) and cover boluses with pen. I still don't know whether there was a problem with my particular pump or whether that amount of wet was just too much. Since then I have fallen in a river up to my chest whilst running a mountain marathon and pump has been absolutely fine. I do use a waterproof case when kayaking, but it is a pain because you can't easily press any buttons to bolus etc.

LARPing sounds fun. I really wouldn't worry about it being bashed or damaging it when falling over. I personally always wear mine on my waistband/pocket and find if kicked/squashed in that area, more damage occurs to me than my pump!

 

[bigpurpleduck]

LARPing sounds fun. I really wouldn't worry about it being bashed or damaging it when falling over. I personally always wear mine on my waistband/pocket and find if kicked/squashed in that area, more damage occurs to me than my pump!

Yes, I'd agree with this - wherever you wear your pump, if it gets a good bashing it's more likely to bruise your body than take the blow itself!

 

[HOBIE]

Were to put ya pump! on a windy day !

Hi everybody i am an electrician and was new to pumping and i always keep my pump in my jeans pocket. Well i was working very high up on tripple extention ladders on a proper windy day. Connecting wires and hanging on to light & ladders is bit of job. I could hear little beeping noises from my pump & reallised i was pressed against my laaders & hagging on for life. Quickly got light done and came down and checked pump. When i was in van i heard a crashing noise and 30ft ladders were on ground. Will not forget that day in hurry, pump history told me what i needed to know and a cup tea & calm down (sorted)

 

[Northerner]

Hi everybody i am an electrician and was new to pumping and i always keep my pump in my jeans pocket. Well i was working very high up on tripple extention ladders on a proper windy day. Connecting wires and hanging on to light & ladders is bit of job. I could hear little beeping noises from my pump & reallised i was pressed against my laaders & hagging on for life. Quickly got light done and came down and checked pump. When i was in van i heard a crashing noise and 30ft ladders were on ground. Will not forget that day in hurry, pump history told me what i needed to know and a cup tea & calm down (sorted)

Sounds scary Hobie! From what I've been reading here, perhaps you should keep your pump in your bra.. 😉