Pump or Injections?

[Jaydy.Cowie]

I am currently on two injections a day and I am thinking about going on to the insulin pump. My HBA1C has been above 8.5 for quite some time and I really want to lower it.
I am a teenager so the thought of being attached to a machine constantly is off putting.

Any information or experience would be greatly appreciated.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I think everyone who considers a pump worries about being attached to something 24/7. For almost everyone though the worries are groundless and people get used to wearing their pump after a few days or weeks.

I've been on a pump since November (having definitely *not* wanted one for years) and almost never think about it.

If you are on 2 injections a day you may be asked to switch to 4x a day and learn about dose adjustment and carb management on a basal:bolus system (a bit different to mixeds) first. These skills will be extremely helpful when starting on a pump.

Good luck!

 

[trophywench]

Hi Jaydy

Oh yes ! - you can get FAR better control on MDI/basal-bolus than you can on just 2 jabs a day. Makes your whole life a lot more flexible, so you don't have to eat at exact times to suit the insulin etc. And as Mike said you would learn the skills which would be needed were you (later) to opt for a pump. You wouldn't be able to use a pump to anywhere near its best ability without becoming an avid carb-counter, and to be honest, you could find you had worse control - without learning to do all that first.

But would we go back to 4 or 5 jabs a day instead of our pumps? - No THANK you. Not if we can help it. And we most definitely wouldn't EVER go back to 2 a day!

 

[Lauren]

Hi Jaydy 🙂

I have been on my pump for over a year now. When I first heard about it I really really didn't like the idea of being hooked up to it either, especially because I do a lot of sports and also I tend to wear figure-hugging clothes, but in the end I decided to go for it because of the health benefits. When I first got it I was really surprised at how tiny it is! And it lives in my pocket in the day, or if I am wearing a skirt I wear a Spibelt which is like an elasticated belt with a small pouch. If I wear this on my waist and pull my top down over it it is hardly noticeable. I also wear this for sports. Some of my skirts I have sewn tiny pockets into them and you 100% can't tell I have a pump when I wear these.

After a few days you forget it's there, it's just the idea of it really!

I love my pump because it has got my HbA1c right down to 6.5 and it has stopped me going low every night. It is amazing. At Christmas time it broke and I thought maybe it will be nice to have a bit of a break from wearing it, so while I was waiting for a replacement I switched back to injections for 1 day, and it was horrible! I really missed it. If someone asked me if I would go back to injections my answer would be NO.

But it is up to you. Hope this helps 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I am currently on two injections a day and I am thinking about going on to the insulin pump. My HBA1C has been above 8.5 for quite some time and I really want to lower it.
I am a teenager so the thought of being attached to a machine constantly is off putting.

Any information or experience would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Jaydy, welcome to the forum. 🙂
Unless there is a reason for 2 injections a day ie, needle phobic, then you wont be allowed a pump until you have tried MDI and can carb count.
Have you seen http://www.input.me.uk/ site?
Have a good read plenty of info there for you also links to carb counting and the NICE guidelines.

 

[Caroline]

There are lots of people on pumps here, so plenty of helpful ideas and experience. I'm sure with all the information about it will be easy to make the right decision for you. Good luck, I hope you get something beneficial to you.

 

[Monica]

Hi Jaydy

I'm a mum of a teen with a pump. Like you she didn't like the idea of being attached to it 24/7. She got the pump offered twice, which she refused outright, because she didn't know anything about it and wasn't keen on finding out either. But she then met another teen with a pump. So at the following clinic, we asked for one. She's now been pumping since June last year and, like the others on here, wouldn't give it back for anything in the world. BTW, you don't have to be attached 24/7. You can take it off for up to an hour. So for example when in the shower or bath you don't have to wear it. Same if you like swimming, you can take it off for that.
Like you she started on 2 a day, went onto 3 a day (mix in the morning, rapid at dinner/tea and Levemir at bedtime) before doing MDI properly. So we learnt how to carb count long before going on the pump. I don't know how strict they are about giving pumps without having done MDI (Multiple Daily Injections).