Hi I was just wondering after starting on an insulin pump how long was it before you went back to work? My DSN has recommended I take "some" time off to get started on the pump. I dont know how long "some time" is; so I was hoping to hear from others who have gone through starting on a pump. I have never been on a pump before (MDI for 26 years). I know everyone is different with different experiences and situations. Thank you in advance.
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Pump Time Scales
- Thread starter Tikoki
- Start date
Inka
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nonethewiser
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Happen to be off at time of switch over to pump, returned to work 4 days after start.
To be perfectly honest could have returned to work next day as all went smoothly, few basal rates changes but had them sorted in around 5 days.
To be perfectly honest could have returned to work next day as all went smoothly, few basal rates changes but had them sorted in around 5 days.
Like @Inka, I took no time off work. In fact, I think I started pumping insulin in the morning and then back to work in the afternoon.
I started pumping for a week with saline (while injecting insulin) to get used to how the pump worked. This included a business trip away from home,
This was perfect for me because my insulin needs are different on work days and non work days and it did not seem right to perfect non work days when I spend more time working.
But we are all different and you need to work out what works for you.
I started pumping for a week with saline (while injecting insulin) to get used to how the pump worked. This included a business trip away from home,
This was perfect for me because my insulin needs are different on work days and non work days and it did not seem right to perfect non work days when I spend more time working.
But we are all different and you need to work out what works for you.
Hi, thanks for replying. I am getting a Tandem T Slim X2, I am not allowed to be on a closed loop system where I live; its only for children or pregnant people - so not me unfortunately.
I do shift work in a microbiology laboratory - like @helli my insulin needs are very different on my work days vs when I am not at work. My work can include a lot of time working alone, which is why I am thinking about taking a shift off work until I get the hang of the pump because if it goes wrong I would be on my own. I am currently thinking that its most likely to be a disaster in the first week till I figure things out :S
Any tips for starting out would be more than welcome
Inka
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I’m sure it won’t be a disaster @Tikoki ! People over-complicate pumps. They’re just another insulin delivery system and I’m sure you understand Type 1 very well by now. Not only that, the pumps have manuals anyway so if you forget something, eg how to set a temp basal rate, you can look at the pump guide, which is usually excellent and very detailed.
Basically the pump will do its stuff in the background with your basal, and you just have to bolus for food and possibly to correct a high sugar. I jotted down any unexpected highs or lows and then changed my basal rate appropriately after a few days. I only needed a couple of tweaks.
Basically the pump will do its stuff in the background with your basal, and you just have to bolus for food and possibly to correct a high sugar. I jotted down any unexpected highs or lows and then changed my basal rate appropriately after a few days. I only needed a couple of tweaks.
Inka
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I forgot to say that I started on insulin straightaway (no saline). I found it fine as the main thing I kept in my head was that my basal insulin was now helpfully spread across 24hrs in minuscule amounts and I found that comforting - no big depot of insulin that could release at the ‘wrong’ time, just tiny amounts. The boluses were easy and just like using a pen, except I could be more accurate to the nearest decimal point.
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I was running my own business when I took the leap. I didn’t need to take whole days off, but the training itself was several hours (and with travel about half a day). Then I was probably a bit distracted for a day or two.
I don’t remember if i did the saline thing in the end (though I was initially going to).
The Tandem tSlim x2 has a pretty good emulator app where you can pretend to be operating the pump via a smartphone, so you could have a bit of a play with that to get your head around where things are.
Pumping Insulin by John Walsh / Ruth Roberts always used to be recommended to people when starting pump therapy, as it’s a great reference to dig into when you have the inevitable WHAT??!? moments!
I don’t remember if i did the saline thing in the end (though I was initially going to).
The Tandem tSlim x2 has a pretty good emulator app where you can pretend to be operating the pump via a smartphone, so you could have a bit of a play with that to get your head around where things are.
Pumping Insulin by John Walsh / Ruth Roberts always used to be recommended to people when starting pump therapy, as it’s a great reference to dig into when you have the inevitable WHAT??!? moments!
I have been 'playing' with the T Slim emulator. It is making me feel more comfortable with what it will be like to navigate around the pump. But at the same time it makes me a little sad that I will only have access to the Basal IQ, and not the Control IQ version where I live once I am on the pump, and I really think the extra features of the Control IQ would be a game changer for me. Hopefully policies will change in the future so I can access it.
I have no idea if I have the option or not for saline but as @Inka said I think I would prefer to start off on insulin as part of my current issues are not being able to have different levels of background insulin at different points in the day.
Lucyr
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- Type 1
I’m not sure your colleagues would be much use in helping to sort out your pump if it goes wrong anyway. Up to you but personally I’d go to work, set the alarms on cgm at a more cautious level, and advise boss that I might need more frequent very short breaks for a few weeks to test and correct.
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Basal IQ (predictive low glucose suspend) only operates if you are wearing a compatible sensor - either Dexcom G6 or G7.
And if you have sensors, the only thing separating from Control IQ, is the pump software, which can be updated on the pump via a download / connection to a computer.
Air Liquide sent me an upgrade code, at no cost
Will you have sensors?
I had to self-fund mine for the majority of my contract on the tSlim.
Thank you for your advise I will definitely concider going into work as an option. I am going to have a conversation with my manager tomorrow to work out what is best for everyone. Hearing everyone's experiences really helps me to prepare for my managers inevitable questions.
I am not sure; when I attended a pump evening (where I went around and spoke to the different reps and selected the pump that was best for me) the DNS said that they would sort the sensors out at the same time as I get the pump. So I have the impression that when I start the pump I will be swapped over from the Dexcom one+, to the Dexcom G7. I guess that is a conversation I need to have with my DSN when I start my pump.
I did not know that there is a potential option for me to contact Air Liquide to maybe get the upgrade code; that would be so helpful for my situation.
Lucyr
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- Type 1
I guess the way you could think about it is
- what would you be able to do to better manage the transition at home that you couldn’t do at work
- are there ways you could do those things at work
- are there any requests you need your boss to accommodate to be able to do that
- are there things you would be doing at home to manage the transition that aren’t possible to accommodate at work that mean you need to stay home for a while
SB2015
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- Type 1
This is exactly where the pump comes into its own. Each of us has different experiences of starting on the pump, and it is important that you do what you feel comfortable with. If you choose to take a day or more to settle into it, you can find what suits you whilst at home first and then sort the adjustments you need for work.
I did my training in the morning and during that time they ensured that we had our basal rates set up correctly. These were set in blocks of time and they explained how to review these and tweak to suit our needs. This is something that will happen over quite a while and continues throughout the use of the pump. I was self employed at that time so I just ensured that I did not have meetings where I had to drive during the remainder of that week.
Your DsN knows you and has advised you to take ‘some time’.
Do what you feel you need to do.
PhoebeC
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Apart from the set up day I took no time off at all. Wasn't needed. Actually I found the whole new diabetes world less effort and time than before, takes up less time now than on MDI and I even have less lows so that gives me more functional time to work. I do WFH most of the time though so that helps.
I was similar to you, 25/26 years of mdi before moving to a pump. I took 2 days off of work, it wasn’t “needed” but it made me happier. I spent those days seeing family so I didn’t sit home staring at my new pump, but it just took the pressure/ anxiety away for me and gave me time to build confidence with my new device.
I think it’s a really personal choice, if you have holiday days you can use and would like some time off then take it and enjoying your new pump settings 🙂 and if you feel like the time off would be wasted then get right back to work.
I think it’s a really personal choice, if you have holiday days you can use and would like some time off then take it and enjoying your new pump settings 🙂 and if you feel like the time off would be wasted then get right back to work.