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Thinking of Pumping

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satch7

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Type 1
Hello,

I had my review with my Diabetic Nurse this morning and got a roasting for having a high HBa1C reading (10.9%) and was told it should be around the 6% mark.

We discussed going onto the pump (currently a MDI, 4 per day normally depending on what I am doing exercise wise etc)

I've never considered the pump, I have been put off by the fact of being attached to a machine and having a tube around my body. I've been told there are newer ones that directly attach to the body without tubing (Minimed 640g?)

Being a prospective pump users I would be interested in peoples experiences on switching. Being self employed and a keen cyclist I'm cautious about the switch and the effect it may have on me, time off work, missing training sessions (I've got a few long distance ride coming up)

Having had diabetes for 40 years, its a massive step and one I know I need to make but I'm genuinely quite scared of taking that step.

Thoughts or experiences would be a massive help. Talking to people that live day in day out with a pump would be massive rather than diabetic nurses/doctors who don't wear or live with one daily

Thanks in advance
 
Hey, there are pumps out there that have no tubing Omnipod, is the main one. Medtronic pumps all use tubes.
I love using my insulin pump, it has given me more confidence in managing my diabetes.
 
I'm on the Omnipod and cannot recommend it enough. It's completely tubeless (this was my main concern as I frequently horse ride), not bulky, and far more discrete than injections. My last hba1c on it was 41, with reduced hypos, which would have been impossible on MDI for me. Switching wasn't too difficult but I suspect it was made easier as I have a libre and could be paranoid and check every 2 mins if I so wished. The only work I missed was 5 days to do the DAFNE course, which I booked as holiday. Being able to extend doses has meant I can still get stuck into pasta (which I adore, but which on MDI was a nightmare). It's also really useful that when having a bad hypo or if exercising etc I can completely suspend any insulin delivery at all. My diabetes team would have to prise my Omnipod & PDM out of my cold dead hands if they wanted to take it back lol!
 
satch7 said:
Hello,

I had my review with my Diabetic Nurse this morning and got a roasting for having a high HBa1C reading (10.9%) and was told it should be around the 6% mark.
6.5% is more realistic 🙂
We discussed going onto the pump (currently a MDI, 4 per day normally depending on what I am doing exercise wise etc)

I've never considered the pump, I have been put off by the fact of being attached to a machine and having a tube around my body. I've been told there are newer ones that directly attach to the body without tubing (Minimed 640g?)
The Medtronic pump is tubed and in all honesty I would rather have a tubed pump as no extra handset to lose. Tubes come in all different lengths and I would doubt very much you would even notice the tubing after a few days. I started pumping after about 42 years on insulin and after the first couple of hours I had to check to make sure the pump was still there as it was so un noticeable.
Being a prospective pump users I would be interested in peoples experiences on switching. Being self employed and a keen cyclist I'm cautious about the switch and the effect it may have on me, time off work, missing training sessions (I've got a few long distance ride coming up)
There should be no reason to miss work or training sessions when you go on the pump as you will be testing a lot to sort out your basal pattern. There's no point in sitting at home doing nothing as you wont have a true basal for your normal daily activities.
Having had diabetes for 40 years, its a massive step and one I know I need to make but I'm genuinely quite scared of taking that step.
You wont be alone in that dept. It's known as fear of the unknown and that's very scary. When you start to pump it's very frustrating and time consuming the end result in quality of life is amazing and well worth fighting for. The pump is a lot of work compared to MDI esp when you first start off so you need to remember it's not plug and play.
Do invest in the book pumping insulin by John Walsh (amazon) you wont regret it. The book is known as the pumpers Bible.

Thoughts or experiences would be a massive help. Talking to people that live day in day out with a pump would be massive rather than diabetic nurses/doctors who don't wear or live with one daily
Do ask as many questions as you need and or want as I'm sure many will be able to help you out.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
 
My experience matches yours to an extent @satch7 though it was hypos I was struggling with more than an above-range A1c.

I too was very concerned over being attached to something 24/7 and while I wasn’t too bothered about tubing (the ability to put a site in more places, including where I could sit or lie on it seemed a benefit over the half-egg shape of a tubeless pod) the brilliant thing is that there is a choice between tubed, tubeless, semi-tubeless... some with remote control handsets and others where you just need the pump itself... so you can choose the option that suits your lifestyle.

Essentially there isn’t a bad first choice as the accuracy, flexibility and additional dosing/temporary basal rate options (especially useful for exercise) mean that any pump is worth trying for 6-12 months to see if it works for you. If it doesn’t work out, you could always switch back!

I wrote this about my switch from pump to MDI some years ago about 6-months into my life with a pump

https://www.everydayupsanddowns.co.uk/2012/05/face-off-mdi-vs-pump.html
 
Pumper_Sue and some others might remember my first venture into pumping after about 37 years T1. Unfortunately - it's more than just a bit like being newly diagnosed - to begin with and after the initial euphoria by a month 'in' - given the opportunity I'd have been more than happy to sling the B thing in the dust cart, not visiting the bin, passing Go or collecting £200.

However - my darling husband came out with some comment one day - which entered my ears as 'I knew you'd never cope with it ...' - even though he didn't actually say that. Hence I became stubborn - I was blowed if I was gonna let some silicone chips and a few algorithms contained in a small plastic box, was going to beat ME! My beloved does know me too well, rotten sod! Just the thing to motivate me!

Much like initial diagnosis - that feeling of being lost alone and unloved, soon turns into - blimey - I did that quite easily without having to refer to the manual! ie just like the initial horror did, all those years ago.

I say to anyone and everyone thinking of pumping - just try it and see for yourself if it helps you. YOU deserve the best !
 
trophywench said:
Pumper_Sue and some others might remember my first venture into pumping after about 37 years T1. Unfortunately - it's more than just a bit like being newly diagnosed - to begin with and after the initial euphoria by a month 'in' - given the opportunity I'd have been more than happy to sling the B thing in the dust cart, not visiting the bin, passing Go or collecting £200.
Click to expand...
LMAO I remember it well.
But hey you survived and look at you now 🙂
 
I was struggling with lack of flexibility in MDI, and after a time of getting the pump to match my needs, it has helped enormously, as I can match the background insulin much more closely to what I need hour by hour.

I also like the mix of ways of delivering Bolus insulin, standard, multiwave (some now and some later) or extended. This helps with dealing with different problem foods.

For exercise the ability to use temporary adjustments to the basal insulin is great. Turn it down an hour before I start a class, for however long I need to, or reduce for a full day of walking.

I definitely would not want to return to MDI
 
Hello @satch7 🙂

I changed to using a pump approx 20 years back as I was having a really tough time with long acting insulin and hypos in my sleep. Getting long acting insulin out of my life improved things so much. The flexibility with temporary basal rates depending on what you're doing, different basal patterns for different days, extended boluses, total insulin suspension if needed and tiny increments of insulin have made my life so much safer and given me so much more control and better control. I was scared about changing but as said above after a period of thinking what on earth have I done things started to settle down. You always keep pens and needles as a back up plan in case of a pump problem so the alternative is still there.

You can request a sample Omnipod to see the size etc here https://eu.myomnipod.com/become-a-podder-sample-pod also you can ask your clinic if you can meet the pump reps to see and get a feel for the pump you choose if you have a choice - my choice was Medtronic only - very happy with my Medtronic. I often forget where my cannula is or which part of my waistband or which pocket my pump is in

@Matt Cycle has written a thread about long distance cycling since changing to a pump here https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/cycling.55014/

You can always return to MDI if you really don't get on with a pump. Best Wishes.
 
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