To Pump or not to Pump?!

[Inka]

Hi @Inka, appreciate your reply 🙂.

It sounds as though a pump could well be the best way forward in order to really align my insulin dosing with my bodies specific night time requirements.

I completely agree regards your view on the Hba1c- if I was offered 45 in exchange for running slightly higher and removing night hypos I would certainly take it, especially given everyone’s feedback on the diminishing returns on Hba1c once in mid 40s.

I agree on the term tethered, I don’t like the term - apologies for referencing the tubed pumps as such, a newbie mistake. Certainly more for me to consider regards the tubed options - where is your favoured location for it and how does that affect the tubing and handset? 🙂

Thanks @JamesL I agree that if you’ve tried and failed with other options, a pump could really help your nocturnal hypos. You’ll be able to programme in what you need. For me, this is practically no insulin in the early hours, increasing in the last few hours to cover my Dawn Phenomenon. This works really well and I get a level line on my Libre most nights.

I have a DANA RS pump and am about to move on to the DANA i pump. Neither of them have a handset. I’d hate another thing to remember. I simply use an app on my phone. I don’t need to take the pump out at all. I bolus, edit my basal rates, set a temp basal, etc, etc all from my phone. Both pumps are also loopable with Dexcom with either the proprietary app or using a DIY loop. They’re both tiny and light.

I usually wear my pump in a Hid-In belt round my waist. It’s soft and snug and secure. When I first got it, I used to pat myself in panic because I thought I didn’t have my pump on because I literally can’t feel it or notice it even if I try to. Sometimes I wear it on my thigh in a Tubigrip eg if I’m wearing a dress; sometimes I wear it in a little pouch that hangs off the side of my bra, but mainly I find the Hid-in works the vast majority of the time. I don’t even bother with a clip. I think the reason for this is the size and weight of the pump. I’ve been pumping for almost 20 years and some of my previous pumps were bulkier and heavier, but this one is dinky The tubing isn’t an issue at all. Because the pump is under my clothes, the tubing just stays there too. It’s soft and flexible and very thin so it’s not a problem. I speak as someone who’s very clumsy!

When you look at pumps, do look at the consumables too (the cannulas, etc). The best pump in the world will be ruined by poor cannulas/sets. I find it best to have a wide range of quality consumables so I can choose what works for me. This will vary depending on where my cannula is. So, I like to make sure the cannulas come in various lengths and straight-in and angled, with a steel needle, with a Teflon cannula.These ‘bits and pieces’ are a really crucial part of the kit even though our focus is often on the pump.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I also wondered whether I would risk possibly sacrificing my current Hba1c (39) with a pump and seeking to address the night hypos?

Basically you have a false A1c if it's achieved by living in hypo land so it's not worth the paper it's written on 🙂
Are you def hypo during the night? I ask because if you sleep on your Libre it will give a false low.

My opinion for what it's worth regarding the pump is, if you have to ask if it's worth having one then you have to decide if you have the commitment to use one. There's a lot of hard work involved in having a pump so bottom line is you either know you want one or you don't want one or are unsure.
It's a case of wanting and understanding the hard work involved with having a pump, you can not go into it with an I'm not sure I want one.

Everyone has trepidation at the thought of starting on a pump as it's the fear of the unknown 🙂

 

[nonethewiser]

Hi @nonethewiser - thanks for your feedback 🙂

I think this is what really says a lot about pumps that I find almost no instances of people switching back to MDI after moving across to a pump.

It will be one of the questions that I ask my DN next time I see them and also ask, for those that do switch back, why that typically is.

Would you plan to move across to the Omnipod 5 if that becomes available pal?

I'm moving over to Omnipod 5 later in year, that is plan anyway. Also going to move over to Dexcom G6 that integrates with pump, with Dexcom decided to change over sooner so to get use to device.

I'd imagine if you switch to zdash soon then you will also switch to Omnipod 5 when available, so worth keeping in mind. Good luck.