To pump or not to pump...

[Northerner]

I'm not sure, so I wrote this poem about it...

One hundred and twenty five monthly injections,
One thousand, five hundred a year,
And virtual abstention from sugary confections ?
Now which do you think you?d prefer?

If your other choice was, instead of a pen,
To wear a device day and night
That pumped constant insulin under your skin,
Can you say? Do you think that you might?

What if the tubing should get pulled loose
As you toss and turn in your bed?
Or coils itself into a hangman?s noose,
And then you should wake up dead?!

Imagine though, if you were offered some cake,
When at one time you wouldn?t dare risk it,
The tiny increments you?d be able to make ?
And bolus for a biscuit!

So if your levels swing from low to high,
Or possibly go ballistic!
Then let electronic wizards show you why
The future?s optimistic!

 

[katie]

😱 Is it that many injections?? and I usually do more than 4 so that's a hell of a lot lol.

What if the tubing should get pulled loose
As you toss and turn in your bed?
Or coils itself into a hangman?s noose,
And then you should wake up dead?!

I have to say that bit puts me off of the pump lol.
Does the pump really help you get away with eating cake and allow you to have good levels still?

I like the rhythm of this poem Northe

 

[bev]

We all know how active 2 year olds are - and i know quite a few now who are on pumps - and the tubing never becomes dislodged! Also teenager boys have them and play loads of sport etc and they dont come off! I understand your concerns -but if you had seen the toddlers on the caravan holiday i went to - you wouldnt be worried at all!🙂Bev


p.s. you can also get different length tubing - some men stick their pumps down their socks!

 

[Copepod]

Nice poem, but I certainly don't agree that pen injections of insulin mean "virtual abstention from sugary confections" - I find it's possible to have very small bolus doses for cakes / biscuits.

 

[Mand]

Love the poem!

Pump or not to pump? PUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

 

[katie]

I vote for NOT TO PUMP!! until they bring out more intelligent ones which actually give you a continuous reading of what your glucose level is 🙂 annnd when they can give you more of less insulin based on that level and the info you've given it over time.

 

[sasha1]

Brilliant poem....

Its shocking though when you work out how many injections and BG test's are on average needed through out a year......

Heidi
🙂

 

[C*5_Dodger]

I'm not sure, so I wrote this poem about it...

One hundred and twenty five monthly injections,
One thousand, five hundred a year,
And virtual abstention from sugary confections ?
Now which do you think you?d prefer?

If your other choice was, instead of a pen,
To wear a device day and night
That pumped constant insulin under your skin,
Can you say? Do you think that you might?

What if the tubing should get pulled loose
As you toss and turn in your bed?
Or coils itself into a hangman?s noose,
And then you should wake up dead?!

Imagine though, if you were offered some cake,
When at one time you wouldn?t dare risk it,
The tiny increments you?d be able to make ?
And bolus for a biscuit!

So if your levels swing from low to high,
Or possibly go ballistic!
Then let electronic wizards show you why
The future?s optimistic!

Dear Northerner,

As usual super poem. Do you think some posters are taking it too seriously?

Regards Dodger

 

[Northerner]

Dear Northerner,

As usual super poem. Do you think some posters are taking it too seriously?

Regards Dodger

It's a genuine dilemma (if not a practical one, on likelihood of funding!), but I did exaggerate some points for poetic considerations!

 

[Patricia]

All I can say is that after watching my 13 yr old absolutely tear around the garden playing football, getting dragged around by others etc...all to no harm to the pump or tubing...I have no doubts about its sturdiness!

I think that CGM and pumps connecting is the way of the future -- and not far off, Katie! Of course it happens now, just not *hugely* accurately sometimes...But accuracy is on the way, I'm convinced...AND initial closed loop systems...

 

[katie]

I think that CGM and pumps connecting is the way of the future -- and not far off, Katie! Of course it happens now, just not *hugely* accurately sometimes...But accuracy is on the way, I'm convinced...AND initial closed loop systems...

yeah, I think the 'artificial pancreas' is definitely on it's way!!

 

[insulinaddict09]

I vote for NOT TO PUMP!! until they bring out more intelligent ones which actually give you a continuous reading of what your glucose level is 🙂 annnd when they can give you more of less insulin based on that level and the info you've given it over time.

Yeah Im with you on this Twin 😱😱

 

[litto-miss-loz]

wow thats alot of injections !
then think of how many u will do in a life time, eeeekkkkkk.

I am siding with NOT TO PUMP for me personally hehe

 

[Twitchy]

Hate to be such a sad geek but I've just done a rough calc on the number of injections purely for "regular" diabetes control I've had to date & I reckon (& these are approx estimates!);

16 yrs on 2 a day (with rough factor for leap years) = 11,688
10 yrs on 5 a day (DAFNE-ish, ditto factor) = 18,260
4 yrs on at least 6 a day (damn dawn phenom!) = 10,226
so the total, not including at least a couple a day extra over the past 5-10 yrs for snacks, plus extra jabs when ill, countering post hypo swings etc:

40,174 injections!!

So in reality probably pushing 50,000!! Crikey! Bring on the pump!

...Just twigged if I get the pump on the 4th, the 5th Aug will be the first day in over 30 years that I won't have had an injection! Wow!!!!🙂 (Knowing my luck the cannula will drop out & have to be resited, lol!)