Insulin pump?!


Question: I have type 1 diabetes and am interested in the insulin pump. My sugars are fairly well controlled with 4 injections a day but am trying to conceive my first baby amd several websites have suggested that I'd be a good candidate. I am going to ask my diabetes nurse at my appt in April but anyone's personal experiences would be great.


Answers: I have type 1 diabetes and am interested in the insulin pump. My sugars are fairly well controlled with 4 injections a day but am trying to conceive my first baby amd several websites have suggested that I'd be a good candidate. I am going to ask my diabetes nurse at my appt in April but anyone's personal experiences would be great.

It's been a godsend. It's the closest thing to having a normal pancreas. Not perfect, but a heck of a lot better than constantly injecting yourself. It gives you so much freedom! I can give myself a dose if I have a piece of candy (I normally didn't give myself a shot unless I was 7g of carb or more), I can dial it down when I exercise so I don't have to eat, and I can run different insulin rates at different times of day to cover my dawn phenomenon in the morning or if I'm on my period.

As for having something connected to you all the time, the only time it's an issue is when I'm sleeping, if I happen to roll over onto it because it's a little uncomfortable, but after a few weeks you learn to move it around subconsiously. I unplug it when I shower or during "intimate moments". My husband is funny...it's an aphrodisiac when he hears me unhook my little velcro belt before we get it on! But sometimes a challenge to find a home for it when I'm wearing lingerie...hmmm...

You'll love it and in 95% of cases, people will not give it up because they like the freedom it gives them. It takes some time to get your pump set to the right levels for you, lots of intensive testing for the first few days. Then you should be good. Good luck!

They are very nice.

Im not sure but good luck!

i have had the insulin pump for 2 years and i love it. You change it every 3 days and you can even get a device that checks your blood sugar every 5 minutes with it. I would highly recommend it and im 13 by the way

a lot easier than the needle, calming!

My fella looked into a pump but he got the impression it would be such a pain - like having a colostemy bag attatched to you all the time.

Plus, 4 needles per day or a needle constantly inserted?

And what about bedtime, rolling over etc?

It certainly sounded more like a last chance saloon for people who poorly control their diabetes and NOT a huge convenience for all diabetics.

Hi Kitty,
Good Luck w/the (hopeful) pregnancy! Insulin pumps are wonderful. They allow for much tighter, more convenient BS control. Many of the patients (older diabetics) you see, who've had serious complications from their DM. Many of these people would not have had to go through that, had they had pumps. High glucose levels are toxic to bodily tissues. The tighter you can control your levels. The less complications you're going to have. Poor regulation can really catch up w/you in 10-15yrs. If you do get pregnant. You'll find that pregnancy throws new challenges @you regarding glucose regulation. My advice? If you can, get the pump. A pump, w/a monitor would be even better. :-)

Have had my pump for 8 yrs and would never live without it. I think it would have been much easier to get through pregnancy with one. When I was pregnant I was up to 6 or more injections, it was horrible. Since on the pump I'm down to 114lbs from 165 and my a1c averages a 7. I have a minimed paradigm. It's so easy to use. On the pump I usually only use 30 units of insulin when injecting I was taking 80. It really makes a huge difference in a type 1 life.
Good luck.

i am on the pump and it has helped me a lot, but if the shots are doing well, keep it up. i do not think a nurse or doctor can stop you from getting on it. just be adamant that you want it. GOod luck!

the pump would probably be great for you especially if you are going to try and have a baby. it would definitely help with fluctuating blood sugars. minimed has a new pump with continuous glucose monitoring which will give you a new reading every 5 minutes. however i believe that the CGM sensor is not approved by insurance yet. i'm not positive about that tho, you would have to check with your insurance company. check out minimed.com for all the info on it...you can even request more information from minimed if you are interested. good luck!

I would definitely go with the pump if it is an option for you. I have one now, and I wish that I had had one when I was pregnant. It would have been easier for sure.
In my opinion the pump is not a last ditch effort to control your diabetes when nothing else works, but a way to make your diabetes easier to manage, even if you have good control already. Also, I find it to be minimally invasive once you get used to it. I hardly know it is there. It is certainly easier to carry around than needles and vials.
What ever you choose to do, I wish you good luck with your future pregnancy.

The insulin pump is wonderful for sugar control during pregnancy. My twin sister is type one, and used the brand animas with apidra as her insulin type. Her A1C remained around 5.2 her entire pregnancy. The pregnancy did make her require a large increase in insulin use but her little one is perfect and had no sugar issues upon birth. The apidra is known to preserve beta cell function, and at the time she used it was not approved for use during pregnancy but has recently been approved (it was approved the last month of her pregnancy). She had doctors that would not provide her services because of her insistance to use her pump but she finally went to shands in gainesville florida who let her do her own sugar management with signing of a waiver and all was well. Shes informed me that there would have been no other way for her to make it through her pregnancy if she hadnt had the pump. It is a large investment, but well worth it.





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