Medtronic

As I sat in the lower level of the on-campus trolley stop I thought about the injection I just took and the maze of shots I take every day. How many more shots will I take in my life? How many more times will I have to stutter-step, looking for a good place to shoot-up some insulin? How drastically might an insulin pump change my routine?

There are some positives to be said about this whole MDI (multiple daily injections) routine. I have freedom to separate myself from all things diabetes at will- leaving strips, vials, and needles out of sight and mind. I have no need for tri-daily reminders to change an infusion set, as with insulin pumps. And if I wanted to go hot-tubing at some snow showered ski resort, well, I could, without worrying about infusion set adhesive coming undone or even about disconnecting from a pump.

Is it worth trading in an insulin pen and a handful of screw-on needles for constantly planted cannulas and conspicuous tubing?

I am intrigued by the technology involved with pumping, I must say. Being able to give fractions of a unit of insulin and ably extending boluses on command perks up my interest, for sure. No more ducking aside for a quick stick, more freedom of schedule when I eat and how I eat. These are the little nuances that attract me most.

Now it is just a matter of climbing a mountain of research and figuring out which pump I would take to the most, and how I would make the whole plan come together. There is a lot to be considered yet, but forget Google. Yahoo here I come!