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!
Hi Scott,
I was on a pump for about three years and just recently decided to take a break and go back to shots. The pump offers lots of ways to be discreet - it comes with a remote control for boluses, which I loved. And it helped keep me more regulated and even. However, there are other bummers about it. One, you have to wear it on your body 24/7 basically. You need to find a comfortable (and possilbly) discreet place for it). I wore mine safety pinned in a child sock in my bra. But I am a choreographer and am in motion all the time. It got in my way often. I also had problems in the summer when wearing a bathing suit or less and smaller clothing. You also have to make sure you have all the necessary bits & bobs with you at all times - extra sites, insulin vials, batteries, etc. So if you don't carry a bag or backpack with you already, you will have to start. Sometimes my site would fall out due to sweat (again, I am a dancer) or would get caught in a pants button and pop out or I would run out of insulin in it when I was out away from home. I guess what I am saying is that both the pump and shots have their pluses and minuses. I am currently enjoying my Humalog pen for boluses and Lantus SoloStar for one shot in the morning basal. But, I may choose to go back on the pump when I need a break from that. Both are good options. Maybe you should give it a try for a while.
Best of luck,
Dawn
Thanks for the message Dawn. I will take all of that into consideration. The loose tubing sounds like the biggest drag to me, I can only imagine dealing with that while you perform. I definitely plan on giving it a test run before I commit. I have district reps' phone numbers for medtronic and insulet. A pod and a pump... would be cool to test them out simultaneously.
Yeah, when are they going to come out with the iPod/Insulin Pump combo!! BTW, I used Medtronic. Great pump and great service from them.
best,
Dawn