Where are the pumpers?

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Permalink Reply by Kerri Sparling on May 31, 2007 at 6:20am

::raises hand::

I'm pumping!

Pump model: Medtronic Minimed 512
Pumping since: January 27th, 2004
Overall experience: Love this stupid thing, except when I can't find somewhere graceful to stash it.
Recommend: Definitely. The pump has helped me nail down almost PERFECT overnights and it nipped that morning high trend in the bud. It's also nice to be able to take eensy bits of insulin whenever I want, instead of constantly poking and prodding my body. It's jazzy. I dig it.

-- Kerri.

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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on May 31, 2007 at 4:30pm

I saw this picture you posted on Flickr, and wanted to ask you how does it work for you to place the infusion set in your leg. I've only used my abdomen, but I don't know if I should look into other areas.

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Permalink Reply by Kerri Sparling on June 1, 2007 at 12:24pm

I've been wearing the infusion set on my thigh for about a year and a half now, and I definitely prefer it there as opposed to my abdomen. (Too many different clothing choices at the moment and the belly site mucks up the works for me.) I haven't had any weird absorption issues, and the redness and soreness of a site is minimal, depending on how long I leave it in. If I follow all the rules and change it every 2 - 3 days, it's no problem.

There have been times when, admittedly, I've ripped it out by accident when taking off my pants. But who doesn't like a challenge, eh? ;)

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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on June 2, 2007 at 6:40am

Ouch!! :)

Well, it's also happened to me too, having it in the abdomen, so I guess there's the same inherent risk.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on June 2, 2007 at 10:12pm

I have recently started using my legs for sites. The first few I did were all in my right leg, more on the sides rather than the top. They worked beautifully. I then switched to my left leg and had limited success. 10 days or so ago I started another round on my right leg and had mixed results. A couple seemed to fail right away and others worked perfectly for 1.5 -2 days and then my BGs started rising. They never got way out of control but did go over 200, so I know some insulin was getting through.

I'm annoyed that I don't get consistent results because I really like using my legs. I cut a hole in Tegaderm or IV3000 and put it over the set and that's stopped my pants from grabbing the edge of the adhesive & pulling it up.

Do you have any tips for leg sites? I use the shorter Sils and I wonder if I should get some of the longer ones for my legs. My legs are (to me) much heavier/out of proportion with the upper half of my body so maybe the cannula just doesn't go in deep enough.

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Permalink Reply by Bernard on June 4, 2007 at 7:27am

Kerri

Are you really using a 512? I started mine in September 2003 and I recall they replaced that model within a few months. The 515 had much better on pump software and I was really ticked that I couldn't upgrade at that time.

I'm looking at Minimed alternatives for this September. Have you started doing the same or are you waiting until later in the year?

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Permalink Reply by Kerri Sparling on June 4, 2007 at 8:31am

I'm really on a 512. :) I won't think about switching to a newer pump until next winter, around Christmas. That's my 4 year mark. But I'm pretty sure I'll stick with Minimed.

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Permalink Reply by Bernard on May 31, 2007 at 11:54am

Count me in.

Pump model: Medtronic Minimed 512.
Pumping since: About 1999. I'm at the end of my 2nd pump
Overall Experience: Beats shots hands down. I used to take 8-14 shots / day!
Recommend: All the time. I see it as freeing me, rather than as a tether. Though there's a lot of room for improvement.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on June 2, 2007 at 10:06pm

-Pump model: Medtronic Minimed 715.
-Since when you've been pumping: May 2005
-Overall experience: It was rought for the first few months and I felt like giving up. Then I started having problems with the infusion set I was using (Quick-Set) and felt like giving up again. Switched to Silhouettes January 2006 and everything got so much better.
-Would you recommend it to others: Definitely. Some people are under the impression that if they get a pump they'll no longer have to think about anything, but a pump is not a pancreas. Even the new CGMS Minimed pump is not even close to being a pancreas. The pump takes work and I definitely let others know that when they ask about it.

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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on June 3, 2007 at 5:20pm

Carly:
I am not familiar with the Omnipod: I am a Minimed 515 user.

However, Amy Tenderich, the incredible blogger behind Diabetes Mine has been using it for three months now:
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/05/omnipod_update.html. She is a member of TuDiabetes, so you can send her a private message through her member page, asking more details about it.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Espinoza on June 3, 2007 at 3:21pm

Pump model: Medtronic Minimed 512.
-Since when you've been pumping: 1997
-Overall experience: SO....much better than shots!
-Would you recommend it to others: Yes, as long as they can put up with the always connected part. My only complaint about the pump is that you always have to have it on, and some wardrobe choices are more limited as a result.

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Permalink Reply by Ginger on June 5, 2007 at 12:26pm

The Minimed and the Animas are about equal on features and cost. The Animas is water proof, which I love for the warm Michigan weather.

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