Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on April 28, 2011 at 6:51pm

I would say the best time to start a pump is tomorrow? Whatever changes there are in your schedule over the summer will likely be easier to manage with a pump, even w/ the learning curve? It sounds like he's kicking ass and I'd think a pump would be just what he needs. I was involved in a really strenuous martial arts program when I started and took a day off in case there were any problems but pretty much had the hang of it and started back up w/ working out two days after I got it and well, people could tell almost immediately that I was able to manage stuff better right away.

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Permalink Reply by AustinMom on April 29, 2011 at 5:38pm

He is kicking ass! He has been amazing from day 1 - someone must be doing a fabulous job raising that kid! :)

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Permalink Reply by MidwestMommy on April 29, 2011 at 8:42am

I agree with Acid Rock. Start him as soon as you can :)

My daughter was 10 when we started. We trained on a Friday, kept her out of school that day and then watched things closely over the weekend. She went back to school on Monday (fabulous school nurse). Things still needed tweaking for a while, but no reason to keep her at home.

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Permalink Reply by AustinMom on April 29, 2011 at 5:39pm

Thanks. Isn't it comforting to have a nurse that you trust? This would be so much harder if I had to worry about him while he was at school all day.

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Permalink Reply by Cyndi P on April 29, 2011 at 8:57am

I also think starting now is better. You'll have time to get used to pumping and working around different schedules. When school starts your son will be in the groove and adjust to school life without missing a beat!

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Permalink Reply by Capin101 on April 29, 2011 at 9:00am

I agree. If your son has a good handle with his T1 and is responsible, then he is likely really going like a pump. I might one up others and say he sounds like the perfect canidate to get a pump yesterday.

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Permalink Reply by Sick of TYPE 1 on April 29, 2011 at 9:10am

there is no time like the present - start as soon as you can- pumpin it the best thing to happen to me - i started after a yr of shots and started the pump in 10th grd it was the best thing for my hectic life-

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Permalink Reply by Tom on April 29, 2011 at 5:03pm

PUMP IT UP!! Is he on here too? If he wants to here from current pump users, this is the place, which I am sure you already know. I got my pump at age 14 after having diabetes for 12 years and it made everything easier. I was also an athlete, playing soccer, basketball and volleyball throughout high school. It made an enormous difference.

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Permalink Reply by AustinMom on April 29, 2011 at 5:50pm

That's so good to hear. It seems like the pumps work really well for people who are active and need to make adjustments regularly depending on their activity of the moment. I think he'll really like pumping once he gets the hang of it. It will sure beat going low (or high, depending on the activity) or having to eat when he doesn't want to.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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Permalink Reply by AustinMom on April 29, 2011 at 5:35pm

Wow - nothing like a unanimous opinion! Thanks for your input and advice. My son's next endo appointment is at the end of June, so we'll visit with the various pump reps between now and then with the goal of getting him set up with a pump shortly after his next appointment. He wants to wait until he gets back from scout summer camp in mid-June, and getting the pump in early July should let us get adjusted before we go on vacation in early August and before school starts in late August.

Any thoughts about what the learning curve is like? I think we've come up the T1 curve pretty quickly - we have gotten comfortable troubleshooting and making insulin adjustments as needed, and It seems as though I've read every book out there on the subject, including the Pumping Insulin book. My son's biggest concern about pumping is that while he has gotten quite comfortable with shots, counting carbs and calculating insulin his dosage taking his current bg level into account, the pump is an unknown, which makes it a little scary.

Is it reasonable to think we can see the endo in late June and be pumping in early July or should I try to back things up a bit? I'm sure the process varies from endo to endo, but I wonder if it's a process that typically takes days, weeks or months? Thoughts?

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

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Permalink Reply by Tom on April 29, 2011 at 5:56pm

I think that is a fine timetable. Obviously, the endo will be able to give you the best idea. As far as switching to a pump and carb counting, I use a Paradigm pump, so i can only speak to this type of pump, but once your son and his endo figure out his carb/ insulin ratios he'll be able to put that info into the pump so that when he eats all he has to do is enter his bloodsugar and how many carbs he is eating and the pump will do the math for the correct bolus for him. If you guys are already comfortable with managing diabetes with injections, I think you'll be amazed at how much easier it is to manage and how much more dialed in you can get with his numbers once he gets a pump. Just be patient, and come back to anybody here if you have any questions or need somebody who's gone through this before. Good Luck and tell your son to keep kickin' ass!!! And for that matter, YOU keep kicking ass too!!!

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Permalink Reply by Theresa on April 29, 2011 at 6:36pm

My son is 13 and just started his pump on 3-21-11. As a mom, I thought summer would be best as I could be with him; however, our doctor suggested school time due to a more consistent schedule. My suggestion after starting the pump would be to wait until school. We were just at the doctor's and they told us we are 4 weeks ahead of schedule as far as the fasting, basal testing, and ICR testing. Of course my son is a huge part of being 4 weeks ahead of schedule as he didn't complain and worked hard to get through all the fasting and testing, but the consistant schedule was important as well. Of course the best decision is what works best for your family. Good luck with pumping. I think your son will enjoy it - Mine seems too.

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