Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stephen Gobin on November 20, 2009 at 11:42am

If you ask this question to people in the UK, it's not a question of choice on the part of the diabetic but rationing on the part of the health service because of the high cost of pump therapy.

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Permalink Reply by Cody Turner on November 20, 2009 at 11:52am

Some people don't like to be attached to a piece of equipment all the time, for some it makes diabetes visible.

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on November 20, 2009 at 12:04pm

For me, I'm feeling ok with the progress I've made in getting my numbers down with MDIs. But probably the most important reason I'm not considering a pump, at least at this time, is lifestyle. I'm mostly retired (still do some work online) and so my schedule is open. When I was working two jobs I would have found four shots a day and 8 tests a bit daunting with my schedule (though my limited understanding is that pumpers have to test as well?).

I also just returned to the U.S. after two years and am having enough trouble learning how my phone works..lol.

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Permalink Reply by Shannon on November 20, 2009 at 12:07pm

I resisted getting a pump for years because I was afraid it would be visible under my clothes. I was uncomfortable with people knowing that I had diabetes. Now, I really don't care who sees it. I'm actually pretty proud of it.

Getting a pump was the best thing I ever did for my health. It changed my life, and I could kick myself for resisting for so long.

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Permalink Reply by Marcus on November 20, 2009 at 12:21pm

I thought it would make me "feel" more diabetic as it would remind me of my diabetes more.

I was wrong. What makes me feel diabetic is being high and/or having to eat at specific times.

I'd never go off the pump now.

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Permalink Reply by Domo! on November 20, 2009 at 12:49pm

honestly price alone is enough to make the decision. I guess it's cheaper to do mdi's, but it all depends on your insurance. When i have the insurance i will definitely try it.

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Permalink Reply by Adrienne Berry on November 20, 2009 at 2:30pm

We are trying out a pump for my son david, the onmipod. This is his second pump change and he's already wanting to go back to injections. I'm trying to figure out why. He's 5 and has a mind of his own. I don't know if it's just another big change to deal with and he had finally got used to things the way they were? Or maybe the anxiety is too much when comparing the pain of an injection vs. a pump site? I certainly don't know the psychology behind all of it. Since I'm the one that has control over his numbers then I know he wouldn't be thinking better control it's more about what works for him and his body. His complaints are that he doesn't like having something "sticking out" as he puts it. I can tell without having even said anything that he feels different. I didn't think it was that big of a deal but he obviously does. We'll see how the next few weeks goes with the omnipod and if he still wants to continue injections.

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on November 20, 2009 at 3:08pm

I don't want a pump for several reasons. Primary reason is the initial expense & the additional expense of supplies. Being connected & tethered to something all the time gives me the creeps. This doesn't have anything to do with making diabetes more visible as several other people mentioned. I'll test & inject anywhere.

Other reasons have to do with all the problems I've read from pumpers here: scar tissue causing absorption problems, forgetting to turn the pump back on after suspending it for a bit, mechanical problems where insulin wasn't delivered, bent canulas, bleeding at sites, infusion set problems, tubing issues, etc.

I prefer the simpler approach. Fiddling with settings constantly seems like a lot of trouble. I count carbs & know my ratios, how to adjust & correct. Know the pump has many advantages for fine tuning doses & timing, but for now MDIs are working fine for me.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer B. on November 20, 2009 at 4:54pm

Wow Gerri--your reasons are so similar to mine!

After a year and a half of D, I still have a hard time accepting this is for real...I definitely cannot accept being attached to a machine. Yes, it's mental. I also feel like if I had a pump, I could never pretend anymore...yes, I have a lot of moments of denial like this even though I carb count, inject 4 x/day and test 8-10x.

My Endo tried to push the issue, but can't give me a good reason except that you can do less than 1 unit and be more precise. But the MDI thing is working (as well as it can) for now.

I also have a weakened immune system (without a spleen) and a couple other chronic illnesses, so I am concerned about an open entry point into my blood stream (I've read about people getting infected) since I am at particular risk of sepsis.

Oh, and the cost is ridiculous.

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Permalink Reply by Cheri on November 21, 2009 at 7:28am

This was sort of how I felt for a long time (the tethering part - not the creepiness; I tend not to get creeped out). I was also reluctant due to possible intimacy issues and also where I'd put the "thing" - the pump...until my CDE lifted her shirt and showed me how she hid it in her bra between her boobs - lol!

I've decided to make the leap because I finally realized that the "tethering" Gerri mentioned will give me what I miss most - freedom. Yep - that's right - freedom. Freedom not to eat if I don't feel hungry, freedom to have a weird schedule (that's so me), freedom from carrying all those little pen needles and 3 different pens - Apidra, Lantus, Symlin (will only need a Symlin pen from now on and it's not critical if I don't have it with me), freedom from my dawn phenomenon and the guessing game that goes along with trying to handle it...........and...and...and...............freedom from insulin (sort of)........in other words, I've gotten my insulin usage down so low through a low carb diet and Symlin, I'm looking forward to reducing it even further.

So..................I'm waiting for it to arrive

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Permalink Reply by JeffC on November 20, 2009 at 5:22pm

I just started pumping, so I'll tell you why it took me 19 years before deciding to do it.

1. The stigma of being perceived as having a problem and the fact that the pump makes this more visible and obvious
2. The feeling that I was doing "good enough" with MDI
3. Fear of malfunction or problems with the device leaving me with a sudden interruption of insulin delivery.

But then I got married and my wife's response when I brought up the subject was "Will it make you healthier? Then yes, I want you to get a pump" and that changed everything. Then after investigating what it could do for me I realized that "good enough" was not nearly as good as I could achieve with a pump and that my fears of malfunction were overblown and born of ignorance.

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Permalink Reply by Helmut on November 20, 2009 at 5:52pm

Jeff,

Too bad that I did not read your post before I posted. I could have just said 'Ditto' and saved a lot of typing. My wife was the catalyst too. She said "What is the downside to trying?". My answers did not even convince me.

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