Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Riette on March 11, 2009 at 10:40am

I found that my son's Bg go way up after 2 hours and then he throw up and becomes very sick

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Permalink Reply by Bernard on March 8, 2009 at 5:40pm

Anne, pumps are a useful tool in controlling diabetes. They are not a panacea. It will probably take you several months to really learn how to use it effectively. I think John Walsh's book Pumping Insulin is worth the investment.

There are several bad things that may happen, the likelihood of some of these is low.

1. Run out of a battery Risk: low because it generally runs for several hours on a low battery.
2. Completely stops working. Risk: low because the pump tests itself constantly. This has only happened to me once in nearly 11 years of pump.
3. Accidental or deliberate disconnection. Risk: low to medium. If you're disconnecting develop some trick to remind yourself to reconnect. Because you will get used to it and may forget. If you're disconnected for 2-3 hours your blood sugar will rocket up because there's no long acting insulin in your system.
4. Insulin stacking. Risk: Medium. While the pumps help you figure out how much insulin you need at any time, it's possible to ignore the suggestion. Given how easy it is to take a dose, it's possible to take two or more boluses (doses) of insulin and end up going really low because of the surplus of insulin. I probably do this several times a year.

Despite all this I still think a pump is great for me. You can achieve the same results with injections, but it's harder work.

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Permalink Reply by Lois on March 8, 2009 at 7:38pm

The person they were working on probably had other problems. The person that made that outloud comment (nix by HIPPA) had no right to say so and that, it seems, like just a way of identification.

The biggest drawback about the pump is the costof the DME. The next "inconvenience" is where to put it when you're fat and don't have a waistline!

I wouldn't be without it if I can possibly be.

Good luck and don't let a totally unrelated incident affect you.

Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI

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Permalink Reply by BEBO on March 9, 2009 at 7:55am

Dear Anne,

I was also afraid from the pump and it was all rumors. They told me it causes infection and it causes hypo and other stuff. Since i installed it " thanks to God" i had less hypos and no infection from the insersion had occured. My prayers with that man but i am sure it was something else or maybe other complications.

I just relised that putting a pump was the best decision i did. With normal isnulin i use to have alot of Hpos if i skipp a meal. But now if i dont want to eat i am ok i just reduce my temp. I am still adpting to it, but its much better than normal shots. In normal shots you take the long acting insulin and no one knows when the peek wll be. Not like the pump, you will have less active insulin that the pump will tell you how much is there it also calculates for you automatically. I think you should try it and dont listen to rumors. If it matches you then you have nothing to lose. Good Luck.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on March 11, 2009 at 8:57am

Hello Bebo:

If they told you was "guaranteed" to cause you site infection something is wrong!

They infusion sets CAN cause infections, the infections I got I had wrongly assumed were just normal skin irritation caused by the tape, the adhesive skin prep, being attached three days, my skin, etc, The skin was red, a little sensitive to the touch, just slightly raised. Once a pump nurse (btw via phone) figured it out whilst discussing a different problem, I was proven wrong, "...nope that sounds like a site infection... have someone check until you know what they look like...".

Happened a lot for me but never realized what it was until after the fact...it does happen; the body does not like any foreign bodies in it (even sterile ones) below the skin. Unless its a big one you might not notice. The cure btw is a little dab of that neosporin ointment. Its an irritation on all kinds of levels.

Was kinda hoping they were using new polymers in the sets that eliminated the problem entirely by now. Unfortunately not so ehhhh? A possible risk, an irritation but not the end of the known universe.

Stuart

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Permalink Reply by Terrie on March 12, 2009 at 1:36am

Hey Bebo:

If you think infection from the infusion sets are "rumors" then I recommend that you keep on praying.

Last year I spent a good amount of time comforting and encouraging a Nice Dutch Lady on another site who had a Bad staph infection due to her infusion set. She wasn't new to pumping either.

She had already been on antibiotics for a few months when I met her. She said it looked like the "hole" (which was filled with pus, sorry TMI) in her abdoman, was a bit smaller, so she was hoping that the infection would soon be gone. Believe me, I prayed for that Girl.

That is definitely not the only Person I've seen on Diabetes sites who had an infection from pumping. They may be few and far inbetween BUT they do happen.


DKA's happen to pumpers also just as they do to non-pumpers. Just because People are pumpers, it doesn't mean they know how to operate the pump properly to keep their sugars in check. Just as some non-pumpers find it difficult to understand how to control their Diabetes with Diet and exercise, oral medications or injections. All People are not born equal and none are born Perfect.

My 2 2nd Cousins went through several DKA's each because the novelty of pumping wore off as young Adults, so they didn't test as much or keep up the basic rules of pumping.

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Permalink Reply by MelissaBL on March 12, 2009 at 9:31am

I left a quick-set infusion set in once for five days (was waiting on a supply shipment and trying to make my remaining infusion sets last until the shipment arrived - bad planning, bad idea). When I removed the set, the area showed signs of irritation and itching. After a couple days, I noticed a hard bump about the size of a raisin under the skin and noticed that the insertion hole seemed kind of open still and a little hard. My blood sugars were running higher and I suspected infection. The lump eventually swelled to the size of a quarter and I was diagnosed with a staph infection and sent home with Levaquin. The infection went away, but the site stayed red and the lump (though softer) was still there.

About four months later, on my wedding night and the day before I was leaving for Paris on my honeymoon, I discovered the site had flared up again and I had another infection - despite having avoided that area of my abdomen for nearly 4 months. I don't know why then - maybe my pantyhose and undergarments had irritated the area?? The infusion set was elsewhere. But I had to do another stint of levaquin while on my honeymoon. It's been over a year and I STILL have a raised red bump there to remind me - though now it's only the size of a pencil eraser (very tiny). And it's scarred from where I opened it to drain the fluid from the area. (yuck, but morbid curiosity got the better of me)

So, yes, infusion set site infections should be treated seriously. BUT, I've had only the one since I started pumping in 2000. So I think with PROPER site maintenance and rotation, they are completely avoidable. Mine was certainly my fault. Irritation from adhesives is another tricky issue, but not nearly so serious as an infection of the tissue beneath.

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Permalink Reply by MegaMinxX on March 12, 2009 at 8:23pm

Hi Anne,
I've been using minimed pump for about 9 years, and the worst that happened was one night my kitten chewed the tubing, and I awoke with a very high BG. But that only happended once.

With the pump and cgms, I have discovered that having several different 'basal patterns' and 'temporary basals' make it easier to deal with days of different activity levels, different times of the month, sick days, high stress days, etc.


Prior to the pump, I was using NPH + Regular, 3-4 injections/day, and meal times were pretty much kept on schedule. Eating was because 'it was time to', not when I wanted. When I first started using the pump, I remember feeling hungry for the first time !
Good luck .

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Permalink Reply by Scott on March 12, 2009 at 8:33pm

uhhh... how about the cat? did it survive? lol

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Permalink Reply by Anne on March 29, 2009 at 5:31am

Really glad I asked this question 'cause I received enough positives to convince me to give it a try. The negatives about pumping will keep me aware and wary. I start pump tomorrow...no more alarms to take lantus at night...just alarms to adjust my pump. Hmmn! Pretty exciting really and scary at the same time. No looking back now though I'm about to trial it...course if the car doesn't start tomorrow morning I'll just have to forget the whole idea for a long time...jus' joking! I'm actually glad and can't wait to make the change now. Thanx everyone I value all your contributions.

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Permalink Reply by elaine peterson on March 29, 2009 at 5:55am

Here's hoping your transition will be as easy as mine has been. Good luck and keep us posted.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 31, 2009 at 1:08pm

Hi Anne,

Worst thing that ever happened to me was relearning how to not fear going to sleep, for fear of a bad/deadly overnight hypo. Those were a daily/nightly reality for me pre-pump, and have virtually disappeared since I started pumping. Everything else on the pump is great.

Cheers, Mike

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