That is the question. Hubby and I are going to a pump information night on Tuesday. This is the first step that we have to go through to get Isabelle on the pump. We are still not sure if that is what we want to do or if she will even want to do it once she understands all that is involved.
We have some friends at church that have a teen aged daughter that has D. They are all wonderful and the daughter (as well as the mother) have taken a lot of time with us and with Isabelle talking about their experiences. The daughter is on the pump and also on a continuous glucose monitoring system. She has shown them to all of us and answered many questions about it. After talking to her, Isabelle said she wanted a pump. And it seems that after we have seen them on Sunday she asks for a pump more often.
I have to admit that I was all for the pump. Then I saw a video on U-Tube of a little girl getting her site changed. I'm not so sure anymore. We have gotten rather comfortable in our little world of insulin injections. Isabelle has been doing really great with her shots lately. She rarely cries anymore and doesn't run from us as often. I just don't know if I can deal with anymore crazy upsets about insulin. I know that after she gets used to it it would be easier. You only have to change a site about every 3 days. You have to give insulin shots at least 4 times a day.
I am also thinking that it would help us get more control with her blood sugars. But, I actually had an endo tell us that that is not always true. So, all of you moms of D kids and people with D, what do you think? Why did you decide to pump or not to pump? Love to hear some feedback.
Friday, May 2, 2008
To pump or not to pump...
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3 comments:
Hi Lisa - I have a 7 year old with type 1 (he was diagnosed at age 3 and began on a pump when he was 4) We can't imagine life without the pump (not that early on there weren't some "I hate this thing" days as well) The pump has its aggravating problems like air bubbles and the site coming off early at an inconvenient time -- but overall, it is so much easier, flexible and we feel like we in a way got part of our life back. I will tell you that the summer is our most challenging season on the pump - because of all the swimming our son does and we end up having to change his site much more often because it ends up coming off early. As far as the you tube video, about 75% of the time, our son feels nothing as we do his site because we use a numbing cream first and even do most site changes after he has gone to sleep - because this is when he is the most still! I feel like I have kind of rambled, but one more thing. Our son's pump quit working about a month ago and we had to do shots for about 2 1/2 days while we waited on the new pump to come and it was that weekend that we realized how much we really did appreciate the pump - his numbers were all over the place on shots and we had to remember to bring the insulin bottle, etc.
Take care -- Becky
Thanks for the feedback Becky!
Hey Lisa
I too, have a seven year old, who is a human pin cushion. :(
This is his 6th year with Type 1 Diabetes. He has up to 7 shots a day. When he was 3, he went through a stage where whenever he would hear me open the cupboard where insulin and friends were stored, he would go and hide in my shoe closet. They were tough days.
However, he soon accepted, too well might I add, that his tummy and legs had an extra use other than than for running and jumping and feeling full and enjoying food.
Today, I am going to meet with the Medtronic rep about Lance's first pump. I too, was trepadacious about starting Lance on a pump; as he was diagnosed SO young, he has gotten into a wonderful routine, where he will happily lift up his shirt and give himself a shot. No Probs at all. It's only now that he is going through growth spurts and he has also been diagnosed with a good friend of Type 1, Coeliac Disease, that life has become very tricky. I struggle, every single day about what to feed him. It really has thrown his BSL's and AIC for a six.(Just so you know, I'm Australian, people from America don't always understand our little sayings hehe.)
So..I am going to check out a pump tomorrow. I guess you and I are in the same boat..I always guestimated that 7 would be the "right time" for Lance. In my heart of hearts, I think I'm right. He doesnt know a life without Diabetes...I'm worried that this will make him feel like he now does have something to worry about...a constant reminder attached to him. It's all so confusing-he is openly talking about starting on the pump however, and wants to stop having so many injections!
I pray it works out for both of our little ones :)
Big Love
Kate @ www.whydidtheinsulindie.com
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