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08-30-2006, 12:00 PM | #1 |
Spoilin' Tilly & Jack Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,227
| Insulin pumps I was wondering if any of you are on an insulin pump or know someone who is? My mom has been in the hospital the past few days due to complications with her blood sugar. They increased her insulin amount and nothing is helping her. They keep telling her a pump will help her but she is a little afraid of them I think. She keeps refusing to get one. Any advice will be much appreciated!!!
__________________ Momma Tilly Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail. |
Welcome Guest! | |
08-30-2006, 01:02 PM | #2 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 1,459
| I don't have one but a teacher that one of my boys had in 5th grade had the insulin pump and loved it! She said it was like wearing a beeper all day and once she got used to it, she pretty much forgot it was there. I think the pumps are supposed to monitor and release insulin as the body needs it so the patient no longer has to worry about shots which is pretty convenient Sorry I couldn't be of much more help than this to you. Hope the sugar level problems your mom has been experiencing get resolved soon!
__________________ Suzi - mom to Gabby and Gage For Mickey |
08-30-2006, 01:04 PM | #3 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 122
| If it would help to check this forum www.diabetesforums.com it is diabetics talking about everything that has to do with diabetes. There's a thread talking about pumps. Sometimes talking to people that live with it everyday is better than a doctor because their the ones that have to actually cope with it everyday. I know where your coming from, my husband and son are diabetics but neither wanted to get a pump so I can't help with that. Sorry. |
08-30-2006, 01:09 PM | #4 |
Love my Diamond girl Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: AZ
Posts: 822
| My ex boyfriend was on an insulin pump. He had type 1 diabetes. He was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 12 so he was very used to wearing/using it. He is now 23. I know it's a lot easier than giving yourself injections everytime you eat. As long as you are checking your blood sugar regularly, the pump is pretty accurate.
__________________ Proud mommy of Diamond |
08-30-2006, 01:13 PM | #5 |
I Love My Monkeys! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Falling Waters, WV
Posts: 11,166
| One of my really good friends and coworkers is on an insulin pump and has been for a few years. She really likes it. I can ask her specific questions if you want me to, I'm always asking her things She just got a new one and I was the person she asked to give her an injection should something really bad happen so I took a class and learned how to do it. If you want more info let me know. |
08-30-2006, 01:35 PM | #6 | |
Spoilin' Tilly & Jack Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,227
| Quote:
__________________ Momma Tilly Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail. | |
08-30-2006, 01:37 PM | #7 | |
Love my Diamond girl Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: AZ
Posts: 822
| Quote:
__________________ Proud mommy of Diamond | |
08-30-2006, 01:44 PM | #8 | |
Spoilin' Tilly & Jack Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,227
| Quote:
__________________ Momma Tilly Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail. | |
08-30-2006, 01:49 PM | #9 | |
Love my Diamond girl Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: AZ
Posts: 822
| Quote:
__________________ Proud mommy of Diamond | |
08-30-2006, 02:12 PM | #10 |
I Love My Monkeys! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Falling Waters, WV
Posts: 11,166
| I know for Annie it is super easy to use. I've asked her how she showers, sleeps, etc and she says it is just something she got used to. She even showed me how she changes it! |
08-30-2006, 05:09 PM | #11 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,624
| My husband just got one last week. He's 57 years old and has never been much into technology, or even cell phones - he knows how to make calls and to answer his cell phone, but that is about it. I was really concerned about him being able to use the pump, because everyone says, "oh it's easy, it's just like a cell phone". I thought..... But, it has been wonderful. He can use it with ease and move around the screens to give himself insulin. It does not monitor your blood sugar automatically (some pumps do, but that is very new technology and very expensive, most ins companies don't pay for it yet). You have to check your own blood sugar with a finger stick (some pumps have a blood sugar checker built right in) and you have to count the carbohydrates that you are going to eat for a meal (or the carbs you have just eaten) and you have to enter that number into the pump and then the pump calculates the amount of insulin you need and gives it to you though a little cannula or needle that is secured to your abdomen area (can be placed on upper thigh, upper buttocks, etc. wherever you have enough fat). It is absolutely wonderful technology - it is an artificial pancreas, except you have to tell it what to do. You are connected to the pump by a tiny little tube which is about 30 inches long. So you can't lay the pump down and walk away, it is attached to you all the time (but you do have the length of tubing, so you can lay it on the bed, for example, while you are dressing). You can wear it cliped to your belt or waist band - my husband just drops it into his jeans pocket during the day. At night he clips it to the waistband of his boxers. I don't think I would be comfortable with him laying it in the bed beside him! Changing the tubing and injection site must be done every 3-4 days and the first few times you do this, it seems pretty complicated and a little scarey. But I know that it will be just fine with practice. Everyone says it takes from 1-2 months to become familiar and comfortable with the pump. You just disconnect it to shower (you do not take the needle out, you just disconnect the tubing and pump from the needle site which stays in your abdomen). You can go swimming, etc. Some of the pumps are waterproof and kids actually swim with them on and running. My husband fell into the river this weekend while fishing and his pump was just fine. Now, for your mom - I think she has to be committed to using the pump, otherwise, it won't be much different than taking shots. Is she taking multiple shots every day - every time she eats? That is pretty tiring, but is what needs to be done if her control is not good. But if she is already taking multiple shots a day, calculated on what she is eating, and she is still in poor control, then the pump might help - but only if she is committed to checking her blood sugar and dialing in the amount of carbohydrates that she is eating so that the pump will know what to do. It's kinda like a computer, it is only going to do what you tell it. It sounds like your mom might need a good diabetes educator nurse to help her decide about all of this. Also, I have heard, but do not know for certain, that some pump companies will let you test a pump for a month. The recommendation to read the message board by people wearing the pump is a good one. The American Diabetes Assocation also has a message board that is very good. Good luck with everything!
__________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom Last edited by RowdysMom; 08-30-2006 at 05:12 PM. |
08-30-2006, 05:30 PM | #12 | |
Spoilin' Tilly & Jack Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,227
| Quote:
I know she is taking several shots a day. Nothing seems to lower it. If we are lucky she will have a reading of 200. That's a good day for her. Since she has been in the hospital it has been near 400 and they couldn't drop it until today and it went into the 200's. I can't tell you the last time I've seen her with a normal reading. She has been watching her diet and has lost some weight but even that hasn't helped. They told her she would have more control over it if she had a pump. She can't give herself a shot so someone has to be there in case she needs an emergency shot. My dad works nights and my younger brother is scared to death of needles. Luckily I don't live far. I just fear it is gonna go up so high she can barely respond like it did this time and nobody will be around. I wish I could convince her.
__________________ Momma Tilly Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail. | |
08-30-2006, 06:06 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,624
| If she can't give herself a shot - then she definitely needs to be on the pump. And it sounds like even in the hospital where there should be getting good monitoring, she is in poor control. The pump also delivers insulin continuously - the nurses can calculate how much you need to get continuously. Then you give yourself meal doses to cover what you are eating. It sounds like she really DOES need it because she can't give herself shots, and with the pump she doesn't need to. It also sounds like her own body is producing too much glucose which it does naturally, even without eating. The pump can counteract this with the continuous amount of insulin that can be delivered, along with the meal doses. I hope you can convince her - she really needs it.
__________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom |
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