Deciding to Switch To An Insulin Pump

Diabetes has never felt more difficult to manage in these past couple of months. Quite frankly, insulin injections are just feeling like a lot of hard work.

The best results seem to come if I eat similar foods, consume a similar number of carbs and do the same level of activity every day. I can remember my diabetes educator telling me that most people have around 10 to 15 meals they have in rotation. Theoretically, once I knew the correct insulin doses for all of those meals, managing my diabetes should be a piece of cake.

However, that’s not always practical when you’re a human being.

Sometimes I feel hungrier than normal. Sometimes I don’t feel like eating. Other times I go out and I want to eat more than normal. I don’t always eat the same foods together on my dinner plate. Sometimes I’ll indulge if there’s leftover desert in the fridge. Above all, I don’t enjoy eating exactly the same thing each day.

I’d like to think I have a really good understanding of the effects that different foods have on my body. Some foods need a delayed bolus, some need a pre bolus and others need a bolus when I eat them. I have a good idea of the carb content in most of my foods, but I don’t rigorously count or weigh my foods. So, my insulin doses are generally a good old guesstimate.

Usually, guesstimates work well for me. However, I still like to test 2 hours after a meal in case I need to correct a high reading, or to stop a low in its tracks. If I eat something with a higher fat content later in the day, I can expect a spike after bedtime. If I’m eating something that’s digested really slowly, like pasta, ditto. Then there are the Lantus Adjustment Struggles. Will my Lantus dose will be enough, or not enough to match the food I’ve eaten in one day?

I cannot remember the last time that I did not have to endure the Nightly 1am Glucose Checks. I don’t enjoy them, but they are necessary. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt confident that my glucose levels will remain stable through the night. I absolutely hate waking up high. The thought of a blood sugar out of range for the 8 hours I’ve been asleep puts me in a really bad mood. I don’t like starting my day on that note. Night time testing helps a great deal. More often than not I do wake up in range, which makes it all worthwhile.

Which brings me to a big decision. To Pump, or Not to Pump?

Drumrollllllllllll……..

After much deliberation, I’ve decided that I’m going to give the insulin pump a go.

I’m hoping that with the pump’s ability to continuously deliver insulin, some of that work to regulate my levels in the background might be made a little easier. My hba1c level has fluctuated over the years, so I’m hoping that the pump might help me to achieve a little more stability.

Sure, it’s going to be a big learning curve. Sure, the pump is only as smart as the person operating it. Sure, I’m still going to have diabetes after it all…

But I really have nothing to lose. My Private Health Insurance will cover the cost. I’ll have as much support as I need from my diabetes clinic. And I can always go back to injections if I don’t end up liking it.

I’m thinking about the Animas Vibe pump, because of it’s compatibility with the Dexcom CGM which everyone raves about. I’m not really interested in a CGM at the moment, but it’s always nice to have that option for the future. My other options here in Australia are Medtronic and Roche. Opinions anyone?

It was a big decision for me to make, and I’m glad I took the time to think it through. I can’t thank you all enough for your friendly words of advice and support over these last few months.

I’m off to see my diabetes educator next week, and hopefully I can get this looooonnnng process started. Wish me luck!

Wishing one of my readers, C, the best of luck for her pump day today. 

10 Comments

  1. Big decision but I think you will find that pumping simplifies some things for you. My vote is for the Vibe. Full disclosure: I don’t know anything about Roche and I’m a bit biased against Medtronic. Everyone who uses Animas seems to be happy with it, and if you are even remotely considering CGM in the future I would stick with the Dexcom compatible pump. For all its accolades about the pump itself, Medtronic CGM is far inferior to Dexcom.

  2. Cindy

    Thanks Frank l have just got home from pump appt pump attached feeling confident its only been about 5 hours. Have felt all those issues you faced l have the animas pump and will start the dexcom in a couple of weeks.Support from everyone has been awesome will keep in touch.
    Cindy

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