I can only give my own experience with the pump. I am not, and never have been, very good at following directions I don’t like. That also works in the pump. So, if I can get decent control with the pump, the darn thing must be an asset. At least in my case.

As far as disconnecting for some special moments…. um, how to be tactful…..

If you are getting an equivalent of running 5 miles in an hour’s workout, who needs the insulin one would be getting if still connected??? : ) I have noticed ANY kind of exercise lowers my sugars remarkably. In that case, I just stay connected, don’t ALWAYS eat something, but put the pump on ’suspend.’ We went hiking last year, and the pump was off for more than 3 hours as we trekked up some hills in Glacier park. I cut the basal back for the rest of the night, too, for the exercise has lasting effects. The sugars stayed below 100, but did not bottom as they ordinarily would with any kind of insulin.

I like my pump because I can feel when my sugars are beginning to get low at work, when it would not be appropriate to dine on some smarties. “Excuse me, sir, I know your chest is open and your heart is stopped, but, really, I need to eat something.” On the other hand, if I feel my sugars getting higher, and I can feel this, I just have the pump shoot me as much or as little insulin as I think I need. After some time, this becomes fairly easy, I think.

Regarding all the ’stuff’ we have to carry with us. I take my relatively small carrying case with my meter, strips, sticker, an extra bottle of insulin, 2 syringes and 2 rolls of smarties with me almost everywhere. In my car I keep an extra infusion set/set up. I don’t take the injection device with me, for I find it is a convenience rather than a necessity. The extra insulin is already in my meter case.

Infection takes 3 days to colonize the catheter. That is where they are getting the magic 3 days between site changes. This is practiced with IV tubing, as well. Writing the date on the 1.25 inch diameter patch where the cath is inserted helps me remember when I put it there. (I have a TERRIBLE memory, except for unnecessary stuff.)

My biggest concern is waterproofness (Is that a word?) We are supposed to go to Cedar Point in 2 weeks, and I KNOW I will get wet in some way or another. Should I wrap my midsection with saran wrap, placing my pump under it? Should I put it in a plastic bag? Should I revert to Lantus (NOOOOO!) and take shots that day? As of yet, I don’t know.

The size of the catheter is VERY small. It is not like the public water line that one sees in urinary (foley) caths. It is not even 1/8″ in diameter. I have had the pump fall off wherever I had it clipped, and fall freely towards the floor. The insertion sticky stuff/tape did not budge, yet it removes easily when one pries on one of the edges.

OH! When I ’suspend,’ the pump gently reminds me it is in suspend mode. Where I am working, the 3 very little beeps blend with all the others, and no one even notices. In the classroom, the first 2 days of class were a bit fun, because others would wonder what that ‘beep’ was. After they all got used to the fact that I would stick my finger and the pump would receive the message from the meter and beep when it did, they would say, “oh, it’s just Joan.”

Jeff, again the decision is personal. OH, homeowner’s insurance covers the pump! Almost forgot.

Hope some of this helps. By the way, my husband LOVES it when I disconnect before going to bed!!!!! LOL

Warm regards,

Joan