Diabetics with insulin pumps?well i've been on the insulin for about 2 yrs. i never really had a problem with it. but for the past few months i've been getting a bit paranoid of it. i fear the worst. for example, i might hit the "prime/rewind" button by mistake and hurt myself, or have the tubing (canula) break inside my skin. i'm only 14 and this is stressing me out. to get to the point,should i get off it for a while?
Helpful answer below
-Cammie
No problem with taking a pump break.
After you start with the shots again, you will remember how much you love the pump.
You would really benefit from talking to your pump rep or your doctor about the safety of the pump.
We all have fears from time to time. No worries.
-emt_me911
I advise you to contact your pump trainer and tell them your concerns.
I've been on a pump for eight years and I have never had a problem...with my old 508 or with my new 722 (both Minimed).
Personally, I think your fears are unfounded. If you accidentally hit the "rewind", the pump will tell you to disconnect it before rewinding. Also, you have to go through the "prime" menu to even get to that...so the chances of accidentally hitting it are practically none.
As for the cannula breaking, I have never had that happen either. The catheters are flexible (similar to IV catheters) and are designed NOT to break. They can bend or kink, but breaking is unlikely. You can also "lock" your pump, so buttons don't activate anything if you press them.
Talk to your trainer about your pump and decide what to do. If the pump is working for you, I don't think that you change that regimen. I'm assuming you use a Minimed pump since you referred to the rewind. Talk with Minimed...tell them how you feel...I'm sure that they can relieve your fears and reassure you about using a pump. Good luck.
EMT
-Anita
Your fears seem a little impractical. You can certainly go off of the pump and go back on injections but I suspect then you will worry about things like the syringe breaking off under your skin. Perhaps another solution is to figure out why two months ago you started experiencing this needless anxiety. Did something happen? If you deal with the issue and cause of your anxiety it will make your diabetes management more successful in the long run. Good luck to you.
-lyndsaymartin76
I have been on a pump for 5 years. None of these things have ever happened to me. I understand your fears. We all have fears. Most pumps have safety features to keep you from hitting buttons by mistake. Let's say you accidentally hit a button, on most pumps, you have to hit "ok" or "proceed" for the command that particular button operates to work. In other words, you have to hit 2 buttons in succession for them to work. On my pump you have to tell it how much insulin to give also.
The cannula is soft. It isn't like a needle or hard plastic. It is very flexible. When I change my site, I have had them be bent before. That is because I put them in funny. In other words, if it was going to break, it probably would have broken then.
The best thing to do is contact your pump trainer. Voice your concerns and see what they say. I am sure they can reassure you. I have found that my blood sugar, and diabetes control overall are much better controlled with a pump than with shots. I have been diabetic for 28 years. So I have had more years on shots than with a pump.
I certainly understand your fears and do not mean to minimize them at all. I had my own different set of fears when I first started.
I wish you luck!
Orignal From: Diabetes Info
: Diabetics with insulin pumps?
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