at what age did your child learn how to use their pump?

[wilf]

Some posts in another thread got me thinking about this.

We're on MDI just now, but I had always assumed that if we went to a pump then DD would be taught how to bolus and could at least cover snacks and simple meals.

But now I'm wondering how those of you with pumps actually handle the hand-off of control to your children. Is there a recommended age?

[momofsingingdiabetic]

We did with Danielle as soon as she got it. She was almost 13....about 8 months into dx, but she handled all the main figuring of her carbs, etc. for shots from the beginning...we only double checked her figures.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

My daughter was 6 (kindergarten) when we got the pump (7 months ago). She has learned from day one. Because of her age, she doesn't understand the IOB and does need help sometimes on recommended doses. But as far as using the pump...
She can bolus, suspend, cancel things, disconnect, and set a temp basal higher or lower. She does NOT know how to unlock it, rewind or prime to change a set, or change a setting in the wizard.

[Momof4gr8kids]

Julia just turned 7. I let her bolus with supervision. If your child can understand math pretty well, then she could probably do it without supervision each time she boluses after learning it of course. I figure when Julia can add her own carbs pretty well, then she can bolus without an adult there.
Julia also knows how to suspend her pump, and how to remove her pump. She knows what a low number is and how to treat it, and she's starting to learn how to change a set.

There are suggested ages recommended I think somewhere on the Barbara Davis center website for D care. However, I really think each child is different, and needs to set their own pace.

[skimom]

Hi Wilf - I notice you are a fellow canuck! Alberta Children's hospital in Calgary has an awesome pump start program and really showed both my kids (12 and 14 at their pump starts) how to use the pump etc and how to include in all their activities.They both had to prove that they could test lots, handle their own injections and figure out carbs (I still help out with carbs if I use a recipe etc but even then, the kids are quite good at estimating)before they would let them pump.They also know how to handle basic pump trouble shooting. I got my kids cell phones so they can call me or the diabetes team at any time if they have questions.If your child is handiling most of her MDI, she can handle the pump - in fact, my kids found it easier and were really keen.As long as you check and download info on a regular basis, your child will be fine! Good luck

[rtread]

kalissa and do simple stuff, bolus, put BS in ect. for the most part i do it all for her. She wants to do more tho, i just am a control freak :)

rania

[LizinTX]

Jacob was 6 when we got the pump. He learned from the beginning how to use it, we just supervise. Each child is different though. Jacob was doing his own shots three weeks after diagnosis at age five.

[Ellen]

My son was 7 when he went on the pump. We started in the summer so he learned to do things with supervision, I would listen for the confirmation beeps to make sure he was getting the right amount (it was an old Disetronic pump) and he was really able to hande it in school as far as bolusing for lunch and snacks, but he was math savvy. He also kept a calculator in his meter bag at the time and we were taught to do the math twice before bolusing. He was willing. Each child is certainly unique in his/her abilities at different stages of life.

[Boo]

Andy got is pump at age 11 (almost 12). He is able to pretty much do everything on his own (including site changes), and understands the concepts such as IOB, extended bolus options, etc. That doesn't mean that he DOES everything on his own, but he CAN (and does for school). At home, I usually count carbs for him (he does the actual button pushing), and I get everything filled, primed and ready for site changes.

[Amy C.]

My son started using the pump at 12. He can do the different types of bolues and set a temporary basal. He makes some decisions about the bolus, but not many.

I make the basal adjustment and often help with carb counting.

[BrendaK]

Carson is 7 1/2 and has been pumping for 3 years. I will let him turn a set change reminder off or a low battery reminder off and that's IT.

I'm sure I can teach him to do a bolus, he is very math savvy. But I am terrified of him doing a big "OOPS" and making a big mistake.

I also don't feel that he needs that burden right now to bolus himself. (Though I really should teach him in case of an emergency.) It's enough trouble for him just to get the pump out of his pocket at a meal, it sounds silly, but he gets irritated having to get his pump out all the time.

He does understand a LOT about diabetes. For example, if his meter reads over 300, he automatically gets his pump out for me to do a bolus. He understands highs, lows, and what to do, and that he needs insulin for carbs, but not for protein or fat. I have taught both my kids a ton about nutrition and why it's important.

Calculating carbs that you've eaten and bolusing is really a lot of work and I'm just not ready for him to do all of that yet. I just want him to be a kid and not have to add the carbs up on his plate :cwds: I know I'll have to show him eventually, but not yet.

[cadesmom]

OK Wilf I'll be honest with you, Cade can enter his bg, read the serving size and carbs on his snack, do a bolus, and take dirrections over the phone on anything else I need done, he also has a texter phone and sends me text messages from school.

[kiwikid]

Rachel is 6 and she started pumping at 4. She does 'nothing' with the pump except tell me if its beeping. I don't think she should have to have the responsibility for any of it yet. If she wants to help she can, but there is always an adult present to 'supervise'.
I can't imagine the time when I'll let her 'use it herself' :cwds:

[M&MMOM]

Max got his pump when he was 7 and has been using it since day 1. He is a gifted in the art of video games :p and so sometimes he is clicking thru numbers on it way faster than I can keep up! We used to supervise numbers and the nurse at school still does but we all feel very comfortable with him entering information now.

[krstn9@yahoo.com]

My 6 year old son doesn't do much! He has a pump/cgm. I did have him bolus himself one time but that was about it. He is very social, energetic, etc. and at this time he has not interest. I know from my older son, non d, but similiar personality that it will come so I don't freak about it. When he was MDI, he gave all his own shots. Go figure! He still doesn't have all the numbers together yet to bolus unsupervised.Kristin

[thebestnest5]

Liv's always been a bit precocious.

I just typed the list of what she can do with her pump and accidentally deleted it.

She does everything; except settings and site changes.

She understands so much more about her pump than I thought she would.

She understands her pump and cgm. I would trust her over almost any adult...I bet she could give her endo a run for his money...and, I think he knows it!:p

We supervise or double-check, of course.

[momtojess]

Jess has had a pump since she was 15 mths old. She is now 6. She cant really do anything with her pump.

We use the inset, she knows how to do the pump change, but isnt physically strong enough to hold it and squeeze. She know how to get it to be quite if there is an alarm, and we can walk her through a bolus, but she doesnt understand what #s mean yet in relation to food/insulin.

[zimbie45]

Charlzie was 5 when she got it and learned by watching.. WE never showed anything , she picked it all up on her own... We didnt even show her how to unlock it, we even turned our back so she could not see.. Well one day she was in preschool adn the poor teacher could not unlock it, well Charlize took it from her and unlocked it.. She can do it all.. She pickst things up like that so we just watch and monitor.. I preferr it that way that she learned on her own, in her own way.. slow and steady.. she asked questins.. then BAM she can run the whole thing...

[Noel]

Aidan has been pumping for 6 years. He pretty much does everything except for site changes. He got a new pump last April and that has made all of the button pushing for him a little easier. I know that he would enter in the bolus that we told him to when he was 3, of course we supervised this and we still do to a certain degree.

Here is an example of what he does.

Last night he says "I'm hungry" and tests 220
"hmm" he says "that's a little out of range" he proceeds to correct that.
He eats a granola bar, some yogurt, and a pretzal. He reads the labels and adds up his carbs in his head. It totals 45. (of course I am on the other side of the room checking on the calculator he is doing the math in his head)
He quickly gets his pump out and does the bolus.

He has no idea that I have been observing him.

He comes to me and gives me a quick run down. "Mom, I tested it was 220, I corrected and then I ate 45 carbs and did the bolus for that, I got .83 for the count and 1.8 for the food, can I go play in the snow now?"

Pretty much self sufficent to a degree, but lets remember here that Aidan was only 1 when he was diagnosed and has been pumping for 6 years and Daddy has been on a pump as long as Aidan has been alive so......he has had lots of exposure. He also LOVES math so any chance he gets to add or "play" with numbers he does.

[Jacob'sDad]

Jacob has a basic understanding of the controls and could probably do most of it, but he's not interested in doing it himself. He's pretty good at figuring stuff out. He kept pushing buttons to figure out how to unlock it. When he started pushing two at a time I knew it was only a matter of time before he figured it out so I just showed him how to do it. My wife was not pleased with me. I figured I'd rather be there when he unlocked it rather than have him figure it out on his own and start pushing buttons. So far he has been VERY responsible with his pump.

[munsonklein]

Sarah's 11, started pumping at 10. She considers her pump to be part of her body. She does everything but site changes and changes in settings like basals and I:C. I always let her know I'm about to mess with her pump, and usually ask permission. I do a lot of the carb counting, but she's gradually taking that over as well.

Cathy

[liasmommy2000]

Lia is 7.5 and started pumping in July. She does very little yet. She is rather behind in her reading and math skills and also has ADHD (very impulsive). Too often still she still reverses her numbers. So is not able to do the math (figure carbs etc), follow some of the prompts etc. I do let her bolus under supervision at times and she likes to do the fill cannula step. She can do the actual insertion herself also but most times I just do it. She has made a lot of progress in her reading and math this year after starting medication for the ADHD so we'll see how the rest of the school year goes and gauge her ability this summer. She really *wants* to do things herself, but she is just not at the point where I am at all comfortable with her doing it without me standing right there. I'm hoping to start letting her do a bit more with supervision next school year and really having her do all the everyday stuff herself with supervision the following year. With the way things are now when she moves up to the next school in fifth grade, she will be on her own other than emergencies. That based on what I know of a former school mate with D that's now in 5th grade in the district. Of course we'll see how Lia is doing then and if we need to insist she have more supervision. I'm also going to be speaking to her teacher soon and see if she would benefit from repeating 2nd grade. Sigh.

[Twinklet]

Emily turned 9 the month she started pumping and she could take it over from day 1. Her pump speaks plain English and I put customized alerts in for her. I also input her school lunches so she would have little else to do but select what she was going to eat and hit the cooresponding button.

I suspect most kids over age 8 can handle bolusing by themselves.

[Treysmom]

Trey does everything with supervision. He enters all normal boluses, if we are using dual or square I want an adult to do it. He has not been allowed to learn that part yet(he understands what we are doing).

He knows how to suspend, I think he could rewind I always do that myself. I do want him to know as much as possible.

[Mom2Madi]

Madi was three months shy of 10 when she started pumping. Right away she did all her own boluses. Over the year she learned how to set temp basals, check status to see how much IOB, change basals/I:C/ISF (I tell her what to change and check after). She can look in her history if she's high to see if a bolus was missed. Can turn the alarms off/on. Can do the pump part of the site change but I do the cartridge loading and putting the actual site on. She's had D 18mths and has no interest in doing her own site changes.

[shirley83006]

our endo , says it is a big decisiion and the child should be the one to make that decision whether he or she wants to be attached to a pump majority of the time. then when the child feels interested it becomes a family thing. our daughter shannon, we talk to her from time to time , no presure. we ask her if she is interested in trying it. and she still says no.

[usbornetheresa]

Tori has been pumping for almost a year and she is 8yo. She does most of her own boluses, but we calculate the carbs. She know how to do a combo and disconnect. We do everything else.

[miss_behave]

I know a 7 yr old that does it all herself at school because there is no nurse, and the teachers aren't interested in helping (religious school) She has all the carb counts for her lunch written down so she just puts the numbers in and boluses herself. Its quite easy really, the pump does all the calculations.

[jules12]

My ds just turned 7 when we got his pump. At pump class, he insisted on pushing all the buttons during class. He is more than capable of entering his BG, carbs, and bolusing. He knows how to suspend his pump and disconnect. He does not have anything to do with setup of carb ratios, basals, etc.

He has a very good understanding of what to do for highs and lows but I make him tell me what he thinks and then we proceed. He does not figure carbs for meals, I do that and tell him how many carbs, I also send a carb count in for lunch at school. He can look at any label and figure the carbs per serving for that food item and bolus for it - he does most of his own snack figures. This has come in handy when he goes to a friend's house and also for Grandma's. At school, the nurse watches him through every correction and bolus. At home, I just tell him and he does it.

I think it comes down to what your child wants to do. We let him take the lead and if he doesn't want to mess with it for a meal or a day, we just step in a do it. I think the pump helped to make him more independent sooner but we still talk about the "why" of it all so he is learning even when I am observing or handling it for him.

[LJS118]

Ryan just turned 5 when he got his pump and we started letting him do things right from the start (if my memory is right-he's 11 now) but slowly.

[MamaChrissa]

Jason just turned 5 in December and has been physically doing his pump entries for 3 months now. He hasn't the judgement yet to do his own corrections, but its going to be soon. We just watch he puts in the correct numbers and let him push the buttons. We plan on getting him as independent as possible as soon as possible. He really wants to be in charge of it. :)

[Tori's Mom]

Tori pushes all the buttons for a bolus. Is able to look at a label and figure the serving size and carbs(but I am not comfortable without double checking). She has not shown an interest in changing pump sites at all yet.