New Pump and activities

[lowcountry girl]

My soon to be 5 year old, Leland, was dx in May of 2007. She went to her 9 mo. Endo appointment and told him "I want an IB all the time" "You know the ones in your tummy or heinie." So, tomorrow our pump arrives and then we get going in classes--I guess? My question is this------ She has always been told that she can take karate like her big brother when she turns 5. This occurs the end of April. So, do we delay the lessons? I've always told her that she can do anything she wants to (no jumping off bridges hahaha). We went on a 10 day camping trip in a pop up 2 weeks after dx at our Endo's prompting----said we could watch BS anywhere, why disappoint the kids with a canceled vacation that we'd looked forward to for a year. It was wonderful, proved to all of us that life goes on and is FUN. So, am I getting wound up before the event or is this really something I need to think about and have an answer for--potentially. Any and all answers/suggestions welcome:confused:

[bgallini]

There's no reason she can't do karate with a pump. My oldest son (diabetic) never did karate but my youngest has done it and I see no reason not to let your daughter take karate.

If you find that the activity makes her bs go lower, you can either set the basal rate lower for that time period, or you can disconnect the pump while she's in class. Presumably the class is an hour or less so you'd just test, disconnect, take class, reconnect and test. You will want to keep testing every 1 or 2 after class until you get a good idea what happens with her bs. Sometimes they go up with exercise and then go low. Sometimes, they go low during exercise and sometimes they don't go low until hours later. But you will learn how it affects your daughter and you can adapt to that.

Make sure you ask the Dr or the cde or the pump rep about this so they can help you figure it out.

[Sarah Maddie's Mom]

Pumping actually makes it easier to do activities IMHO.

You have much greater control over how much insulin and when with the pump. As far as sports go, Maddie usually leaves her pump on, no problem for basketball, lacrosse or tennis. Takes it off to swim. Each kid and each activity will differ but overall pumping will not get in the way of doing anything - short of jumping off bridges, that is.:rolleyes:

[vettechmomof2]

My daughter does karate with sparring and weapons training 4-5 days a week for 2-4 hours at a time and then running around the dojo babysitting her brother while I do kickboxing.;)
SHe has no issues with it. She does try to muffle the beeping when we are alarming for a pod change but that is only because she doesn't like the alarm.
GOod luck,
Allene

[lowcountry girl]

Thanks so much--- I guess all we can do is try and see how it goes with her. :D

[sammysmom]

My son does Karate 4-5 times a week with his pump on. He also just competed in a Karate tournament. So my answer would be "yes" let her do the karate:D