Start pumping?

[skopiec]

My son, Ben (currently 8, DX at 2) has started to express some interest in moving to a pump from MDI w/ Novalog and Lantus. Up until this point he's been pretty resistant to trying the pump and with his A1C's in the mid 6 range, we weren't especially motivated from a control standpoint.

I've been pouring over the forums for the past week or so and I'm somewhat torn on how I feel moving to a pump. He's a VERY active/athletic, so I'm worried that pumping might be a step backwards in some respects since we'll be introducing something else that he'll have to deal with before practice, swimming, etc. Additionally problems with infusion sets (kinks, falling out, etc) have me a bit worried.

We did a saline trial with both the Omnipod and the Animas 2020. The Animas one went pretty well, the Omnipod, not so much (painful insertions, and within 48 hrs we had 2 pod errors and one pod separate from the gauze at a pool party). After the trials he was somewhat uncertain about what he wants to do.

Bottom line is, I'm worried to attempt fix something what really isn't broken.

HELP!

Thanks in advance for any comments.
Scott

[rachabetic]

Welcome to CWD!!!! You might want to repost this in the parents of children with type1...you will get a lot more responses!!!

back to your questions..... I think the pump is great!! I am very active as well, and I think that the pump actually helps! you can change the basil to acomodate the excercise, or even suspend the pump. There isn't really much more to think about before practices or games, you still have to check bg, eat if needed, but you can take off the pump or leave it on(I usually decide by what my bg is). I have never had a problem with sites falling off in the 5 years that I have had my pump! I think I have only had 2 come off prematurly and that was because the tubing got caught on a drawer(rarely hapens though).

You can always try the pump, and if you don't like it, you can go back to mdi, but for most people(including me) after I got my pump, I was mad at myself for waiting so long! It really makes life so much easier, and D easier to control!

Good luck, and welcome again!!:D

[milfordj]

Ibid everything Rachael said. I have the Animas 2020 and LOVE it. Like her, my only regret is that I didn't go to it MUCH sooner. But, I understand your hesitation since your son is doing so well. If he really wants it, and is willing to do all the "testing" required to establish effective basal rates and bolus ratios, I can't imagine him regretting going on it.

[skopiec]

Thanks for all of the feedback - I've moved the discussion to the general "Parents" forum.

Thanks again!!!

Scott