One of the reasons I wanted to start this blog is because I am currently in the process of getting an insulin pump. The Diabetes Education Centre at the hospital here is putting 3 new patients a month on insulin pumps. I am slated to start on a pump in September. I have attended a workshops about pumping and I have the information packages for the pumps available in Canada.
I have some mixed feelings about the pump. I am not sure about being connected to device all the time. You can take them off for showering, bathing and swimming (three of my most favourite activities), but still, you pretty much need to have your pump on you all the time. It only kind of bothers me when I think about being at the cottage on the dock or at the beach. The nurses and other pumpers have assured me that most people feel this way and get over it in a hurry. Despite my resevations, I am going through with it. What really is up for discussion is which pump I want.
They basically all have the same functionality (like blood glucose monitors), but have differing features. Here are the two options I am considering:
1. Mini-Med Paradigm pump by Medtronic
- Compatible with a continuos blood glucose monitoring deveice that sends blood glucose information directly to the pump every 5 minutes. The pump will show you what your BG trend is and you can chart out your BGs during the day. Apparently, it costs $150 for the BG sensor (which lasts about 3 days), so you would only want to use this feature from time to time. But, the Mini-Med is the only pump with this feature.
- It is a little bit medical looking
- One of the dietitians at the hospital in the Diabetes Education Centre wears one of these pumps--she's got to know what she doing, right?
2. Animas 2020 Pump
- The pump on the website is not available in Canada yet, so I am looking at the 2020 version
- This pump is really pretty--I like that it doesn't look hospitally and it is waterproof
- It is smaller than the Mini-Med, which is nice because it is easier to conceal. Apparently smaller insulin resevoirs are annoying because you have to feel them up more often. Also, if you are ever going to be pregnant, the small resevoir is even more annoying because you need more insulin.
I will get in contact with the reps from both companies and see what I think. I have a bit more time to make a decision. Though, I am really enjoying Lantus right now!
