My Decision to Get on the Insulin Pump

Insulin pumps have become a lifeline for many diabetics in recent years. Originally developed in the early 60's they began to become more popular in the 80's and 90's. I got my insulin pump in 1999 at the age of 16. After 7 years of multiple daily injections my blood sugars were still not satisfactory. My endocrinologist had previously suggested the insulin pump many times only to be greeted with my vehement refusal. I was young and didn't really care how much damage I was doing to myself with blood sugars running two and three hundred. Finally I was talked into it by my mother, my doctor, and my best friend. It was a changing point in my life. I am one of those people who couldn't possibly maintain adequate blood sugars without my little "external pancreas".

When I was turned 9 years old I didn't have a care in the world. I had a real birthday cake at my birthday party. I got to eat all the candy I wanted that Halloween. I was just like everyone else. Six months after my birthday I began to lose weight for no reason. I became so thirsty I would gulp down a large coke from McDonalds in 30 seconds. It was miserable. My mother took me to the doctor and they found my blood sugars in the 300's. We had caught it before it became too dangerous- lots of times children go into comas before they are diagnosed because the parents don't realize what is going on. The diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes, back then called Juvenile diabetes, only controllable with shots. I spent a week in the hospital, an entire hour holding a syringe working up to giving myself my first shot, and every day from then on worrying about being different or having an embarrassing episode. I didn't truly realize the severity, but then again, how do explain something this serious to a child?

Only a few years later I was up to 4 or 5 shots a day; breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. Multiple daily injections (or MDI in diabetic jargon) offer very little freedom and make it difficult to control blood sugars overall. Instead of counter acting the food with insulin, much like one's pancreas does, diabetics are forced to counter act the insulin with food. This means eating snacks to avoid low blood sugar and eating meals at the same time everyday to stick to a strict schedule. Insulin pumps offer the freedom to eat whenever one wants to eat and at the same time usually dramatically decreases the occurrences of low blood sugar and high blood sugar. Having such freedom is so refreshing. No more pears for snack when I'm not hungry. No more searching for bathrooms in public places to find privacy to take my shot. No more cases of syringes and bottles of insulin bulking up my purse. I didn't always feel this way, though.

When I was first introduced to the pump I was in the clutches of high school, fashion, and popularity (or lack thereof). This little pager size device was ruining my outfits and practically screaming, "Stare at me!" and "This girl is different!" I felt like I was walking around with a billboard attached to me inviting weird looks and speculations from my peers, even though most of them knew what it was. I could never find an inconspicuous place to hide it in my outfit and I hated being attached to something all of the time. I only wore it about a week before I disconnected it and started taking my shots again. When my best friend found out there was a bit fight. No matter how inconvenient I felt like it was at the time I could no longer deny that my blood sugars were out of control and I was old enough to understand the consequences of that. I knew if I kept it up I would go blind, have heart problems, and maybe even lose my feet or legs. A few days later I gave in. My best friend was very pleased to find I had reconnected myself. I have been on it since and while I do not have the type of control I could have if I applied myself more I see the better blood sugars everyday, and I firmly believe it was the main reason I had a safe pregnancy and a healthy daughter. Her father also believes it is essential for better blood sugars. He's seen first hand how it can help, after all if it wasn't for him I might not have ever gotten back on it that time. He's still my best friend after all these years, and now he's my husband.