My soon to be 14 year old son will start pumping in the new year!!

Carol Ann - posted on 02/27/2012

How does he feel?

Moira - posted on 05/08/2009

My son started pumping at the end of March. We had some of the issues mentioned above at the beginning, but he is more confident now.

Kristi - posted on 05/08/2009

My son is 14 now and has been on the pump since he was 11. It will take a little time to get use to but he will be a pro at it in no time. The bolus wizard helps so much when u first get started because it does all the work for you.



He will be able to eat what ever he wants with moderation because every time something goes in the mouth he boluses. It will give him more freedom about his schedule like sleeping in. But dont get over excited, he will still need you to check up on him and be there when he does the site changes so you can check them. If he plays sports let the coaches know and explain to them what needs to be done. My son played football, wrestled, and is playing baseball. he will set his own schedules for some things but he will still need to do at least 4 blood checks a day for it to work for him.

Taryn - posted on 05/04/2009

We have been pumping for a week now and absolutely loving it. The only complications we have had is a couple of highs and a few lows...nothing we hadn't already dealt with doing injection. I am so glad we made this decision...life is so much easier! We have went out to eat and didn't have to worry about anyone staring while he did an injection. He is becoming more independant and is being very responsible. Thanks to all of you who have previously posted...I read them all and they were all very helpful. Good luck to everyone!

Taryn - posted on 04/23/2009

Thank you Tracy...we start Monday 4/27/09...will let you know how it goes!

Tracy - posted on 04/15/2009

Taryn... I'll admit I was apprehensive when I first started this thread... was so unsure and scared of what the pump could bring! That being said, Hayden has been pumping since February 2nd, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!! We've had a sick day and it was awesome being able to let him sleep the bug off the way his brothers would, just reduce his basal and let him sleep, of course I was up all night testing his sugars to ensure he didn't go high... but much easier for him! We hit a few bumps in the road the first month of using the pump, but even with those bumps, his A1C still came down!! So all in all, I can't complain!! I wouldn't go back to shots now... and even though he has the freedom to eat what and when he wants, he actually reduced the amount he was eating at one given time... he eats more often now, but less... going through test strips more now because if he wants to eat, he tests, but a trade off we're happy with!

Good Luck with the pump, I promise you won't regret it!

Taryn - posted on 04/15/2009

My 12 year old son will be starting the pump hopefully next week. It is currently in route from Minimed and should arrive on Friday. I have tried to get in touch with the educator at the doctors office for the training session that we can hopefully get set up for wed. or thurs. of next week. I want to thank all of you for your posts to this string...they have been very helpful. My son has luckily been able to have a lot of flexibility in his insulin regiment while taking shots...with cooperation of his doctors...we have been able to conform his insulin regiment to fit our lifestyle instead of conforming our lifestyle to his diabetes regiment. We are looking forward to the pump and hope is is as a positive experience for all of us as it has been for you. We are going with the Minimed Paradigm with continuous glucose monitoring since he does not always feel his highs and lows until they are at an extreme.

Dawn - posted on 03/01/2009

Let's go at this again. :)    My friend Jeannie is a Type 1 Juvenille Diabetic. Please listen to her story of recovery. This is a pre-recorded call Jeanne has made as an encouragement to others. Just dial and listen - it is about 4 minutes long. (US) 212.461.8925  If you would like to talk with her we can make that connection as well.  We can do a three- way call.
Dawn Grubb

Tracy - posted on 02/18/2009

Umm Thanx Dawn, but I think that would benefit someone with type 2 diabetes, not someone with type 1... my sons blood sugars are controlled by insulin because his body doesn't create it.

Dawn - posted on 02/18/2009

I can make a suggestion.  A new dietary supplement was introduced in Chicago last October specifically designed for diabetics.  In an 8 week clinical trial, 50 test subjects lowered their fasting blood glucose by an average of 30%.  I would be happy to connect you to someone who knows more about this if you are interested.

Deana - posted on 02/14/2009

Hi Tracy.....so glad things are going well!! It is crazy for those first few days. I was always wondering if I was doing it right. But we agree with you, it is a wonderful change.

Tracy - posted on 02/14/2009

Ok we've been pumping for 2 weeks now... I'm gonna hafta be honest here, I

Kellie - posted on 02/14/2009

my 3 year old daughter has been on the pump for 3 months now and i've found it so much easier her bg levels have stablized she can eat pretty much anything within reason of course.

Leah - posted on 02/11/2009

My son Glenn has been Type 1 Diabetic since the age of 6 Pumping since the age of 10 and will be 16 in September. Yes they can eat what ever they want sleep in etc. We still maintain a schedule of eating but not really stricted. We still watch what he eats and Glenn has chosen to make healthy eating choices more and more each year on his own not only because he is diabetic but because he is an athlete and teenager etc. The pump gives Glenn more freedom and privacy as well as it allows independent living skills for him because in a little over two years he will be off to college where we will have no control. Good luck! Hang in there it is tough but it gets easier. What Pump are you going to? Our first pump was a Deltec Cozmo we loved it but when it was time for a new one because it was no longer under warranty Glenn choose the Animas because it was smaller more discreet. It is great pump and has the Calorie King book inside for carb info. TheirCustomer Serive Dept needs some work though! If you have any questions let me know I would be glad to answer or get the answer

Tracy - posted on 02/04/2009

Thank you Shelli, things are going well now... I'm warming up to the pump...

The first thing health care professionals will tell you is that the pump has got to be your childs choice. he needs to want it. Some kids who started pumping at an early age end up going off the pump because as you said, they don't like being attached to a tube. My son wanted the pump for freedom, he's going into high school next year and obvoisly wants to be able to do what his friends do as for food... he wants to go to McDonalds, and if he doesn't want to eat it at a specific time he doesn't have to. He's lived a very regemented life for 7 years, specific eating times. Not allowed to sleep in, you know the crap all kids hate, especially having to keep food or liquid down on sick days. He's allowed to sleep in, eat when he wants without a schedule to follow. I'm not worried about the eating of junk as long as he remembers to enter the carbs and his sugar into the pump, he's actually been pretty good with good choices. Since he was old enough to pick his food, even before diabetes, he preferred fruit and veggies. Continue your research... find info that you think might appeal to your son, my son loves the concept of sleeping in til 12 or 1... typical teenage boy! lmao

Shelli - posted on 02/04/2009

i hope its going well for you tracy, i am interested. my son is not on a pump and he is 13. he has dieabetes for a year and half. i have heard sometimes when kids go on pump they get sloppy, don't eat well, and gain weight because its so easy to just eat junk and let the pump fix? i was wondering if you find that to be true? he is freaked out about a tube stuck in him...i guess he would rather have the numerous shots throughout the day, which its his decision not mine, but i still would like to be informed. good luck!

Tracy - posted on 02/03/2009

Sam I wish you and your daughter luck in your quest for the pump. Best suggestion, talk to her doctor. Whats the worst that will happen? Thank you for the well wishes, and I"m happy to report day two was wonderful, much less stressful!

Samantha - posted on 02/03/2009

oh ok there we go then we are in the isle of wight uk and im guessing no funding etc but here's hoping!! We have been doing really well with controling things but you girls hormones are a difficult thing to control! and of course my daughter Rosie has been looking on the net at the American/canadian pumps and has just decided that she should be able to have one and I cant argue with that!! Hope things continue to go well for you and that you can relax just a little
sam

Tracy - posted on 02/03/2009

Also Sam, once Hayden told his doc he wanted the pump, they actually started the wheels turning, we had to do a pump info nite, informing us on what a pump can do, what different pumps are out there etc. Once the decision was made the pump company contacted us asked us some additional information, then shipped the pump to our door within days, we had pump school, a full day of learning how to use the pump... still not sure that was enough! lol then pump start... it's been pretty fast really, we've had family emergencies slow the process, but we're pumping now!

Tracy - posted on 02/03/2009

Sam, I don't know where you're from, I'm in Canada and our government has a program that funds pumps for type 1 diabetic kids (recently extended to adults) who have good control, requirements are that he needs to attend clinic every 3 months, has to have an A1C less than 10, and must be logging. My son actually mentioned it to his doctor, wanting to know if he could get one... then we were told about the funding, so we've been very fortunate in the whole process.... and I'm happy to report that thus far, day 2 of pumping is much smoother and easier! Yay us!

Samantha - posted on 02/03/2009

Hi
How did you get to get a pump??? My daughter is 11 going on twelve hitting puberty in a big way and still no mention of a pump being available!!!
sam

Tracy - posted on 02/03/2009

Ok so started Pump February 2nd,   here it is not even 24 hours later, 4:15am est. and I think everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong! Stubborn lows, several of them... so we lower the basal... during the lows we susped pumping, last time @ 11pm, we forgot to resume... so @ his 3am testing, pretty sure he was high and had some keytones.... no biggie right, we just do a correction bolus... except something is wrong with the site and pretty sure a majority of the bolus ran down his abdomen... I'm ready to quit, he however is a trooper, yeah it sucks that we're up at this hour waiting to see what his sugars are in 20 minutes... he isn't ready to give up, I hope and pray that it gets easier than night #1!!

It can't get worse... can it?? LOL!

Jennifer - posted on 02/02/2009

my 13th year old son just started on the pump in nov of last year. And it is the best thing even to come out with. before the pump he was doing 3-7 shots a day. he can eat what he wants.and have a normal teenage life. To learn the pump it might hard at first but let me tell u the kids get it faster than the parents but u will. don't be scared

Jenni - posted on 01/31/2009

I so remember...good luck!

Deana - posted on 01/23/2009

Tracy, good luck to you and your son!! It is a bit over-whelming at first......but it gets so much easier as you go!

Tracy - posted on 01/23/2009

Pump start date is February 2nd, I'm scared, and a bit over whelmed seems like so much to remember... I'm sure things will turn out fine... just those first few weeks kinda intimidate me!

Kathy - posted on 01/13/2009

I agree with Deana. My 12 year old started on the pump in november and loves it. she enjoys the old flexibility but we have run into a few problems. The biggest concern is that sometimes the catheter site and priming can be a problem. She should be able to keep it in for 3 days but she has to change catheters every 2 days. We figured this out when her BG got unusually high for her. Unfortunately it was usually at bed time that we realize this and had to change out. The primary problems we are working on are air int he tubing and blood in the canula. My daughter is long and lean so I think it goes into muscle at times.



She loves wearing it to school because it looks like a cell phone. the principal came up to her at lunch put her hand out as if to say, "hand over the cell now!" on the first day she wore it as she was showing her best friend. When she told the principal what it was, the lady said, "I knew that" and left.



we give her the control she needs over it but stay close because sometimes she actually wants the TLC and to not have te responsibility. We just let her cue as about when to step in. I figure I could make a mistake as easily as she could and she is the one who will be ultimately responsible when she is an adult. I try to let her gain confidence with us around.

Deana - posted on 11/20/2008

Hi! My son is 11 years old and has been on the minimed pump for just over 2 years.

You and your son will love the pump. At first you will have to go thru the learning process of it all. And you do still have to stay on top of everything to have good BS control....But it will definitely give your son that flexibililty, which is great as they grow older. The pump makes it so much easier for him to correct a high...no more extra injections. I do let my son sleep in on weekends but I still check his BS in the middle of the night. If it gets to be 9a.m. I will go check him just to make sure he is doing ok.

But overall, I think once you get thru the learning stage you are really going to like it...it will make life a little bit easier! GOOD LUCK!!