For insulin pump users: How long have you worn an insulin pump?

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- 4 hours ago
  
  AnitaS likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Only "illness" that makes it really difficult to control my blood sugar is getting steroid injections into my cervical spine or fingers. I leave my basal rate on my pump at 250% and need much higher bolus doses and many "extra" doses if my blood sugar remains really high. I tell the MD's that it turns my insulin into tap water and try to avoid it, experience with having gotten these injections over the past few years has helped, but having blood sugars of 400-500 despite much higher basal and bolus dosing is so frustrating!
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 1 minute ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 5 hours, 7 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Tests New Insulin Program
  How can I get on the Mark Cuban test program ?
- 5 hours, 7 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Tests New Insulin Program
  How can I get on the Mark Cuban test program ?
- 5 hours, 7 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Tests New Insulin Program
  How can I get on the Mark Cuban test program ?
- 5 hours, 7 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Tests New Insulin Program
  How can I get on the Mark Cuban test program ?
Clear All

For insulin pump users: How long have you worn an insulin pump?

Do you feel that your blood sugar patterns are different during times of the year when there are fewer hours of daylight, compared to when there are more hours of daylight? If yes, tell us how in the comments!

Sarah Howard

19 Comments

Bob Durstenfeld

My first insulin pump was in 1987. it was the size and weight of a brick and most of that was the battery that barely lasted 24 hours. I designed my own car charger.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
MidnightSun 55

Yup. Quite large. It was an “Auto-Syringe”. 1982.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Kristen Clifford

I’ve been on pump therapy since January 2012

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Greg Felton

It would be interesting to know how long each respondent has had T1D, to see how long they have worn a pump. (In my case, 44 years T1D and 22 years with a pump.)

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Annie Wall

I was on the pump for 24 years, 1995-2019. I went off the pump in 2019 because there was too much scarring from infusion site sets. I’m now using the InPen and will probably return to a pump after a two year vacation.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Chip Brookes

I have been on a pump since about 2010. Started with Medtronic now on T-slim. Switched because the Dexcom CGM was more accurate than the Medtronic CGM. I do like the Control IQ function very much. I really dislike the installation procedure for the T-Slim. The Medtronic was much simpler.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Ahh Life

1996. And in those days the procedure involved a 2-day hospitalization, one on saline solution and one on the real McCoy (insulin). Additional advice for abdomen users/abusers: switch to the legs. They’re great ( ͡◉ ͜ʖ ͡◉)

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Kristine Warmecke

Only 23 years of pumping (started in February 1997) was diagnosed T1D 38 years ago (January 5, 1982). Would have been pumping sooner, but my parent’s wouldn’t give in on their rule not until I was over 18.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Trish Seidle

Diagnosed in 1972. Joslin Clinic put me on what I think was the very first portable pump in around 1983ish. Because my parents had very good insurance, I was able to go to Joslin Clinic every 2 years. I don’t think that the first pump had a name…although it probably did. I think the second one was the Eugly…… This is when I wish I kept a journal so I could look back at things. The advances have been incredible!! They don’t seem like much at the time but looking back, they have been huge!

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Loretta Rogers

Pumping since ’98. I know what all of you mean about scarring. I weigh about 100 lbs with very little fat. Yes, I used the abdomen too much. Now I rotate everywhere. Probably where I shouldn’t…thighs, derriere, abs, flank, arms [in a pinch]. Will be 50 yrs. in Feb. for diagnosis. So, ROTATE!!!

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Cheryl Seibert

Medtronic since 2000, just switched to Tandem TSlim with Control-IQ in August 2020.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Tim Lors

1997. I had recently switched from 2 shots a day to MDI, and concluded it gave me much better BG management, but that I needed flexibility in meal timing a a better way to deal with Dawn phenomenon. They shipped the pump to me house and I started using it immediately. At my training session, the doctor was floored that I had been already using it for days. I was floored when I realized he had no clue how to properly set basal rates. At that point, I realized it was up to me to figure out what works for me. I am now on Tandem C-IQ (after a very long hard fight with UHC) and my TIR = 90%.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Tim Lors

How do you edit your post to correct typos? (O prefer the previous format.)

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Patricia Dalrymple

Agree with Tim. I answered wrong but no way to edit.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Glen Heatherington

Since 2000. Coming up on 56 years since diagnosis.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Tina Roberts

I answered 20-25 years. That’s wrong and I can’t go back and change it. It’s 14 years. I do not like this new platform. I can’t change my answers and I’m getting double every email and it shows one question then when I select answer it’s an entirely different question!!

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Molly Jones

I started pumping about 3.5 years after diagnosis to help with a pregnancy. It had not been suggested previously. Medtronic was the pump I used for more than ten years, then I tried Omnipod, went back to Medtronic and am now on Tandem. I liked Omnipod but it did not have the small amount of doses I needed. I also liked Medtronic’s pump better than Tandem, but because it doesn’t pair with Dexcom I will stay with Tandem.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Jillmarie61

I’ve been pumping since 1978. Where’s my cure? In that amount of time you surely could have found one by now.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Jim Witte

@Jillmarie61 > I’ve been pumping since 1978. Where’s my cure? How many years (decades?) will it take to get through pre-clinical trials with the transgenic pigs? And then how many decades for Phase 1-3 with humans?

2 years ago Log in to Reply