insulin pump vs. port

[Rokiss12]

SOOO>... i've been officially diagnosed with CFRD (sUCKing at the moment)
but i was talkign to my mom today, she wants me to get an insulin shot, but everyone agrees its too early

my question was, if i were to get a port (they seem like a good idea, especially b/c im going in more often) would i be able to give myself insulin injections through that? so instead of having a port and a pump, just a port?

hope this makes sense!

 

[thelizardqueen]

Hmm...I'm not sure if you can do that. I've been diabetic for 10 years now, and am just sick of taking shots all the time. At the moment I'm looking into pumps. I don't think that ports are the same as pumps though. With a pump, its tubing conected to a pump that stores the insulin and keeps track of your sugar readings. I don't think you can inject insulin into your port. The pump works on its own giving you insulin when needed. It sort of works as a fake pancrease. you program it to give you insulin, etc.

Here's a link on how pumps work:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/insulin-pumps.jsp
">http://www.diabetes.org/type-1...tes/insulin-pumps.jsp
</a>
Here's a pic of one:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.lifespan.org/adam/graphics/images/en/18028.jpg">http://www.lifespan.org/adam/g...cs/images/en/18028.jpg</a>

 

[coltsfan715]

I do not know the specifics, but I do not think that you would be able to do that. I may be wrong but I don't think that is possible.

I do not have an insulin pump, but have talked to the doc about them. They seem like a great idea. You only have to change they catheder thing every 3 days versus sticking yourself 2 or more times a day, they are water proof and control your blood sugar better.

I do not think they would allow you to inject insulin into your port - the reason I don't think they would is because it would be going pretty much right into your blood stream - unless I am incorrect about how ports work. With an insulin pump or insulin shots you are injecting insulin into fatty tissue. I may be wrong like I said, but who knows.

I know at first diagnosis the CFRD thing can be kind of scary and can really seem to SUCK big time. As you learn more about it and get everything set into the routine you already have for your other meds things will seem a lot easier and not so "stressful." I had a hard time after a few weeks, had a little breakdown then once I educated myself about CFRD and everything I felt better about it - like I was in more control. Since then I haven't had any major problems with the CFRD aspect of things.

I will say about the pump I never wanted one when I was first diagnosed because I thought they were like an implanted thing and they aren't. Once I found that out the idea of having one didn't seem like such a bad thing. I am still going "old school" with the shots now though.

Lindsey

 

[Rokiss12]

i understand what your saying, guess i just messed up what i was asking. i was actually thinking of just like, giving myself insulin through the port, but not as a pump (so regulated throguh me, not a computer) does that make more sense? i woudl still do the regular shots, just through my port.

my main 'concern' was that the insulin wouldnt be as effective or something through a port? do i make sense? lol

 

[thelizardqueen]

The port would be sending your meds straight into your blood stream. Insulin cannot go into the bloodstream. It has to go into fatty tissue like your stomach, butt, back of arms or thighs. I honestly don't think you could inject your insulin into your port. You would need both a port and a pump if you were going to go through that route. Or just stick to injections. Might I suggest a pen needle for your insulin? I use those, and find it so much easier to use then regular syringes.

 

[Rokiss12]

thank you ! you cleard alot up for me,

the nurse is coming to my hospital room tomorrow to teach me the ropes, and she already mentioned the pens, so im gunna go for those!

 

[Mathews]

I have had an insulin pump for almost 3 years.  With insulin,
you inject directly under the skin.  You would not want to put
into a port as that would be directly into bloodstream and the
insulin would not work.  Insulin works in the fatty tissue of
the body.<br>
<br>
The pump is great.  The benefits of being on a pump are NO
MORE SHOTS and the pump calculates how much insulin you need based
on you telling the pump how many carbs you are eating.  I can
eat whenever I want to!!!  It is very easy to take care of
also.  A simple change of infusion site every three days and
refilling a cartridge holding the insulin is all that is required
to make the pump work.<br>
<br>
If you want more info please PM me. I'd be happy to provide or you
can check out <span style=
" text-decoration: underline;">www.minimed.com<span> It
has some great resources to answer questions related to an insulin
pump.<br>
<br>

 

[Rokiss12]

thanks for the info! just a weird q' for people with pumps... how do you showerr? do you have to cover it up like an IV?

 

[Mathews]

I take my pump off while showering. There is a clip that is
inserted into the injection site.  Pretty cool!!  I can
swim too!<br>
<br>

 

[LindseyRose]

I've had a pump now for almost 2 years. I HIGHLY recommend it!! Literally, it changed my life. I was never really compliant with my shots, but now since I don't have to do them my sugars are more in control. And I can eat whatever I want- I just cover it with insulin. The only thing that was new to me was I had to start counting carbs. But once you get used to it it's easy. I would never go back to shots twice a day everyday, and having to watch what I eat for fear of not having enough insulin to cover it.

I just keep it in my pants pocket like a pager, and if I wear a skirt or dress I tape it to my inner thigh.

 

[Rokiss12]

does getting a pump require surgery? is it a big surgery?

 

[LindseyRose]

There is no surgery whatsoever. You move the injection site every few days, but you do that yourself.

If my husband can help me figure out how to post pics, I'll post them of my site and the device used to do inject it.

 

[Rokiss12]

thank you SO much! i thought it was surgery and was semi-TWEEKING out, hahah

 

[LindseyRose]

Okay, let me try this.....

The first one is the site with the pump unattached to me - like when I take a shower, swim, or just don't want it on. (It's in my stomach above my hip)
The second is the site with the pump attached.
Third is the pump in size comparison to my cell phone and a cup of coffee.
Fourth is the device used to insert the catheter. It's just a spring loaded "harpoon" that shoots the needle in with no pain.

 

[thelizardqueen]

Would you say that a pump is better for someone who has too many lows or too many highs? I'm just trying to understand the requirements of being able to get a pump. What should your sugars be like to get one?

 

[Mathews]

I had both highs and lows, it has helped tremendously.  I
still struggle with some on both sides, but not nearly as often as
before.<br>
<br>
I will say it does take some time getting adjusted to the pump, but
most endo. docs. managing blood sugars will do in depth training
with patients before turning them loose.

 

[Rokiss12]

does it hurt? putting in the pump? you change it every three days-right? im in the hospital right now, and am just learning how to do the shots... did my frist one all by myself this morning! woot woot... haha *sarcastic stare*

 

[LindseyRose]

I personally think the needle shots hurt worse. The "harpoon" (as my husband calls it) that I use to insert the catheter for the pump puts the needle in so fast sometimes I don't even feel it. My dad used to make fun of me when I did my insulin shots because I would sit there with the needle just outside my skin for minutes psyching myself out to put it in, and then when I finally did I would put it in reallllllly slow! Now, I don't even think about it.

If you become a pro with this needle thing, I really think the pump would be even better for you. Just a note though, from what I've heard, many doctors want to see that you can handle it the old fashion way before they prescribe you a pump. So keep at it, and let the doctor know that you are interested.

There are so many other great things about the pump, too. It comes with a blood meter that "beams" your blood results to the pump, then it calculates how much insulin you need to cover a high reading, or how much insulin to cover if it is high and you are about to eat something. It has alarms to remind you to check your blood sugars. And the company delivers all your supplies to your door.

I have a Medtronic Minimed - I think Mathews posted a link to their website. I'm not sure if there are other companies that make these and what their features are. But mine is AWESOME!

 

[LindseyRose]

And yes, changing it every three days has been an average for me. It really depends on how much insulin you load into the cartridge and how much you use, though.