This tool is priceless for people (with CFRD) with the crazy nutritional needs of CF.  When I sit down to eat, I never know how much I will eat because my tummy is so moody.  I can bolus a conservative amount of insulin at the beginning of the meal and if I happen to eat more I just push a few buttons and enjoy.  This is soooo much easier, convenient and discreet than dragging out an insulin bottle and syringe or an insulin pen and giving myself multiple shots during a single meal.  Also it gives me the flexibility with my eating habits.  I found that previous to my pump I would skip snacks or meals because I just didn’t want to give myself a shot.  Now I don’t have that excuse and have ended up gaining a little, much needed, weight.

Yes it is a pain in the rear lugging around my ’90’s drug dealer style pager of an insulin pump, but it has been so worth every bit of frustration.  Even my friends tease that I could thread the tubing through some chain for an added effect. (nice, lol)  I wish I had some pics of my pump but they are stuck on my old computer stuck in storage right now, and who knows where my camera is.  I have been using a Minimed 522 pump since June and have only recently started using my continuous glucose monitor.  I was able to lower my BG with out the CGM.  Although recently the CGM has become VERY handy since I am not so much in control of my food intake.

I do have to say that the tubing that runs from my “pager” to my belly is a pain in the arse.  I get tangled in it, it never seems long enough, and my puppy’s legs get tangled in it.  I was hesitant in getting one of the tubeless style pumps but they seemed so big and obtrusive.  I haven’t tried one of those, but if I was in the market for a new pump I would look a little closer at them.

Medtronic who makes my Minimed pump has been a spectacular company to work with.  They provided me with excellent training, both via the computer and also in person.  Rumor has it they will be coming out with a tubeless pump next year and possibly for a small-ish fee I can trade mine in.  But it is just a rumor for now… (fingers crossed).