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Considering an Insulin Pump for a Young Child?
A Few Things to Know
There’s no argument that an insulin pump is the best choice for diabetes management for a very young child. Many articles have appeared in the past five years that support this opinion.
If you opt to put your child on a pump, you will have to become the expert in your child’s pump management.
There are many benefits of pumping:
- Improved A1C
- Smoother BG levels
- Fewer mood swings
- Capacity for normal growth and development
- Flexibility
- Improved quality of life for child and family
- Ability to “feed the child, not the insulin,” thus, fewer food battles are likely
- More precise insulin doses (.025, .05 or 0.10 unit increments)
- Site insertion every few days instead of three or four daily injections
And yes, there are some disadvantages, too:
- Vigilance required: more BG tests, site checks
- Basal testing
- Adjusting basal rates
- Potential site infections
- Potential allergy to tape
- Possibility of dislodged or clogged infusion sets; glucose level can go higher more quickly
What Do Parents Think?
A recent Web site posting by parents of pumpers at Children With Diabetes, insulinpumpers.org, and CamelsRFun had the following to say about pumping:
“The freedom we found from switching to the pump was nothing short of miraculous, to not be tied to a stringent eating and injection schedule.”
“He can sleep in late in the mornings. If he decides to be a picky eater, it no longer matters, since I give him only the amount of insulin necessary to cover the food he eats. If he wants a snack, he can have one, I simply push the buttons on the pump.”
“I want my child to grow up without complications, and the only way that is going to happen is to keep him in tight control. The pump is the closest thing we have to a healthy pancreas, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”
“Exercise in a little kid is more manageable with the pump. You can turn off the pump, disconnect or set a temporary basal rate during play. This is a wonderful advantage, and you don’t have to keep stuffing food down your kids’ throats so that they can play hard.”
Do Your Homework
If you think an insulin pump will benefit your child, do the homework, read articles, explore the Web sites, join parent groups and talk with other parents and attend information and training sessions.
Categories: A1c Test, Diabetes, Diabetes, Food, Insulin, Insulin Pumps, Kids & Teens
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Oct 1, 2005
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Diabetes Health
Diabetes Health is the essential resource for people living with diabetes- both newly diagnosed and experienced as well as the professionals who care for them. We provide balanced expert news and information on living healthfully with diabetes. Each issue includes cutting-edge editorial coverage of new products, research, treatment options, and meaningful lifestyle issues.
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Topics
- Diabetic / Diabetes Health
- Type 1 / 1.5 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Blood Glucose / Sugar
- High/Low Blood Sugar / Fast Acting Glucose
- Insulin- Pumps, Pens & Syringes
- Continuous Glucose Monitors, CGM, Infusion Sets
- Type 2 Medications
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypoglycemia
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