Injections Versus Pump

THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

This means that we are NOT finished with the page! Please excuse the mess!

This page may be used for deciding for deciding what method of insulin you would like to use. 

Pump or injections?  The admins of Walking to Washington put together a page to help fellow diabetics decide.

INSULIN PUMP

Pros

You only have to use a needle when your pump needs to be changed. 

This could vary from every 1 day to every 3 days, depending on how often your pump needs to be changed.

Submitted by Amelia

You have more responsibility over your diabetes, as the pump is on you for about 24/7.

Keep in mind you must take most pumps off when going in water.

Submitted by Rachel

If you have eaten and already dosed, you can bolus for more food if still hungry.

Submitted by Rachel

If you are low, you can cancel the incoming insulin and pause all deliveries.

Submitted by Indigo

Cons

If the pump site goes in wrong, you have to redo it.

Submitted by Amelia

It may get annoying to have a machine clipped onto you at all times.

Submitted by Rachel

 Because the pump is on all day, there are cases where it can give you too much insulin, or too little.

Submitted by Amelia

The needed supplies usually are not available at pharmacies.

For the T-SLIM, the company is located in Flordia(/) and takes 4-5 days to get to my house.

Submitted by Indigo

Injections

Pros

Pros for injections:

1. You can bolus for more food. - Indigo ;)
2. You can post dose if needed. -Indigo ;)
3. Its nice to know how to give yourself needles. -Indigo ;)

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Cons for injections:

1. You have to give your self a lot of needles everyday - Amelia
2. It hurts sometimes! - Indigo ;)

Pros for the CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor):

1. If you are on the Medtronic Minimed insulin pump, you can use the CGM (Continuos Glucose  Monitor).  The CGM monitors your blood sugar 24/7.  It takes readings of your blood sugar and sends them to your pump.  It is not as accurate as a blood sugar meter, but it really helps!  It also tells you your trends.  It displays 1 or 2 arrows down to show that you are going low, 1 or 2 arrows up to show that you are going high, or no arrows to show that you are not going low or high.  It really helps - Amelia

Cons for the CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor):

1. The needle is larger then the pump needle or injections and it hurts more - Amelia

If you would like to share any of your pros and cons for the pump or injections; 

Feel free to comment below!!!! :-)