In the past I have written about insulin pump advantages and disadvantages.  I have been on a Medtronic insulin pump for about 4 years now and wouldn’t go back to shots without some serious money being involved.  All joking aside, I mind-mapped this post while enjoying some fun and sun on vacation.  There are definitely times that I wish I could be free of a pump, hence this post topic.  The third day “fun” that comes with being on an insulin pump can sometimes be a reminder about this lovely disease.  There have been emails to me from those that aren’t able to have a pump and still use injection therapy.  For them and to tell it like it really is, here are seven reasons why I could do without an insulin pump. 

Vanity – When you have a pager-looking like device connected to you 24/7 it can cause some anxiety in certain situations.  Funny aside – the scene from The Hangover where the guy breaks out the pager in Caesars was priceless.  Having the luxury of never dated while having diabetes, this hasn’t been too much of an issue.  However, if I was diagnosed young, you can bet that I may have a complex about my pump.  Ever go to the beach or pool with a pump, it’s a treat.  I even read about someone getting asked not to use a community pool due to diabetes.

Infusion Site Issues – Oh yes… the unknown, “is it my site, could I have a kink, am I getting insulin, is it absorbing” thoughts that swirl when one of those 200+ readings pop up.  Also, you have to deal with gushers [video], bleed backs, infusion sets losing stickiness and sometimes painful insertions.

Doorknobs – If you use a pump, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  For those of you that don’t, I’ll give a try at an explanation.  About 90% of the time I put my pump in my pocket.  The tubing comes out of my pocket, goes up over my waist band and to the infusion site on my abdomen or hip.  When clearing a doorway, the tubing can sometimes get caught on the doorknob and practically rip out the infusion site.  I have never actually torn out the site, but have been “woken up” a few times by a doorknob, which are usually accompanied by a few choice words.  Like it’s really the doorknobs fault…

Scar Tissue – This is an interesting one that I don’t really have a lot of experience with yet.  I can tell that a little scar tissue is forming where I typically put my sites, but it’s only been four years.  What happens when it’s 10, 20, 30 years down the road?  Am I going to be attaching my infusion sets to my neck, armpits and shoulders?  I try to rotate often and not use the exact same site, but it’s difficult to find new places.  You have to imagine a small tube being stuck into you for 2-3 days at a time.  Yes, the area heals after it’s removed, but when you go through about 120 site changes a year, it tends to add up.

Freedom – Showers, pools, hot tubs, locker rooms, gym, beach, sun bathing, rolling around in clean silky sheets, intimate moments, the list goes on and on about reasons it’s sometimes nice to remember what it was like before diabetes and the insulin pump.  I’m reminded of the freedom every three days when I take a shower and don’t have to worry about drying off and getting the towel threads stuck on my site.

Cost – It’s difficult to put a price on excellent diabetes control, but there is a price and it can be hefty.  When I got my pump a few years back, I think I paid a few thousand dollars with my insurance company footing the rest of the bill.  That’s no joke for people that are on a budget.  Not everyone has fat bank accounts with a few grand lying around.  Before pumping insulin, I was on shots for about six years.  I would venture to say that a few thousand dollars would cover the cost of my old syringes for probably 10-15 years.  Then there is the monthly/quarterly cost of infusion sets, reservoirs to load the pump, batteries and site prep supplies that can add up quickly. 

Pump Failure – In four years pump failure has only happened once and it was pretty scary.  Luckily I had [and have] a box of syringes on hand as a backup.  But let’s say I was on vacation or traveling in another country and my pump failed.  I would be eff’d.  Medtronic had a new one to me the very next day, which was about 16 hours from when I called, so it was a non issue at the time.

So that’s my list.  Did I miss any that you would like to add?  If so, drop me a comment and let me know.  Listen, I’m not going to trade my pump in just yet.  I do love it and the benefits, but it’s not all green grass on the other side.  If a nurse, educator, doctor or pump manufacturing rep doesn’t mention some of these issues, they aren’t being honest.  I’m all about honesty and telling it like it really is with diabetes.

What did I miss?