Want to explore Pump for my son

[Anay]

My 9 yr old son takes total 15 units of insulin doses (4 unit before breakfast, 6 before lunch (fast acting) and 5 unit (long acting)after dinner. He has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes since last 4 months. His sugar levels are generally in control although I have not done his A1C test.

I want to explore insulin pump for him. I live in India and we don't have insurance to cover the pump and its supplies. I have following questions.

(1) Would there be any improvement in his levels (both low and high) including A1C.
(2) My doctor told me that I must know how to convert food / carb / insulin requirement. With lancet, we have some idea of these conversion but don't know specific details. Can you please suggest any website / good book that gives these details.
(3) Since it is going to be costly (w/o insurance), I am always thinking that what if he drops the pump while playing.


Thanks

[JDRF-VOL-SG]

Some people find that pumps help them lower their a1c levels noticeably, while others don't. Both still require that you test his sugar levels and adjust, whether this be with shots or by adjusting the pump. But many people love their pumps and find that they offer a great deal of flexibility.

We have an organization in the United States, begun originally by some parents of type 1 children, called the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Their website is www.jdrf.org – I suggest that you go to their website and check the materials on their web pages, for they specialize only in type 1 diabetes, which is very different from adult-onset type 2 diabetes. You can contact them and they may be able to send you some materials to help educate you. If they cannot do this because you live outside of the United States, their staff people have lists of other organizations that do similar work, and they may be able to put you in contact with some people in your own country who can help you.

In order to contact them, click on the wwww.jdrf.org link on the left side of their home page called 'Online Diabetes Support Team' and fill out the form that appears on your window. Tell them what you have written here and that you live in India. Someone will respond in a few days and will let you know if they can offer some help for you. Meanwhile, keep reading the posts on this website, and I believe you will learn a lot. Hopefully some people will post some thoughts about young children and pumps below this response.

Please don't be discouraged, for in time all of this will become much easier for both you and for your son. It will become a habit that he thinks about no more than washing his hands or brushing his teeth as he adjusts. Just learn one thing at a time and he will be OK. I was diagnosed many years ago when just a couple of years older than your son and I am now a very healthy grandmother. He can live a very normal life as long as he tests his sugar levels and takes his insulin. You sound like a wonderful mother to be trying to help him. I wish you the very best.

[GVCA]

My son who is now 38 yrs old has wanted to try the pump for a few years now.
He does not have insurance, either.

don't mean to discourage you, as your situation may be different, but don't be surprised at all the obstacles you may encounter. We weren't prepared for the unknown and it has been discouraging.

The cost of the pump and supplies is very high.  The pump only is good for about 5 years and then needs to be replaced.

My son acquired a pump used only a few times, but then because he did not have insurance, he could not find an Endocrinologist who would even give him an initial visit, because of the ongoing cost and many office visits that would be required to maintain this treatment.  He was quite devistated, as none of the GP's around here know anything about using the pump and don't want to get involved.

Finally, he remembered that once when he was hospitalized, he was introduced to Lantus.  He asked his doctor twice for it, and finally she perscribed it.  It is good for 24 hours and along with his Novilin R twice a day, it has really changed his life.  He is so much more stable now.  We read the instructions very carefully and decided to try it before the evening meal with his Novilin R (instead of in the morning as his Dr. instructed)  This change resulted in him getting through the night without going low, most of the time.  Now he gets a good nights sleep without the worry and waking in the night.

He is an adult, so am not sure if it is advisable for Children.  You might want to check this out.  

[kls1972]

I have been a diabetic for almost 13 years now. i found out when i was nine years old and when i was thirteen i got on the insulin pump. It has worked great for me. It has helped my A1c tremendously. I am a pretty bad diabetic and was on about 60 Units a day which equaled out to about 8 shots and it was still hard to control at night time. But it is very expensive i have insurance but the insurance only covers supplies it did not cover my insulin pump itself (which was about $3000.00) but it is worth every penny to me. And you would deffinately still need to check blood sugars regularly still at first you would need to check them a little more often to make sure everything is going ok with the pump and it is right for your son.