Personal stories about insulin pumps

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

Sally, age 50: I got my insulin pump 3 years ago. I was pretty nervous about how well I'd be able to program my pump and take care of it. There was so much to learn! But I had a great team of people helping me, including my doctor, my dietitian, and even the manufacturer of my pump. Still, I almost gave up after 3 months because I was attached to the pump constantly. It was always there to remind me that I had diabetes, you know? But my doctor talked me into sticking with it a little longer. Now I would not want to go back. Before the pump, diabetes controlled my life. With the pump, I feel like I am now in control of my diabetes-and my life.

Abner, age 35: I was on an insulin pump for more than 2 years, and then I quit. I know most people just love their pumps, but I could not handle being attached to it all the time. For me, the hassle of constantly taking my blood sugar and figuring out how to program my doses wasn't worth it. Plus, I got a lot of infections at the catheter site. I went back to injections and feel happier with my life now.

Jake, age 22: I got my pump as a teenager, and I love it. But my parents had to work really hard to get the insurance company to pay for it. We had to keep detailed logs for months to show them what I ate, what my blood sugar was, and how much insulin I gave myself every day. I had to prove to them that I was willing and able to work hard to keep my blood sugar under control. After about 3 months, they agreed to cover my pump. I'm a police officer now, and having a pump makes it much easier to do my job.

Xiang, age 29: I have several reasons for not wanting an insulin pump. I'm a pretty private person and I wouldn't want people to notice that I'm wearing a pump. Also, I play football and basketball almost year-round, and it's a big part of my life. I know you can safely disconnect the pump for an hour or so, but my games last longer than that. I just don't like the idea of being hooked up to a pump 24 hours a day.