Dan – Boxford, MA
The following story tells the individual experience of someone using insulin pump therapy and frequent blood sugar monitoring to manage his/her diabetes. As you read, please remember that the experience is specific to the individual. While clinical studies support pump therapy and frequent testing as effective tools for controlling blood sugars, results may vary, and not every response will be the same.
As a diabetic for 18 years, I grew accustomed to always planning and anticipating what could go wrong. I was of the mindset that diabetes is a moment-by-moment, day-by-day condition and I had learned to live my life that way. I still remember one of my first education sessions as a new diabetic. They told us that we couldn't do anything spontaneous…unless, of course, we planned for it.
Thankfully, that all changed about five years ago when I first started insulin pump therapy. I am now using the Paradigm 512 insulin pump system, and would describe my life after the pump with two words: freedom and spontaneity.
Since starting insulin pump therapy, I have experienced a quantum leap in my ability to maintain tighter control of my blood sugar levels. Having the ability to steer my blood sugar's direction allows me greater freedom and spontaneity in all aspects of my life whether I'm at work, home or on vacation.
Last summer I was able to participate, with my son, in a 12-day Boy Scout adventure camp in the high country of New Mexico. This opportunity would have certainly passed me by were it not for the blood glucose control that my insulin pump allowed me to maintain. Easily controlling all aspects of my insulin delivery enabled me to truly enjoy every moment of this invigorating camping experience. On occasion I even outlasted a few young Scouts during our hikes! In addition to the advantage of having my insulin pump with me during strenuous activities, it also eased my worries at night while we were in the heart of bear country.
– Dan
After a day of heavy exercise, it's not unusual to experience a hypoglycemic event during sleeping hours. With every single speck of food—no exceptions—stuffed into bear bags and hoisted 30 feet above ground at a location distant from our campsite, I was incredibly nervous to have my only cure for hypoglycemia—food—totally inaccessible. Thanks to my pump, I accomplished great blood sugar control throughout the day and avoided those dreaded night time lows.
Whether I'm camping in New Mexico with my son, presenting to large groups of people in a professional setting, or driving my daughter to a sporting event, the Paradigm 512 insulin pump has given me greater control and flexibility in managing my diabetes and controlling my insulin doses.
There are so many things that I don't have to plan for now and so many things that I can do, simply because I have greater control of my blood sugar. Life is just better. I am able to fully experience so many more activities now that I have 'm switched over to the insulin pump.
Dan – Boxford, MA
To find out if intensive diabetes management using insulin pump therapy and frequent blood sugar monitoring is right for you, call 1-866-948-6633 (toll-free) for a referral to a diabetes specialist.
