Spencer Bolesta — 21-year MiniMed insulin pump user

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 51 year old with type 1 diabetes, I’ve never felt healthier or more on top of my game. I’m a high school teacher who hasn’t missed a day of school in 4 years or a day of work before being a teacher in 10 years. I enjoy an active lifestyle that includes tennis, golf, dancing and long-distance bike rides. I think that’s quite remarkable when you consider that I’ve had diabetes for 31 years. During this time, I’ve managed to avoid the complications usually associated with diabetes, and strongly believe that I wouldn’t be in the good health I’m in today if I hadn’t starting using an insulin pump more 21 years ago. The very day I started using pump therapy I realized that I had finally taken control of my diabetes, rather than having my diabetes being in control of me.  

My journey with diabetes began just shy of my 20th birthday. My symptoms started earlier that year when I noticed I was eating a lot, but losing weight. I was also falling asleep on the subway in New York City because I was always so tired. At the time, I was in the Coast Guard stationed at Governors’ Island in New York harbor and thought I had a virus, so I tried to wait it out. When that didn’t work, I went to the dispensary to see what was wrong and was diagnosed with diabetes. My first therapy was oral medication, which was completely ineffective. Next, I started using injection therapy. Within three weeks I was up to my normal weight and everything seemed okay. However, for the next 10 years I settled into the rigid schedule of using insulin injections every day. Unfortunately, my injection schedule was easily thrown off if I had to get up earlier (or later) or go to bed earlier (or later) than usual, or even eat at a different time due to changes in school or work activities.   In 1983, my life changed dramatically – that’s when my doctor, who was very progressive in exploring new treatment options for diabetes, started telling me about this thing called an “insulin pump.” She always told me about advanced technologies that were just around the corner and she certainly had me intrigued. When she suggested I try an insulin pump I was completely thrilled. I could now program my insulin delivery at the touch of a few buttons – it was certainly easy and improved my quality of life tremendously.

Through the years, I’ve had the opportunity to use nearly all of the insulin pumps made by Medtronic Diabetes – from those made in the early 80’s to the Paradigm 715 insulin pump I use today. Along the way I’ve had the opportunity to explore many clinical innovations that have truly helped advance the state of diabetes care. But what I’m most proud of is the fact that most people don’t know I have diabetes. You see, they notice the sparkle in my eye or hear the cheer in my voice and think I’m a normal, healthy guy. Well, that’s exactly how I feel!

I often wonder what my life would be like today if I hadn’t adopted pump therapy when I did. Would my health be as good as it is if I continued using injections? I honestly don’t think so. I am certainly living my life to its fullest and still have the energy to help my 91-year-old mother take care of her house, watch my 18-year-old go to college and my 28-year-old prepare for her wedding. I think that’s quite remarkable… much like my 21-year journey with insulin pump therapy! With pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring, I expect to live a long, healthy life!

Spencer

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.