Me, as a Pumper

I've been pumping now for nearly 5 months... seemed like a good time for an update on my experience as a pumper:

• First of all, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Cleo 90 sets! They're so easy and painless, and actually pretty darn cool. I get such a kick out of the way the tubing "clicks" onto the set. I've had a little trouble with getting new sites to stick, but usually just when I'm in a rush and don't allow the IV prep to dry enough. Even then, I just apply more of the prep and it sticks wonderfully. Not to jinx myself, but I haven't had any sites come out on their own yet :)
• I've found that the "Insulin on Board" junction helps me a lot. When I'm having a snack and my blood sugar is where I want it to be, the pump helps me to know just how much insulin I need to cover the food without stacking insulin. I've also learned that "IOB" can be misinterpreted: it does not mean "Look, I can eat 30 carbs, and the pump recommends zero insulin!!" I have to figure in what I've already eaten!
• Sleeping with my pump on has been a breeze! I often hear fellow O.C.er's talk about being tangled up in their tubing, but I've never experienced it. Since I'm a side-sleeper, I just clip my pump to my shorts or PJ pants, right in the middle of my stomach. I tuck the tubing in the band (like I do with my regular clothes) and the pump moves with me as I turn between my sides during the night. Couldn't be easier!
• Bolusing before meals helps SOOOO much with postprandials! I never realized how slow insulin really was until I started bolusing 20-30 minutes before meals. I've been as low as 70 mg/dl at breakfast, bolused for my cereal and waited 20 minutes to eat. I didn't bottom out and my one hour postprandial was awesome!
• I love the pump for eating in public places. I never really minded drawing up insulin and injecting at the table before, but now I'm so happy to be free of it! Nowdays, I'll test my blood on the way to eat, say in the car or at home before we leave. If it has been awhile since a bolus, I don't need to test right before I eat... thus, when it's time to bolus, I just pull out the pump, punch in the carbs and deliver it. So, much easier than dealing with injections!
• The pump has helped me pinpoint what caused particular blood sugar rises. When I was on lantus, I didn't know what necessarily caused a high reading. Now, when I have something atypical, like honey roasted peanuts after dinner, and I climb steadily through the night, I know that was the food choice, not my insulin dose that caused the spike.
• I'm able to monitor my eating and stay within a goal range for carbs per day with the pump. My Cozmo (and I'm sure other pumps) have a History screen where I can see my insulin delivery for many days, as well as my basal as % of TTD and carbohydrate totals each day. For me, if I stay under 150 carbs in a day, and less than 26 units of insulin, I see better blood sugars and maintain my weight. With a quick glance, I can see how I'm doing, and not freak out too much over days like the Superbowl when my insulin total was closer to 35 units!
• I'm still surprised by how quickly the pump incorporates into ones life. My husband and I were discussing this on Sunday. He expressed that it seemed like forever ago that I was doing injections. I reminded him that it was only 5 months ago! I agreed that it would take me a couple mintues to feel comfortable doing an injection again!

This little pump has become my constant companion, and I don't mind him much at all. Sure, certain pairs of pants make him harder to tuck away, but we figure it out. There's something comforting about having my insulin with me at all times, and the control I want is much easier to achieve with this device.