My 6 year old daughter has been Type 1 since she was a baby.

We’ve been injecting rather than pumping and have been achieving HBA1Cs consistently of 7.5% for 5 years, however we are getting mid-afternoon low and high spikes on the daily readings. We had a review at hospital yesterday and are changing a few things to try and eliminate these, but the consultant said that switching to a pump may be the best solution.

So, has anyone out there got a small kid on a pump?

Has it made a difference?

Was the child bothered by having it fastened to them? This could be an issue as my daughter is very “girlie” and likes to wear dresses where the bump of the pump would be visible.

What do you do about swimming, contact sports (in our case karate) etc?

Do the cannulas ever fall out?

Overall, in your and the child’s experience, are pumps better?

We like the needles as they are not attached, but if the pump gives better control we will have to switch.

While I’ve no personal experience of them, I’ve done quite a bit of work in this area and the data suggest that there are benefits to using them. Meta-analyses of the studies in this area suggest a 0.5-1 percentage point reduction in HbA1c for pumps vs injections, which improves further if you can get the continuous monitoring type.

There’s also a PM at my work who has one and she loves it, says she wouldn’t go back to injections. Don’t know that it would be the same with a 6 year old though!

Most pumps are waterproof, so that shouldn’t be an issue, can’t really comment on the other issues.

The other point would be that getting a pump is expensive for the NHS – depending on budgets in your area it might become more difficult to get one in future, so it might be an idea to take it while it’s offered. It’ll be more difficult to move someone off a pump (if she likes it) than to prevent someone from having access to one!

Both myself and my son are on insulin pumps. My son started on his when he was 11 and has now been on it for nearly 7yrs. He has never been bothered about it being fastened to him other than it is a psychological issue where he has a constant reminder of his diabetes, easier for a boy though as he can just stick it in his pocket. Contact sports and swimming are no problem as you can remove them for an hour without ill effects, there are also waterproof and impact proof aftermarket cases that the pump can be put in to protect them.

Most pumps are waterproof, so that shouldn’t be an issue

the minimed pumps are NOT guaranteed waterproof but there are numerous reports of them surviving water immersion. Canulas can fall out although this has only been an issue on holiday where a combination of high temperatures, sun cream and swimming pools have reduced the adhesiveness of the canula, between the 2 of us this has happened about a dozen times in the combined 15yrs we have been on pumps.

We both run near perfect Hba1c’s, we are able to exercise more freely than when on multiple injections, we can eat whatever we want whenever we want, only 1 injection every 3 days (canula change). neither of us would go back to injections and both feel that the pumps have given us a new lease of life. The only downside is as stated earlier, you have a 24/7 reminder of your diabetes as the pump is permanently attached, small price in my opinion for the improved control and reduced risk of the long term potential complications.

email is in my profile if there are any other questions you want to ask.

If you don’t mind me asking what Hba1c was your lad getting after he first started pumping?

It takes a good 6 months to a year to get used to pumping. The first 3 month I doubt you’ll see a mahoosive change in his Hb. Takes time to get your basal right and also to really focus on carb counting and bolus. I’ve had mine a year and still playing with it. I’m due my bloods soon so will be interesting, and a lot more tweaking.

I’ve got the Accuchek pump.

Our carb counting and bolus is pretty good, the problem seems to be in the timing of the insulin delivery and absorption of carbs. Her specialist seems to think that the pump will iron out the bumps and rid us of a dip that we are seeing mid-afternoon when she is at school.

Previously the specialist has been happy with our 7.4 & 7.5% scores, but I did read that in August NICE dropped the target from 7.5% to 6.5%. Perhaps this has prompted them to take action where previously they haven’t.

no idea re children I’m afraid but my wife has been Type 1 insulin dependent since she was 13. She is now 51 and went onto the pump two years ago.

In terms of fashion it does cause a bit of a problem as to where to attach it and whether it shows. she normally attaches it to the front of her bra although you can often see the outline of the pump.

She removes it for showering. Can’t remember the last time I ever saw her swim and she doesn’t do contact (or in fact any) sport.

the cannula doesn’t come out.

Her control has been better since the pump was fitted.

She demo’d it to a mate of mine who is a similar age and also Type 1 insulin dependent. He didn’t like it due to being ‘tied’ to it and chose to stay with the injections.

Have friends with a daughter who was one of the first in UK to go on a pump aged about 5-6 – we’ve got them to talk to other friends whose kids have t1DM and their over-riding advice is to go to a hospital that is experienced in managing kids and pumps and be proactive in maintaining that relationship. They’re going down the implantable monitor route now – amazing stuff and full credit to their effort. They also recommend juvenile diabetes as a great resource.
Their daughter is a girlie girl too and is fine with a small belt pouch for the pump. We went on hols with them not long after she got it and the cannula did fall out once, and was sore to put in, but she hardly notices this now. The pump did get wet (godparent forgot and took kids onto jetty to jump waves, oops), but it was fine. New ones are pretty robust – she plays netball etc with it in. Overall it is really impressive to see a young child dealing with all this and the way her parents support/control her – they hope that as she reaches teenage the pump will limit periods of loss of control that booze/boyfriends bring!
Sorry not personal experience, but hope all goes well!