Been pumping for about a year and was wondering if anyone has found a comfortable spot to carry/wear the pump. Do they make shirts with inside pockets to stick them in etc. I have an extremely active lifestyle and have not found a comfortable place for it...
Been thinking about sewing a pocket inside my shirts for it but don't really have good sewing abilities.

to our forum.

Both Unique Accessories and Pump Wear make clothing that might work for you.


My pump comes with a small almost flat clip, so I use that and just clip it to the waistband of my slacks. That works well for me.

I see you have the Nipro pump. You may be our first member to use that pump. I'm curious why you chose it over the larger pump companies.

Linda B.

I just clip mine to the inside front pocket of my jeans. Some people will use a cell phone case and wear it on a belt.

I use a cellphone case for my pump and wear around my waist.

I am curious about the Nipro, also. All the other "traditional" pumps I've seen (MM, Animas & Cozmo) all have clips. Doesn't the Nipro, also?

Tom

The nipro-amigo I use does have a clip and I use it to clip on my jeans. It works well, just not very comfortable 24/7. (It must seem like I'm whining). That's not it, It gets in the way alot, unclips etc.
I wear safety harness's often at work when climbing signals, poles etc. I thought about cutting a small hole thru my shirt pocket inside my shirt for the tube.
I will check out the link and maybe finds something that works for me... thanks for the info.

When I was first offered the pump, I was not really given a selection/brand other than color. My MD has a former Diabetic Educator that works PT who is also a Nipro rep.
I am very satisfied with the amigo even though I've never seen or tried anything else. My Ins covered the cost %100 for the pump, supplies, even batteries. I feel very fortunate for that...

Tom,
Just noticed you are a Lada as well. I was diag in 2004 treated as type II. Was an out of control (problem child) up & down forever. 1 month this med worked, next month didn't. Was maxed out on all oral med's. Started on Lantus which worked for a couple of months etc, etc. etc.
Life/meds has been a miserable nightmare for me until last year when I bowed up and demanded to be put on 100% insulin.

So far so good. A1c went from 10.5 to 8.3 during 1st 6 months. last 1 was 7.6. I'm getting there.

I will say that I feel like I have a better chance of surviving since going to insulin/pump. I DO NOT miss the oral med side effects AT ALL!!!

Linda,
Checked out the sites and were very helpful. I found some things that will work.

Thanks!

Paul

When the CDE I was sent to see first mentioned a pump she also didn't give me much information. She mentioned that she would contact Minimed and do all of the paperwork so I agreed. At the time I had no idea what other options were available, just went along with what she said. She isn't a Minimed rep but she is certified by MM to train people on pumps & CGMS. I'm happy with my pump and if I do decide to go with another company at a later time I know what my options are.

As others have said, I have never come across anyone using a Nipro Amigo pump and didn't think they actually existed in this country!

So far so good with the Amigo. I had several internal errors during the 1st 6 months. Called them and there was another one at my door the next day no charge.

I recently found out about the cgms on this site. Did not know they had this availiable. I am going to start the process of trying to see if it's covered by my insurance in the next week or so. It sounds very cool to me to know what it is doing at all times. I am still somewhat struggling to meet my a1c goal of 5.0-6.0...

I would like to say that I already love this site and all the good information and correspondence or input from all of you guys so far. It really helps to talk to other pumpers who are going thru the same dreadful disease.

thanks!

Paul

I'm glad to hear that Nipro has such good service. Does your pump use proprietary sets or regular luer lock sets?

If you do get a CGMS you'll have 3 to choose from. Minimed's is the only one that integrates with a pump. Most pumpers who use another brand of pump tend to get either the Dexcom or Navigator CGMS. I am happy with my Minimed but I'm always in awe of what I read from Navigator users as they make it seem extremely accurate. I think they're going to be coming out with a newer version to minimize startup times and that makes it even more appealing.

Paul,

In my opinion, that is not a realistic goal. I am not medically trained, so this is strictly my opinion. I would not want my A1C lower than 6.0. I have been pumping for 15 years, and my A1C varies from 6.5 to 7.0. I prefer it to be at 6.5; but would not want it lower than that, because of the danger of too many lows.

Linda B.

Great advice I have had A1C ranging from 6.2-7.3 since pumping and life is much better(lows) in the 6.8-7.3 range for me . The 6.2 was practically a low everyday for me.

I agree with the others on this subject. While it's an admirable goal, it is not easily achievable without many lows. I've only had an A1c below 6.0 twice (both were 5.9). One was accompanied by awful lows, the other wasn't. I'm trying to get back to there, but my last was 6.6 - highest it's been in almost 3 years.

Good luck, but don't focus too much on the numbers. Just try to keep as reasonable control as you can without the hypos.

Tom

Thanks for all the advice. 5.0 does seem a little unrealistic. I will really be happy to make 6 something! It has been an awful couple of years for me. I felt like a guinea pig for awhile trying different meds and doses and never achieving nothing but a bunch of side effects from the oral meds.
Within a week of starting the insulin shots I felt soo much better.
So far, I have experienced lows 45-55. It is sometimes a crap shoot depending on how hard I work, what I eat, and how long in between meals.
It has been a major learning experience looking at a plate of food and getting the carb counts right. My sister, the CDE has been a world of help to me.
I have acquired the carb counting books and just ordered the pumping ins 4th ed book yesterday.
i can say that my future looks alot brighter since joining this site and all the support you guys have been!

God Bless!

Paul

I also find the EatSmart scale to be VERY helpful with carb counts.
Barbara

I use that scale also.
Linda B.

Thanks again for the info! One of my food issues is because of the travel required at work and dining out. I have to experiment more with doing extended boluses.
The food scale would be a good idea for home

Reading the reviews on the Food Smart Scale, seems like everyone like it. I think I may order one and give it a try.

Thanks

Paul,

Spibelts also work great for securing pumps snugly against your body. I have two that I wear during exercise or at night. I just have the regular basic one but they do have one for pumps now that would have a hole for the tubing.

http://spibelt.com/

Diana

After reading suggestions about this product from other members, I bought one. There is no "hole" for tubing- just the zipper that closes the pouch, and you wouldn't want to pass the tube through a hole. When you need to use the pump controls or see the screen, you need to remove it from the pouch on the belt. Having the tubing restrained by a hole would interfere with the amount of slack tubing for easy pump use. By laying the pump in the pouch with the tubing/reservoir on the top, you just zip up the pouch until the zipper allows just enough room for the tubing to emerge.

I will use this for exercise, and use it now at night to keep the pump in contact with my body, set for vibrate alarms. This is a well made product that works well.

Diana,

Thanks for the link!

Paul

I may have to get one with 2 pockets; 1 for Nipro pump/1 for dexcom. I hope this doesn't end up being a drag with 2 deals.

I am almost certain that the benefits will far outweigh the slight hassle of the 2 devices. LOL!!! I will definetely look more dorky than I already am all wired for sound and all! Add a cell phone in there and BAM!!

What was I thinking?n LOL!!

Paul

Paul,
Although they have one model expressly made for insulin pumps, it is fairly roomy. I don't know how big your pump and Dexcom unit are, but the pouch on the pump belt is not only big, but stretchy too. I also remember that they make another belt with two pouches, not necessarily aimed at pump users.

I'm not on a pump yet, but have 2 friends who are long time pumpers. One of them had a seamstress sew button holes into the front pockets of his slacks. He keeps the pump in a front pocket and runs the tubing through the button hole so the pump is completely invisible and his pockets don't tear.

As for me, I will probably just keep my pump clipped to my belt (until I get an infusion set ripped out).

-- Michael

I was musing about putting button holes in the skin-side of shirt pockets, but now that I am actually using a pump, I see that it will have to be a pretty sizable button hole. It has to be able to pass something the size of a nickel (coin) through the hole edgewise. That is the size of the plastic quick-disconnect used in the infuser sets (a half-circle the same diameter as a nickel with the same thickness, maybe a little thicker). If the quick-disconnect can't pass through the hole, you can't reconnect to the pigtail on the end of the infuser attached to your body.

I am currently wearing the pump on a clip attached to my jeans front pocket, pump on the inside of the pocket. I gently stuff the excess tubing into the pocket to reduce the chance of snagging it on anything. This summer, I would much rather carry the pump in a shirt pocket, and I will ask my wife to try out the fancy button holes that her new computerized sewing machine can make. Will try pocket T-shirts first, then may use the idea on snap-closure chest pocket casual over-shirts.

I am looking forward to your announcement that Morgan Hill, CA, has another insulin pumper. Good luck!

Dave

I have only been pumping for 5+ years and i have only caught the tubing on a door knob twice. It doesn't catch as easily as you think it would. It did not rip the set out. I thought it should have but it didn't . I work outside in boats and in the woods and maybe i have been lucky but not snags thus far.

It is exactly your own lifestyle that you described that makes me want to carry my pump, especially the tubing, under my clothing. I'm not so much involved with boats, but with woods, for sure. I also have two 100+pound Wolf Hybrid dogs as well as a Siberian Huskey. Juneau, our girl wolf, has the habit of slapping your thigh or poking you in the stomach to get attention. Her huge claws seem to be instant death waiting for an infusion set. She is my main concern with trying to keep the pump and tubing shielded by at least a layer of cloth.

I am about to start chipping two year's worth of 10-20 foot long redwood tree limbs. I need to pay all of my attention to the chipper, and may not notice a branch snagging my tubing. Again, under clothing would be the ideal condition.

But, your reassurance does make me feel a little more secure. And, if I lose an infusion set, so what?

I wouldn't have a problem with losing an infusion set as long as I know it had fallen out. I've been pumping for 17 years and as far as I can remember I have had perhaps one or two infusion sets come out until two weeks ago. Since then I caught one on a cabinet knob and another on something else. Very annoying.

Thanks Arlene,

It's the "knowing" that is the problem with country living and a Wolf pack as pets. Something is always going on that is completely distracting. As an engineer, it is always my intent to make disastrous events impossible to affect me. "Unlikely" isn't good enough. I will pursue the quest for pump and tubing being invulnerable to outside harm.

I usually tape only the Sure-T's and depend on the Sil tape alone but now I'm going to start putting paper tape on the Sils. The one I caught on the cabinet knob just came out too easily. The paper tape that I use to tape my transmitter and sensor before I cover them with Opsite Flexfix is pretty strong. I use the paper tape with Sure-T's. I guess I should be more careful about tucking in the tubing. I stopped using the 43" tubing a long time ago. Too much to tuck in.

It's maybe ----------- this much tubing that can get hung up. Mine comes out the pump and over the pants and under the shirt. I keep checking to make sure there is no loop that can get snagged. Been in several scuffles with drunks while working and nothing has happened. I cut fire wood with a chain saw. Use power tools all the time, rest assured I had concerns over the tubing til i got it and nothing has happened.

My clip busted yesterday and is a thousand wonders my pump is still intact. I was mowing several acres and just happened to see it dangling from the infusion set. Thankfully, I use the 18-23" sets!
That would have been hard to explain sending it back in a box in a million pieces after getting run over with a lawn mower... I ordered the spibelt today with the 2 pockets.

That's a great illustration of the reason why I bought both the Spibelt and the Clip 'n Go pouch from the pump accessories site. I have found the Spibelt to be very comfortable in holding the pump on my left hip as I sleep either on my right side or stomach. The Clip 'n Go pouch is a very relaxed method of holding the pump in a very flexible way while keeping it in contact with my leg while I drive. Keeping the pump clipped in my pocket makes it feel binding, and it's hard to withdraw the pump from jeans while sitting and using the clip to hold it in place.

I have broken most of the plastic clips that came with cell phones in the past. The MM clip is better than those, but I still don't completely trust any plastic clip, and ncpumper's story confirms my suspicions. I don't regret my purchases, and I think that a lot of the pump accessories on the market are probably very useful. But, to each his own.

Sorry everyone, in my post quoted above, I was mistaken about the Spibelt NOT having a hole in it for tubing. There is indeed a hole, plenty big enough to pass the quick disconnect half circle through it, which I completely missed. It is hidden in the folds of the stretchy pouch. However, IMO the hole is not of any use. You have to remove the pump from the pouch to read or use it, so you may as well lay the pump in the pouch with the reservoir and tubing facing up with the tube laying against the end of the zipper. As you close the zipper, there is enough space to allow the tube to remain untouched by the fully closed zipper.