Insulin Pump for teen

Hey man, my son was diagnosed with T1D when he was 15. He is a freshman in college now. He sounds a lot like your son. He is very active in sports and lifts, though he does not play any organized sports. We went straight to an Omnipod his first year so we never experienced any pumps with tubes. He has been on a Dexcom for just as long. We absolutely love the Omnipod. I think he is currently on the Omnipod 6. They sell some patches that go over them on Amazon to help with active kids. Those have worked well for us. I would think he would have almost zero issues playing baseball in an Omnipod, especially with the patches. My son usually wears them on his upper butt. He loses one every once in a while while playing pickup basketball but it's not very often. Let me know if you have any particular questions and I will try to answer them.

My DIL who I consider my own went Type 1 about 9 months ago. Nearly died figuring out what it was.

Under control, got the diet and exercise piece down and she just started a new job! She does the CGM but likes controlling the insulin herself, for now. But if she wants a pump she will get one!

I’m a Lily and Novo (biggest insulin producers) shareholder and get updates on Type 1 insulin and delivery systems they have in trial. Let your child know that good news is happening everyday. New automatic delivery systems, once a week insulin in a pill form, artificial pancreas implant et etc.

In 3 years it is highly likely that all Type 1 folks have to do is monitor glucose and take a pill or maintain their device. The technology is going to make this better and easier. And our loved ones will live happier, healthier lives!!

He just turned 16 and was barely a year old when diagnosed. We try our best to never let it slow him down but people have no clue the level of planning and execution of nutrition to get his body prepared for sporting events. And just when the puzzle is figured out they grow, get sick, or whatever happens and you have to re-piece the puzzle back together.

For example game last year 125 before game, no fast acting insulin in body, 15 carb sandwich when walking up after game BS 125.

Last night 125 before game, no fast acting insulin in body, 15 carb sandwich when walking up after game BS 325. Slow release insulin is correct also and does not need to be adjusted up. No issues for last two years with this methodology before games or practice, this year its been similiar almost every game and practice. Just total failure on numbers. Tried without the 15 carb snack before one practice and crashed. Hard. Only people that understand is someone who deals with it.

Will do.

Is your boy carb sensitive? My DIL is which makes it harder. She needs the carbs but it causes a big spike.

Trying a higher protein diet with only vegetable or fruit (limited) carbs. Over the first month down 8% on goal.

We didn’t really understand the nutrition piece at the beginning but we are learning. Her internist put us on a nutritionist that gets it, the one from the hospital was trash.

DIL is 28 and was practicing a pretty decent diet.

I can’t imagine this with teens or kids.

Thanks for sharing some of the new things that are coming out. I had not researched much in a while and there are some exciting things coming down the pike. I just called my son and told him about the possibility of a pill and he was very encouraged by that prospect.

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arktiger28

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Omnipod his first year so we never experienced any pumps with tubes.

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So we just finished our endo appointment and have ordered the Omnipod like you said your son did. Going to wrap up summer baseball and then start the training mid July. Trying to hoard up as many pods as we can get to have as a stash in case these things fall off or we screw them up. Going to be an entirely new deal to learn but he needs more independence. Do not want to try to learn this thing and the adjustments while on the baseball field, too much chance for a bad low if we get into a situation we dont know how to handle

Just saw this. I have an active 13 year old t1d (baseball, basketball and football) . He’s done well with the Omni pod. Been using it for 4 years now. They get knocked off or loose sometimes, but it’s never been a big deal.

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Trying to hoard up as many pods as we can get to have as a stash in case these things fall off or we screw them up. Going to be an entirely new deal to learn but he

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It’s a good idea to build up a stash. Omnipod is pretty good about replacing pods that fail or fall off at no cost.

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How long did it take to learn how to handle it during games and practice?

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It’s constantly changing as he grows and, as you know, t1d isn’t a consistent thing to manage. However, after a couple of weeks of practice, we had a pretty manageable plan.

It takes the pod a few weeks/pods to learn his insulin needs and then it does a decent job of adjusting the Basil levels. We just back off a little on the bolus for anything he eats pre game/practice. There is a lot of trial and error and we still miss the mark occasionally, but never had any serious incidents. His athletic bags are stuffed with full sugar and zero sugar Gatorade’s as well as some hard candy. We use activity mode, but never really shut it off completely.

For awhile my wife or I attended every practice or game to make sure he was good. We are now comfortable letting him self manage during practices and his coaches are ok with it as well. He always has the basquimi nasal spray and coaches are aware how to use it if needed. We’ve never had a situation where we even got close to needing it, yet (knocks on wood).

ETA: as you are aware, activity usually caused a drop in blood sugar, but sometimes in intense games or situations, we will notice adrenaline will cause his BG to rise

Lot’s of good things going on in the research phase. The biggest downside I’m aware of so far is the immunosuppressants that are required, but still an exciting step forward.