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I wanted to join @drlundeen in his support of the pump (I use a tandem). I avoided it for a long time--since multiple injections of regular + a split dose of a long lasting insulin kept me in adequate-but not that good- control. Once I got it did take quite a while to get used to--but the ability to give very small increments of insulin very discretely--and the automatic adjustments that a pump integrated with the dexcom system makes have significantly evened out my highs and lows. It does make me feel better
I also wanted to shout out to Cheryl @cehunt57. I also have been diabetic for 50+ years now. I wondered if you and (drlundeen) also have experienced issues with the scar tissue secondary to years of injections. When I initially tried the pump I used a silicone canula--and it crimped and sent me right into ketoacidosis. I now use a steel canula--which is usually fine--but sometimes a site won't work or will stop working--sending my blood sugars into the stratosphere. In fact-I recently tried the Omnipod 5--but since it only comes with a silicone canula I found that it only worked on my arm (where I always wear the Dexcom due to scar tissue on my abdomen) and I went back to the Tandem. I sometimes feel that I am running out of territory for all my devices. I'm sorry to interject another question into an existing conversation--but was curious if you had experienced some of the same issues (I'm new to this list)
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mcsnail,
I guess I am fortunate that I don't seem to have much scar tissue. I've heard that scar tissue isn't much of a result from using the Dexcom because you are not putting anything foreign through that sensor whereas an infusion set is used for administering the insulin. Nonetheless I have experienced, as you so aptly called it, "Sending my blood sugars into the stratosphere". Usually due to an infusion set that has pulled out, has gotten kinked somehow, or suddenly the insulin stops absorbing for I don't know why.
I place my Dexcom on the central part of my abdomen, in an arc around the navel due to it being always "in line of sight" with the Tandem pump and my phone. I do rotate infusion sites to different areas and have been using sites more on the far sides of my stomach to give the other areas a breather. I tried an infusion set on the outside of my thighs but seemed the absorption wasn't very consistent due to the action of walking causing more blood flow in the area or so I assume.
In dealing with the bad infusion set site and going crazy high I first check that the Dexcom sensor is accurate with a finger stick and write that down. Next I check if the pump is working by disconnecting from the infusion set and pumping out 1/10 of a unit and look for the drop at the end of the tubing. Pump has never failed me in that test. I then put in a higher infusion of insulin via the pump to see if the Dexcom readings level off or start coming down after a half hour. I will again do a finger stick to verify if is coming down or if rising. Keeping in mind the sensor lags the finger stick reading by 15 minutes or so. If still rising, swap out the infusion set. At that point either make some corrections input through the pump or I may use a needle and make a correction. One can't count on the pump to make an accurate correction because it thinks there is insulin on board when there either isn't any on board or what's there isn't working. Worst when it happens at night. One finds out what shows are on early morning tv. The few times it has happened I can't say that the "phantom" insulin has come back to haunt me. Again trusting my Dexcom will alarm if I start going low.
Hopefully others will chime in on how to handle your specific problem. Hang in there.