Pump On Tour

Carrying on from my previous blog, I had some slight worries about taking my new pump away with me abroad. 

On true form my blood sugars were extremely high just before I was about to leave the house to make my way to the airport early Thursday morning.

I see a pattern here; the same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago and I missed my train because of it. I knew everything was OK with the pump and infusion site, so I put it down to the take-away food I’d eaten the night before and gave myself a correction. It came down eventually, but over the next couple of days I continued to get high readings as I woke up.

High blood sugars aka hyperglycaemia are in some ways worse than lows. You feel really hung-over when you have one, like groggy and blurry eyed. But there is no fantastic night out to explain these high’s, you aren’t drunk or hung-over, it is just your blood sugar messing about.

I decided to take matters into my own hands and adjust the amount of basal insulin (basal = throughout the day and night, regardless of food intake) I was getting during the night. My diabetes nurses were a bit anxious about giving too much insulin whilst I am asleep, and advised me to only adjust it slightly. But I’m a bit of a rebel, and rarely do as I’m told when it comes to diabetes. (Hence being a divabetic).

I knew through vigorous testing at 3am that my blood sugars were far too high during the night, so I raised it by a bit. You can’t really blame me though. This had been happening for a week or so and I didn’t want to wake up feeling ‘falsely hung-over’ on my holiday. I couldn’t call and check with my nurse, so it was up to me to make the change. And it paid off! That extra bit of night time insulin has really helped my morning levels.

Although, I do advise if you can to check with a nurse of doctor before you start making drastic alterations. I plan on ringing my nurse first thing tomorrow and informing her of my changes... promise.



Czech us out...

Another pump concern of mine was all the yummy, fatty food I knew I would be munching on abroad. It is so much easier now I have the pump to dine out or eat on the go. For me, that is its greatest asset. When I’m out at a restaurant I can simply tap in the amount of carbs I’ve gorged on and the pump works its magic with no mess, and no fuss. A couple of years ago I would have been too embarrassed to inject in public and probably wouldn’t have bothered. Bad, I know!

As you can tell from my previous posts, I’ve become a bit of a pro at disguising my pump. I’m still a bit wary about digging into my bra in the middle of a restaraunt, but as far as I can tell so far nobody seems to notice.

Until my holiday. On our first night out we found this gorgeous pub which was serving traditional Czech food. Before I tucked into my Czech pancakes, I fished out my pump and gave myself a heap load of insulin. A few mouthfuls in and I realised that my family were staring at me. Instinctively I wiped my hand on my chin to check I hadn’t slopped.  Let’s just say, I’m not the most lady-like eater.

But I was OK. My pancakes had not strayed from mouth. “What are you staring at?” I defensively grilled my family.

“Err Kim, you’re glowing.”

I looked down and sure enough, because I’d given myself so much insulin to tackle the pancakes, my pump screen was brightly glowing through my white top as it was delivering the doses.

Embarrassing to say the least. So next time I am planning a mammoth meal, where my pump might be active for a while, I will have to either wear black or not stuff it down my bra. Lesson learned.

All in all, I had a wonderful time on my trip abroad and had a fantastic 21^st birthday. Having the pump enabled me to eat all the lovely and yummy foods that would normally mess up my blood sugars. Definitely worth an airport frisking and a glowing bra.

Don’t believe me? Just check out these Prague treats below. 

Pumps on a Plane

No, this isn't a blog about some sort of trashy sequel to Snakes on a Plane. I am back after a weekend in Prague celebrating my 21st birthday. I have had my insulin pump for over 3 weeks now and this was our first adventure abroad together. To say the least, I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing. I had a few worries and played out horrific ‘what if’ scenes in my head in the run up to my trip.

Having volunteered myself as a human guinea pig, I can now inform and advise fellow pump users, or people thinking about pumps, to the do’s and don'ts of pumping on a plane.

At the Airport

DO prepare yourself for a frisking. Airport security was one of my main concerns in pump travel. We’ve all been there. You remove your jewellery, your hat, your shoes and even your belt. But still as you walk through the airport detector (holding your trousers up so they don’t end up around your ankles), you beep. So what chance did I have with a metal, liquid machine attached to me? None!

I'm not taking my shoes off...you might steal them!

DO carry medical proof. Like I mentioned in my previous blog, it is really important to have a letter from your consultant handy should anyone question your pump. Even if you aren’t planning on flying, you should still really carry something around with you just in case. As soon as I beeped, I thrust my doctor’s note in front of the security lady’s face. She didn’t seem fazed by it at all and probably sees them all the time. Nonetheless, she had to ‘swab’ my pump screen and give me the once over. Apparently the ‘swab’ is to test for chemicals, according to Google.

DO take some hypo treatment with you. Hypos are nasty and a pain at the best of times, but more so when you are just about to board a plane or checking your bags in. Because airport security is so strict these days, you aren’t allowed to take any liquids on board over 100 ml. Well, not if you’re diabetic! You are entitled to take some gluca-gel or a little can of fizzy pop on board a plane to treat a hypo. Of course the security guards will examine the cans and poke around in your bag, but once you wave your medical letter in their face, it is A-OK. I can’t stress enough how important a medical necessity letter is for a smooth and stress-free journey. I just wish mine said:

Kim is Type 1 diabetic, and as a result suffers from poor blood circulation. This means she will require a foot massage every 60 minutes.

Don’t cause a scene. Yes, it is embarrassing being beeped and searched at the airport but it happens to a lot of people, not just diabetic pump users. Try not to be rude to the security guards; they are just doing their jobs at the end of the day. I for one am thankful that security is as rigorous as it. We would be the first to complain if it wasn’t and something went wrong.

Don’t take off your pump. It won’t be any easier disconnecting the insulin pump going through security. They will still have to search your bags and it will probably look a bit weird if you’re not wearing something that is so vital it can’t be stored in your case. Don’t be ashamed of the pump. It is your right to wear it and nobody can make you take it off. All hell would break loose if they did.

Photo from here

Don’t forget to change the time on your pump if you are in a different time zone. Always stick to local time when it comes to going abroad. Things will get complicated if you try and stick to ‘home’ time.

I have quite a lot to blog about this week following my trip away, so I have decided to break down my posts into smaller chunks so it is easier to digest. I wish I had this mentality when it came to eating birthday cake. 

Come back tomorrow for my blogs on foreign food (mmm!) and how I found the insulin pump on my travels once I made it to the other side. 

Beautiful Prague

 If you would like to know more about planes, airports and insulin pump therapy, check out this website for more info.

Pumps, Planes and Prague

I need a break. And so does my pump. Life is whizzing past me at a ridiculous rate and a need a couple of days away with my family. I am moving to London on my own to start life as a grown-up in less than 2 weeks. As I am leaving soon, and it is officially my 21^st birthday this Saturday, my parents agreed to take me away to Prague for a long weekend after weeks of nagging.

I’m really excited for this trip, but where I go, the pump follows.  It’s a bit like having a cat. Occasionally I have to pay the pump some attention and load it up with more food (insulin), but most of the time it likes to be left alone and doesn’t cause me too much trouble (this week anyway).

Leaving the country is a different story. It is like I have gone into panic mode and think the world will be out to get us.  Here is a list of my main concerns:

1.  Airport Security

Photo from here

This is a headache and a half. I’m positive that the pump will set off alarms as I walk through security, and I will get frisked, causing my pump to fall off and shatter into a million pieces. Or worse, they will rip out the tube and I will be left standing in a pool of my own blood, insulin-less. OK so this is a slight over-reaction, but you know what airport security is like these days and I don’t know how they will react to it.  I know at the end of the day the security people are doing their job, and I am thankful for it. But I’m carrying a little machine full of liquid onto an aeroplane for crying out loud; this is a recipe for disaster. Thankfully I have my trusty letter from the Doctor explaining everything, and I am prepared to waft it in the face of anyone who questions me.

2.   It breaks 

Play nice...

If you have been following my previous posts, then you will know that my pump hasn’t exactly been playing nice. The last time I tried to catch a train the tube was faulty and I had to change my infusion site. I missed my train and had a bit of a tantrum. So in terms of tubing and cannulas I am armed with a spare, a spare for the spare, and a spare for the spare’s spare. Is my carry-on luggage over the weight limit yet?? Don't make me chose between my pump and my shoes.

3.   Food

Photo from here

I plan on eating. A lot. What!?- it’s my birthday I’m allowed a piece of cake or 3. Trouble is I doubt my meals will come with a handy carbohydrate count and sugar content label, and even if it did I wouldn’t understand a word it was saying.

So these are my worries right now. Pumps and planes, do they mix? I don’t know. Stay tuned to find out how I get on, I plan on writing a lengthy post preparing future pump users for plane travel. I'll be your guinea pig, thank me later. I should be back from my trip Monday, so if you don’t hear from me….I’m giving you permission to panic. 

Wish me luck, and a Happy Birthday :)

The WonderPump

I have had my pump for just over 2 weeks now, and I am still getting to grips with how to hide it in my clothes.

This weekend I went out in my hometown and wanted to dress all pretty. Every time I go back to my roots I half hope I will ‘bump’ into someone from school and they will think ‘Wow doesn’t Kim look great now'. It hasn’t happened yet.... but I’m still hoping. So it is vitally important that I look my best! 

The pump has been reasonably good to me so far in terms of being discreet. In fact, it’s normally me who whips it out unannounced and shows it off to the poor soul whoever happens to be nearby. But this weekend I wanted to hide it.

Whenever I tell someone about my pump and explain how it works, I notice their eyes wandering from my face to my body. I know what they are doing - they are looking to see where I hide it. Well, I am going to reveal all in this blog post. 

I chose my outfit this particular weekend very carefully. It was a tight playsuit but it had a little bit of extra material around the stomach, which is normally handy for when I’m feeling a bit bloated, but on this occasion it was to serve a different purpose. It would conceal my pump tubes and cannula!

The cannula



All I had to figure out now was where to put my pump. The most obvious place is my bra. Not only has God cursed me with diabetes but he has also given me a flat chest. A winning combination! But it actually comes in pretty handy now as I can fit my pump inside my bra without anyone noticing.

The Pump

But this playsuit was rather tight... and where I had put my pump, a weird rectangle shape protruded from my chest. It looked weird, and there was no way I was going out like that. Most people wouldn’t be bothered, but I don’t mind admitting I can be a bit vain at times and a rectangle shaped boob is a step too far.

Luckily I had a pair of chicken fillets with me and placed it over my pump, so that everything looked nice and normal. I looked in the mirror and WOW. I suddenly had boobs! The pump had worked wonders and the chicken fillets worked their magic.

Me impersonating a sophisticated lady

In terms of practicality, the pump was in a really secure place and there was no chance of it popping out or the tubes getting tangled.

Move over Wonderbra...Photo from here before I scribbled over it

I hope this post proves to mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins and anyone else out there that a pump can be discreet. When I was diagnosed at 15 I was instantly put off by the pump for superficial reasons.  

Now I can keep my blood sugars under control and have cleavage. What more could a divabetic want?

The Girl Who Cried Hypo

As you may have gathered from my previous blog posts I am a divabetic (noun, deev-a-bet-ic). I don’t mind admitting this to the world, because I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing. (Although I’m sure my parents disagreed when bringing me up). This blog post is dedicated to how a divabetic reacts to a hypo, and how the pump has changed this.

A hypo, in plain English, is when a diabetic’s blood sugar goes below 4 mmol/L (low) and they start to become ill. For a medical explanation, click here.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, and figuring out why is the fun part about diabetes! (This is sarcasm).

Hypos normally happen if:

·         I have taken too much insulin with my food

·         I have been exercising (not likely)

·         I haven’t eaten enough carbohydrate (again not likely, I LOVE carbs)

·         Drinking too much alcohol...

·         I have missed a meal/snack (rare, I love food too much)

·         The world hates me today, and there is no explanation for my hypo

Hypos are awful. The only way I can describe it is like this. You know when you are really nervous for something, like a job interview or a date? Your heart is pounding, your body is shaking, and you turn an attractive shade of ghostly white... sound familiar? This is what a hypo feels like to me. Every diabetic is different though, and others may have different symptoms.

If my hypo is really bad, I find it hard to string a sentence together. It’s like I have lost control of my mouth, and talking becomes really difficult. When I’m at this stage people often mistake me for being drunk, which is a problem.  

But every time I have a hypo, I have to treat it with some emergency sugar. And boy is it a treat. When I was younger, I used to kind of like having hypos in some sort of weird and twisted way, because it gave me an excuse to eat junk food.

I know I’ve said in my previous blogs that diabetics can eat sugary stuff, but I was diagnosed in 2005 and Doctors were still practising the ‘You shouldn’t really eat 5 donuts in a row, Kim’ theory.

So to me, hypos were bittersweet, literally. Yes, I had to go through the annoying symptoms first, but the pot of gold at the end of this hypo rainbow was a big bowl of sugar. I would have Mars Bars, Pringles, Twix’s and Galaxy Caramel’s at my bedside table, just waiting for the next hypo so I could gobble them up and not feel guilty.

Hypo Heaven...Photo from here

When you have a hypo, you are supposed to treat it with hardcore sugar (like lucozade) and follow it up with some starchy carbs to keep the blood sugar stable. I can’t stress that what I was doing was WRONG. In every sense. I was eating far too much sugar than I needed to treat this hypo, and my blood sugars would be high for the rest of the day.

I remember one particular divabetic moment  like it was yesterday. I was 17 and on holiday with my then boyfriend. I was having a hypo, and it was a bad one so I was unable to reach my stash of goodies and treat it myself.

“Help! I’m having a hypo and I need something to eat!” I said to my boyfriend. And off he ran to go get me something to treat it with.

He came back with some glucose tablets and a can of salt and vinegar pringles. Salt and vinegar... salt and vinegar... what was he thinking?!

My worst nightmare...Photo from here

“I don’t want these!!” I barked. “I hate salt and vinger, I want texas barbeque!!”.

“It doesn’t matter what flavour they are, Kim.” He replied. “Just eat them and sort your blood sugars out.”

If looks could kill, R.I.P. I was outraged. If I was going to suffer this hypo, I damn well wanted to enjoy treating it!

I refused to eat the salt and vinegar pringles and sat in my own self pity for a couple of minutes, before my boyfriend caved in and went to get some BBQ snacks. Needless to say, he never brought me salt and vinegar pringles again, and the relationship ended a few months later. I can’t imagine why...

Thankfully, I no longer think this way about hypos. The older I got, the more I wised up and started to treat them properly with a small glass of lucozade and a cereal bar. My diva-ish ways have calmed down a great deal since entering my 20s, just as well or I think I’d be single forever.

But, now I have my pump, the way I treat hypos have changed completely. I’m really happy to report that since getting my pump fitted on March 3^rd, I’ve only had 3 hypos.

Now I have, The Rule of 15, which is this:

·         Eat 15 grams of quick acting carbs

·         Wait 15 mins

·         Recheck blood glucose

·         If less than 4 mmol/L still, repeat

15 grams of carbs can be:

·         Glucose tablets (4-5)

·         Lucozade 80ml

·         Fruit Juice 150ml

·         GlucoGel 38g or ¾ of tube

·         Hypo-Fit 1 x 18g sachet

I personally treated my most recent hypo with a small packet of raisins. Within 15 minutes it had risen to an OK level and I carried on with my day. So instead of gobbling 1000 calories in chocolate after a hypo, I can now munch on a packet of raisins or a glass or orange juice. 

Great ay?

Please remember that I am not a health professional and you should always double check these things with your diabetes specialist.

So  now I have my trusty box of raisins next to my bed, and I no longer wear a sign around my neck to warn potential boyfriends, ‘Caution:Handle with care’.

Raisins at the ready



Naturally Sweet

I've had diabetes for 5 years and get asked a lot of questions from people of all walks of life. I don't mind answering questions at all, but here are a few I find myself saying over and over.

1) Is diabetes a disease?

I get asked this all the time. Yes, it is. I think the reason why people aren’t sure if it is or not is due to stereotype. We think of disease as some sort of deathly plague that will kill in a matter of days. But in fact, disease comes in all shapes and forms and diabetes is just one of them. It is an ‘autoimmune’ disease if you want to be specific, and you can read more about it here.

2) Can I catch it off you?

No, diabetes isn’t contagious whether the person has Type 1 or Type 2.

3) Were you born with diabetes?

This is by far the question I get asked the most. And the short answer is, no. I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2005 when I was 15. The medics at the hospital reckon that I had it for about 6 months before my actual diagnosis. I went to the doctors because I had lost a lot of weight, I was thirsty 24/7 and getting really bad cramps in my legs. The doctor could tell something was wrong with me just from a simple urine test, and sent me packing to the hospital where I spent a week recovering and learnt how to deal with my new condition. The only good thing to come out of being diagnosed with diabetes whilst doing my GCSE’s is that I got an ‘A’ on my biology exam. I was so clued up on diabetes by the time I was discharged. Shame I didn’t know anything about chemistry or physics...

4) Can you eat sugar?

Yes. The understanding of diabetes has come a long way in the last 40 years and health professionals are now saying it’s OK for diabetics to eat sweet stuff. Personally I stay away from sugary drinks like Coke etc, but only because I don’t enjoy the taste and I think with my blood sugars being as unstable as they are, I’m asking for trouble. I have an incredibly sweet tooth though and people always gawp at me when I order chocolate fudge cake or munch on popcorn in the cinema. “Should you be eating that?!” they gasp. Yes, it is OK, I have my insulin, I am good to go!

The only thing I can’t eat is diabetic food. You might see stuff advertised as ‘sugar-free’ or ‘suitable for diabetics’ but this is a lie! This stuff is horrendously bad for anyone, never-mind diabetics. It is full of fat and they put laxatives in as a sugar-substitute. I’ve written an article about it which goes into a lot more detail that you can ask me for. 

5) Why do you have diabetes, you’re not fat or old?

Well first off, thank you. Secondly, this is an annoying stereotype about diabetes that does my head in. I have Type 1, caused by my immune system attacking cells in the pancreas (yeah, cheers for that) for some unknown reason yet to be discovered by scientists. Type 2, is the most common form of diabetes, and is controlled with tablets and diet rather than insulin like me. Type 2 is caused by obesity, older age, a family history of diabetes, getting no exercise or a combination of all of the above. About 80% of Type 2 are overweight, so that is where the stereotype comes from. Also Type 2 is preventable through your lifestyle choices, where as Type 1 isn’t.

Here is a helpful YouTube video which explains it in more detail. Watch it if you’re still unsure, it’s important to understand the difference between Type 1 and 2, or I will get angry.

6) Will your children have diabetes?

Diabetes can be hereditary, but nobody has it in my family (so what’s my excuse?).  I must have been the special, chosen one. The answer to this question is ‘I don’t know’, and neither does anyone else. I will just make sure to have kids with someone strong, healthy and fit and hope he cancels out my crappy genes. If you know someone that matches this description, please get in touch.

7) Can you drink alcohol?

Oh yes. See previous blogs for more information.

8) Do you get money for being diabetic?

From 15 to 18 I received the Disability Living Allowance (DSA) but I don’t qualify for it anymore. If you want to know if you or your child does, then click here. Whilst I don’t get any financial entitlements anymore, I do get free prescriptions for life. One of the perks I guess, though I’d much rather have a working pancreas.

9) Can you read?

I’ve only been asked this question once, but I think I will remember it forever. When I first went into hospital after I’d been diagnosed none of my classmates really knew what was wrong with me. The word ‘diabetes’ was thrown about in rumour, but nobody was sure. One guy said to me, “Diabetes, isn’t that when you can’t read?” to which I responded, “Errr no, I think you mean dyslexia”.  So despite knowing me for 11 years, people were all of a sudden questioning my literacy skills. In case it isn’t already obvious, yes, I can in fact read. Can you? Stupid boy. 

10) Has diabetes ruined your life?

Nobody has asked me this, it is one from me. Diabetes has taught me so much about myself and what I am capable of. If anything, it motivates me to get off my backside and go do more with my life. I’m so much more aware of how important and precious life is, and I try not to take things for granted. So no , diabetes hasn’t ruined my life, it inspired me to get one.

Trouble in paradise?

So me and my pump are not currently on speaking terms. I'm 'in a mood', and giving it the silent treatment, despite it being our ‘one week anniversary’. It has given me so much grief and stress this weekend I think my hair is going grey.

I'll take you back to Friday when it all went horribly wrong. My blood sugars had been great all day, and I was getting ready for my 2nd night out since the pump with some friends (I must have been feeling particularly sociable this week).

I tested my blood sugar just before I was about to leave to find that it was 19. This is very, very bad. I gave myself a correction and helplessly waited at home, testing every 10 minutes to see if it was going down.

This high blood sugar was annoying for several reasons.

I was all dressed up in my glad rags and moments away from possibly having the best night in my life (doubtful, but who knows)

They had been fine all day, why had it decided to spike now?

Was my pump working? Had I eaten something and forgotten to adjust my insulin?

So I sat and waited... and waited.... and finally it started coming down. It should normally take between 15 and 30 minutes for quick acting insulin to take effect. Which just proves that my pump was in fact working, and I know that I added my food up correctly the last time I ate.

Despite all this I left the house and went out with my friends. But at the back of my mind I was constantly thinking about my blood sugars, and sneaked off to the toilets every so often to test them.

The next day I got up at 7am to catch an early train to London, I'm moving there in 3 weeks and was planning to stay with my cousin Saturday night and explore the area a bit more.

My blood sugar was 15 when I got up, again annoying, but I was due for a site change and decided to disconnect, have a shower and then put in a new cannula/cartridge.

When I got out the shower I was experiencing classic hyper symptoms. I was thirsty, had a dry mouth and my vision was going a bit blurry. I tested (by this point my fingers were ready to drop off) and it was 25!

I went into panic mode. I did my infusion sight quickly and gave myself a correction. Thinking it would sort itself out in half an hour, or at least drop, I carried on getting ready so I could make my train.

But oh no, my blood sugar was rising, so obviously there was some sort of problem with my pump.

I went through all the possible reasons why the pump might not be working, and noticed that the tubing was all scratched and kinked. It was clearly faulty.

By this point I was in tears, I had missed my train. I felt so alone and scared, all I wanted was to take the stupid thing off and crawl back to bed as if none of it had happened.

But I couldn’t. I changed the tubing and sure enough, my blood sugars started to come back down. My worried parents offered to pay for a new train ticket so I could still go down to London as planned. Within an hour my blood sugar had come down considerably, I dried my eyes and made my way to the station.

I could try and pretend that this has been a one off weekend where things have gone wrong, but I don’t think that is realistic. I think I’m probably going to encounter a few more ‘teething’ problems in the next few months before I’m settled. I just hope that each time I get stronger and can cope with it better.

I’m putting a lot of faith into this little machine and feel a bit betrayed by it right now. Hopefully this will just be ‘a lover’s tiff’ and we will kiss and make up by next weekend

I'm not as think as you drunk I am

So last night was my first experience drinking alcohol whilst on the insulin pump, for educational purposes of course. But in all seriousness I wanted to see how the pump affected my blood sugar levels after drinking, and how I emotionally and physically dealt with my new companion when slightly intoxicated.

Alcohol consumption affects every diabetic differently, depending on how sensitive your blood glucose levels are. The general rule is that alcohol with raise your blood sugars temporarily, and quickly lower them several hours later as the liver tries to get rid of all the toxins you’ve been drinking. This is why most diabetics are advised to eat something stodgy after excessive alcohol intake.

I’m going to be honest and say that I rarely eat after I’ve been out drinking. Whilst some people suddenly acquire the urge for a greasy kebab or cheesy chips after a heavy night out, I’m the opposite. The thought of eating anything filling makes me want to hurl.

For this reason I only drink spirits and orange juice on nights out, and never any sweet WKDs or ciders which I know would send my blood sugar levels plummeting once I crawl back into bed in the wee hours.

So last night I tested my blood sugars before I left the house (they were fine), and carried on with my normal drinking routine. It was the first time I’d seen my friends since I had the pump fitted, and they were all intrigued to see my new toy. The pump loved all this attention, and wasn’t embarrassed at all to be seen in public.

By the end of my night I think I’d shown the pump to anyone that was remotely interested in listening. But I was proud of how far I’d come and wanted to show everyone that it isn’t as scary as it sounds. Being connected to something 24/7 isn’t going to be easy, but I’ve accepted that the pump in just another lump and bump on my body that I’ve got to carry around.

I was a bit naughty and forgot to test my blood sugar before I went to sleep, but remembered first thing this morning when I woke up and was pleasantly surprised by perfectly normal readings.

So there you have it, I went out drinking with my pump and we both enjoyed ourselves. Next time I will remember to test before bed, but old habits die hard my friends.

To pump, or not to pump?

Throughout my life I have always been told “There is no such thing as a stupid question”.

Whilst the question itself might not be silly, you might feel like a bit of a plonker saying it. Chances are though; you’re probably just saying out loud what everyone else is thinking. So here are a few questions that I have asked for you. Thank me later.

Q. Will I gain weight on the pump?

A. Maybe. Eating and carb-counting is so much easier with the pump and you might be tempted to gorge on things you wouldn’t have before. But, you are in control of your own body, so if you decide to eat a lot of high-fat food – it’s your own doing.

Q. What happens if I lose the pump?

A. Losing the pump is a bit more serious than losing your keys. Firstly, if it came off and disconnected you’d probably hear it fall on the floor. It may be small, but it isn’t exactly light. If you took it off, say to go swimming and left it behind, you would have to claim it back on your house insurance. The hospital recommended insuring mine for £3,000. The same applies if the pump was stolen. You would have to resort back to your insulin pens until your pump company provided you with a new one. If your pump broke however, it is the pump company’s responsibility to replace it.

Q. What happens when I go through airport security and set all the alarms off?

A. When you’re going through airport security, or any security for that matter, you should always be prepared to show officials a letter from your Dr, explaining what the pump is and why you have it. I’m going away at the end of the month, and worried that I will get frisked at the airport. The animas trainers assured me that the pump shouldn’t set any bleepers off, but warned that I can’t be X-Rayed as it will interfere with the pump technology. So it is important to take a valid letter with you.

Q. Can I keep my pump on during a roller-coaster ride?

A. No! The magnetic forces in rollercoaster’s will damage the pump. So leave it with your scaredy-cat friend or relative and reconnect afterwards.

Q. Can I swim with the pump?

A. Depends if your pump is waterproof. Mine is, and when I asked my diabetic nurse about holidaying etc. she said to swim for an hour, reconnect for an hour, disconnect and swim for another hour and so on. Your blood sugars won’t be perfect that day, but you can still enjoy the pool.

Q. What happens if the pump breaks on holiday?

A. With Animas, you can take a spare! If you tell the company when you are going away they can supply you with a spare free of charge, should anything go wrong. I imagine this would be particularly useful and reassuring to parents of diabetic children.

And the final question is probably the most awkward...Mum, Dad, it’s time to look away now.

Q. Can I still have sex when I’m on the pump?

A. Um, yes. You can still ‘get intimate’ (my instruction guides' words not mine) whilst on the insulin pump. As I’ve said before, you can disconnect it for one hour. It might not exactly be romantic, but it is still possible. And if you’re lucky enough to go more than an hour, stop. You are making the rest of us jealous.

These are just a handful of typical FAQ’s concerning the insulin pump, but if you have any others that haven’t been mentioned, ask your diabetic specialist. You might think it is a ‘stupid question’, but I bet they have heard it before. If not, check out this YouTube link below for some answers. Warning: He is a very happy American, and makes me look like a miserable teenager in my clip, but he does offer some very helpful and informative advice.