I used injections for about 5 years and have been on the pump for the past 3. The pump is great. You dont have to worry about carrying around the small little bag with ice packs to keep your insulin cold and you dont have to make sure you have plenty of syringes with you when you ever leave home. When you are on the pump, you can just leave home with no worries. The pump gives you more freedom.

I tried out the pump for a year and a half, but I couldn't stand having something constantly attached to me.

Part of that may have been vanity, I tend toward tight and "creative" clothing and it was hard to hide/be creative with/explain the beeping noise. My doctor at the time who was also diabetic, female, very fit and used the pump could hide the thing, and you would never know it was there.

And I didn't like having a CONSTANT reminder that there was something wrong with me. It made certain "active" activities harder, and I felt like I had to be more careful with this tube constantly hanging out. It also hurt a lot more than shots (which may not be the case for all people).

I switched back to doing shots and am currently on about the same schedule as your son, Lantus and Humalog.

It didn't work for me at this point in my life but when I'm a bit older, I'm 23 now and I've had type 1 diabetes since I was 9, I'll probably switch back to the pump for easier control (if they haven't come out with anything better by then, which is hard to believe).

My son was diagnosed two months ago. He is 8. I am greatful that he understands why he needs to check his blood and take shots 4-5x per day.It must be heart wrenching to keep poking your little boy.
At the moment my son is on humolog and humillin. He only takes 1 unit at a time so the pump is not worth it yet.
Have you heard of novopen junior, injection pen? I am trying to get one for my son. Novo also makes a pen for kids who are afraid of the needles.
Maybe you just have to wait until he is older for the pump.

I was diagnosed 2 and a half years ago, in my last year of high school. As an active on the go person I felt hampered by constant injections. I agree with everything everyone has said on the topic - both the pros and cons of each choice. Shots were cumbersome, I couldn't easily snack, and adjustment became a much bigger deal. I was on a schedule much like your sons of a minimum of 4-5 shots per day (1-2 at night and one at each meal), and I was not shy about taking them. I had no problem taking my shots in public which lead to inquiry. Plus the constant injections were tiresome, and sometimes left nasty bruises. With the insulin pump I am more free to move about, but still have to worry about the infusion set needing to be changed or not working. I use an insertion set so there is almost no feeling at all when changing sets. Also, I have found the pump very durable and it makes my eatting schedule much more flexible (I can eat as many or as few carbs as I want). Also, it gives me much better control over my diabetes. However, the pump does frequently lead to questions (as did shots) - I make no attempts to hide it . . . even in a bikini. Also, it is easily taken off for short periods of times. LAstly, one can always use insulin injections for a few days at a time if deriing to unattach from th pump (ex: I wore a very forming fitting formal dress and had nowear to attach the pump, so went back to shots for the day). In general I feel that the pros outway the cons for pump use - especially since the long term benefits are higher. Plus now there are pump systems that pretty much do all the math for you - all you do isput in your BS and the number of carbs eatten and it figures out a precise amount of insulin needed. As for your sons bandaid issue I don't know what to say - but I think the sooner one can get on the pump the better - especially for children and adolescents who can sometimes be self concious about injections. Its easy to hide in jean pockets. Also, hey have these clear stickers type deals you can put over the infusion area to hold it in place better - one can see right through them and hardly knows they are there, and they are painless to remove! Its all about association - you just need to teach him that bandaids (or things stuck to him) are something good and not for something bad like a cut.

I've been on injections since I was five years old (now 37). I don't use syringes these days; I use insulin pens, so that I don't have to worry about someone mistaking me for a drug addict if I carry syringes around.

I would love to get a pump, but it's just not in my budget. :-(

If it's his diabetes, and if injections are what he prefers, I'd say let him have the injections (he's old enough to learn how to inject himself, if he isn't doing it already.) Novolin makes pens especially for kids; they're smaller than the regular pens and they come in funky colours.

I have had type I since 1987 and have been on the pump since at leat 12 years now. And I love it. love it. love it.

Better control, sleeping in, NOT HAVING TO EAT, etc. The only times when I don't care so much for the pump is when I wear tight stuff .... and guess what, that might be the day I am using syringes.

When I am at the beach. I either leave it on or use injections, really depends. Nude beach probably injections ;)

Sometimes I take it off when I am with a Lover, but not always. For me the insulin pump is a great invention and I am very positive toward it. It's my ally and at my disposal, nothing else. When it does not fit into my day at any moment, I just take a break.

I love the Bolus wizard feature of the minimed pumps ... just test, the BG will be transmitted to the pump, tell the thing how many carbs you want to eat, and it will calculate the bolus. Oh, and you can have the insulin as one bolus, as a "square bolus" over time or a combination of those two ...

Right now, I am participating in a study now for the continuous BS monitor athe Seattle Diabetes Care Center ... the continuous BG monitor comminicates with the pump and will allow you (in the beginning) to see what's going on and intervene accordingly Down the line, it'll likely be trusted more and more and will be "closing the loop" between BS and insulin delivery.
I can't wait, on Aprill 11 I will get the continuous BS monitor ... right now I am in the "control group" of the study ... exciting times! Yay!

I love how the pump makes me think less about eating and injections, and timing ... I feel "normal" with the pump, not at all "disabled".
Oh, and the greatest thing about hte Bolus wizard .. it keeps track of your "insulin on board" .... you all know what happens when you have multiple snacks, and you check you BS after the 2nd one and it is high? Correction? Maybe, maybe not. I used to overcorrect, because I did not remember whether the elevated BS was a "final BS" or whether or not there was still insuline on board .... the bolus wizard has put an end to the fucked up rollercoaster that would ensue .... High BG - correct - Hypo - you know it :@

Cheers!

The pump is too intense not to have the child on board 100%.

I have 2 diabetics both on the pump but very diffrent scenarios.

child #1 - he is almost 15, we finally put him on the pump at age 13 and a half. We had to take him off it once due to non compliance. At least here there was a 2month prep of constant finger sticks round the clock to get him ready then, we got the pump. The testing is still every 2 hrs copious logging of every bolus and every carb.... he would chaet and not log, so his endo took him off for 2 weeks untill he would comply.

Child #2 he is 8 and a newly diagnosed, Actually we caught it 12hrs after onset in May. Unlike my older son this one is super picky and a perfectionist. we went from injections, to the pen (hated it), too the pump in about 4 weeks, he is the perfect patient and logs and tests like he is being graded

either way the kids are a HUGE part of making the pump work. we love npo longer having to do so many injections, we always tried tight controll and letting the kids be kids so often it was the disscussion of... well we didn't calculate for that soda or chips etc so if you want it it means another shot to cover it. Now we just bolus. there A1C's have dropped to 8.0