What you can and cannot do with an insulin pump?
January 15, 2010 by Diabetes and Blood Glucose Tips
Filed under More Diabetes Answers
Can you answer cuteness_989’s question about Diabetes?:
Hi, I just recently got an insulin pump and I am wondering can I still play the sports and everything that I used to play before I got it? I am a hockey player, rugby player, soccer player, figure skater, and dancer. Please help.
Have you claimed your Genesis site?
Hi, I just recently got an insulin pump and I am wondering can I still play the sports and everything that I used to play before I got it? I am a hockey player, rugby player, soccer player, figure skater, and dancer. Please help.
Have you claimed your Genesis site?
Diabetes Feedback: It might make it more difficult, my mom has one…she just takes it off every time she does something like that…like swimming or sports. It may get sort of expensive buying new things for it all the time..I would ask yr doctor…
Diabetes Feedback: You should really ask your doctor these questions! In fact, I can’t believe that he or she did not cover this with you or give you literature on it! Better check with him or her!
Diabetes Feedback: Yes, you can.
Factors you should consider:
*Whether or not to disconnect for the activity (so you don’t go low and the pump doesn’t get in the way).
*Blood sugar testing during the activity (possibly more crucial than wearing the pump).
*Best places to hide/protect the pump during high-contact sports (hockey and rugby).
*Basal rate for sports (before, during, and after), makeup rates if you disconnect, possibility of using Lantus instead of a basal rate..
These are all factors my fellow pump athletes deal with. Keep good records and discuss the results with your endocrinologist.
Google diabetes and athlete and you’ll find books and forum where different techniques are discussed.
Diabetes Feedback: My son has a pump. He takes it off for contact sports and swimming. He leaves it on in the gym and for Crew. You should be able to leave it on for skating and dancing, but take it off for hockey, rugby and soccer. Soccer and Hockey aren’t really a contact sports, but I’d still take it off as a precaution. It’s easy enough to take off and put back on at half time, then off again for the rest of the game.