No, it's not an MP3 player, cell phone or other item. It's an INSULIN PUMP!

I was at wal mart today, when my pump did its little vibrate thing. I think it was time for me to check my glucose. Didn't want to break out the finger stick kit in line, so I figured I'd just turn off the reminder and wait to get done with the line and get into the car to do the deed. No biggie.

So, the person behind me in line gave an audible sigh. She mentioned something about my generation not being able to unplug from our devices for even a few minutes to check out with groceries.

Umm. Yeah. Right.

So, I whip around and say:

"if you must know, this is an insulin pump. Right now, it's vibrating for me to check my sugar. If I don't turn it off, it will vibrate every 3 minutes until I turn it off."

I turned around and went back to unloading my groceries onto the belt.

Wonder how red she was when she found out what I was really doing....

And some days, I have to dress up. I don't want to clip my pump to the outside of things. Not a chance! So, Doug got me a pump case that's an MP3 player case. Much better than getting a real, honest to goodness pump case, because those are like 30.00. This case? 12.00. So, to make sure that I liked it and it would fit, I was trying my pump in all of the cases. I had a woman look at me and say...

"you know, it would be easier if you just took the phone off of your body and tried it that way..."

*sigh*

again-I had to enlighten this person that this is NOT a phone or other device like that...it was an insulin pump and was NOT to be disconnected from my body.

ARGH.

Ya ever have someone...

Who wasn't supportive of your choice to pump?

I've got one! I've got one!

and it's not who you'd think...

it's...

MY MOM!

The other night when we were at my son's hockey league's pasta dinner fundraiser, I whipped out my pump and was bolusing for the meal, and she said this:

"I don't know why you like that thing. It seems like such a hassle. I just don't get it."

She went on to say that she didn't understand how I could have this thing hooked to me all day and all night and do what I needed to do.

I tried to explain to her that it's really not an issue. You'd never know I had it on, and it makes my glucose control a total breeze. It's my external pancreas. I just have to tell it what to do sometimes!

Personally, I don't think she understands the sheer joy of pumping-no 5-6 shots a day for me, no worrying if I have the right kind of insulin, or even doing what I did the first week I was on insulin-grabbing the wrong kind and shooting myself full of humalog instead of lantus. YIKES. That was one heck of a night. Not one I'd like to repeat.

Do I like all of the choices she's made? No. Not at all, but do I support her? Totally. I just don't understand why she has to make these comments and be a total piece of work while I'm trying to get it all together.

It boils down to this-if you can't say anything nice and supportive, don't say anything at all.