| How to Sleep With an Insulin Pump Aug 7th 2012, 08:00 Wearing an insulin pump 24/7 can be a daunting experience at first, and perhaps the part that new pumpers dread the most is wearing it in bed. Sleeping with a medical device attached to you brings its challenges, especially if there is more than one of you in the bed, but these challenges are not as difficult to overcome as they may at first appear. With the knowledge that those wearing a pump report less episodes of nocturnal hypoglycaemia than injection users [1] and a few good tips on how to wear or place the pump in bed, soon enough you'll probably find yourself forgetting that you're wearing an insulin pump at all. - Try to forget that you are wearing an insulin pump. The difficulty that comes with sleeping while wearing one is mainly psychological: if you can forget that you are wearing one at all the whole process will become much simpler. Worrying about where your pump is all the time is not conducive to good sleep. To try and overcome the constant "I know it's there" feelings or letting its presence stall falling asleep, try distracting yourself by reading before sleep, thinking of other things and using techniques that aid falling asleep (more ideas about this can be found in How to fall asleep). Also, realize that it will probably take at least a few nights before you feel reassured that sleeping with the pump won't be such a big change to your usual sleep routine as it might seem initially.
- If you share the bed with your children, this might be a good time to have the children sleep in their own beds, at least until you're used to sleeping with the pump. A fidgeting child accompanied by worry about the pump can cause a sleepless night.
- Be patient––it takes time to adjust to something new in your life. Most pump wearers report not even noticing the pump after a time, as it simply becomes a part of your usual routine.
- Don't be afraid of your pump. The chance that you will rip your infusion set out of your skin while sleeping is much smaller than you think it is. Many experienced pumpers have only experienced this a couple of times, and, because you are most likely asleep when it happens, you probably won't even feel any pain. While your waking blood sugar will likely be high if it does happen, it's nothing a simple correction bolus cannot sort out.
- Get comfortable. Before worrying about your pump when you settle into bed, get yourself comfortable. This will allow you to better evaluate the options for wearing your pump at night.
- Evaluate your options. Different people have different preferences for wearing a pump in bed. The options include:
- Let it hang loose. Just place your pump beside you on the bed. This is the easiest and often most successful option. Some people worry that it is likely to be pulled out as they turn over in the night, but it reality it usually just follows the wearer around the bed. You might like to place it in a sock to stop it from getting sweaty or creating a skin impression if you lie on it. Also, if you tend to change positions frequently, it's recommended that you have a pump with longer tubing.
- Place it under your pillow. If your tubing length allows it, this will allow you to know exactly where your pump is if you wake up in the night. It also gets rid of the problem of lying on it. However, for those who have a shorter tube, you might find that this method isn't as easy.
- Put it in a pocket. If your nightclothes don't have pockets, you can sew some onto them, either on the inside or the outside of the chest area or around the waist area. This option is good because it keeps your pump close to you, but it can also be uncomfortable if you lie on your pump during the night. It's a good option for back sleepers and, depending on where the pocket is situated, for side sleepers too.
- Clip it to your waistband. Most pumps come with a clip that can be used for this purpose. This comes with the same benefits and drawbacks as the previous option. The beauty of a clip is that you can position it where you're least likely to lie––the front, back or side.
- Place it inside a stuffed toy. This is especially good for younger children, and it provides cushioning. Many pump companies supply soft toys with pouches for this purpose, or you could improve an existing soft toy if you've got reasonable sewing skills.
- Hang it around the bedpost. You can use a neck-strap to achieve this. Be sure that your tubing is long enough, however, as this option does not provide much flexibility.
- Wear it around your neck. Again, use the neck-strap that comes with most pumps. Another alternative is to clip it to the collar of your nightwear.
- Wear it on an elastic waist belt. These are supplied with many pumps, and provide a secure and comfortable way to wear your pump in bed. They can be easily turned around to adjust the position as needed.
- Women may find it comfortable to wear a vest and tuck the pump into the cleavage.
- Readjust until you find the perfect combination that works for you. Although it is possible to suggest different ways to sleep with the pump, much of the success of these suggestions will depend on your personal sleeping habits and what allows you to feel most comfortable. By trying out different approaches, it won't be long before you find one approach or a combination of ways that works best for you. And don't be afraid to try the option of just letting the pump loose––many new users report being too scared to try this but on trying it later, discover it's the best option of all.
- If you need to get up a lot during the night on a regular basis, it can be helpful to choose options that keep the pump attached to your body, such as the waist belt or clipped onto your clothing. That way you won't trip over it in your sleep state or have to rummage about for it in the dark.
- If you have a tendency to wake up before you change positions in the bed, worried about the pump's position or just because you're a light sleeper, you may suffer from sleep deprivation. It is recommended that you discuss this issue with your doctor if it is causing you sleep problems.
- Special nightwear that incorporates pumps can be purchased but you can easily improve your own nightwear with basic sewing skills, such as adding pockets or sewing on a small pouch using a baby's sock or similar, etc. If your sewing skills aren't up to it though, ask a family member or friend to help out––not only will tailoring your own clothes be cheaper but it is a certain way of getting the pump positioned exactly where it's most comfortable for you.
Edit Warnings - If you have a curious pet that shares the bed with you, just be careful of your pet's interest in chewing or pulling at the pump.
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