Worried your child is too lean for an insulin pump or CGM
Scott Benner
I saw this picture on four time Olympian Kris Freeman's twitter feed this weekend and smiled. It instantly caused me to remember the days that I spent worrying that Arden was too lean to wear an OmniPod insulin pump and Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
Apparently, that was time that I could have spent on other concerns...
Photo by Kris Freeman. Used with permission. Also pictured, Kikkan Randall.
I met Kris last year at the Lilly Diabetes blogger summit so I sent him an email to ask if I could use his picture on Arden's Day. I told him that I wanted to illustrate to all of the concerned parents that their children aren't too lean to wear these devices. I've admittedly had that concern in the past, and it is one of the most often asked question when I hear from parents like you.
In my opinion Kris's body is an extreme example and thus why I wanted to show you his picture. Being lean doesn't mean that a person can't use an insulin pump or CGM, even if that person has almost no body fat. Kris told me that he can hit a muscle because of how lean he is, but that it is, "worth it" to be able to use the devices. It is my finding that Arden has plenty of body fat even at just over fifty pounds and in five years we've never hit a muscle.
My child is so active, I'm worried that a pump will get in the way.
The other concern that I hear most from parents who are considering an insulin pump or CGM, that their child plays a competitive sport and they worry that the devices will be an impediment. If you've ever had that concern, please take a look at this next picture from Kris's Twitter feed... Be sure to read the caption to put that concern out of your mind.
"Went for a 21 mile trail run..."
Kris is competing in Sochi with an insulin pump and a CGM, I watched his first event yesterday and it's safe to say that he is an inspiration to any person who lives with type I diabetes. Watching Kris ski makes me even more certain that Arden will be able to reach for whatever dream she can imagine. Knowing that he endures such physical rigors while managing his BGs is a great comfort to me, and I hope to all of you.
I'll be speaking with Kris again soon and reporting back. In the meantime here's a list of his remaining events in Sochi.
Good luck Kris, we are all cheering for you... I'm off to do a sit up.
