My son Nicholas was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes July of 2006; he was four years old. DuPont Hospital for children and their excellent staff has enabled me to care for Nicholas with the best sources available. It has been 8 months now that I have been caring for my son's diabetes and I am amazed at how many advancements we have made thus far. At first we were injecting insulin with syringes and physically and emotionally this was draining. My son (at four years old) did not take to these needles well, and I myself would cry wishing I could take the injections for him. We now use the pens to inject his insulin and Nicholas has courageously adapted to the multiple injections daily. There were times when he would cry and I would still have an emotional melt down when the injection would hurt him or I would hit a blood vessel and he would bleed. Sometimes the sight of bruised markings on his little body where his injections had accumulated would be enough to devastate me.
When DuPont Hospital asked me to participate in a group study of a new device called the I-Port™, I was very excited. This device has changed our lives tremendously. I am just so grateful not to have to poke his skin with multiple needles daily. In addition to these emotional benefits, we have also achieved better control over Nicholas’ blood sugars on the I-Port™. It was difficult to control Nicholas' blood sugars due to the fact that he would not eat everything after giving him insulin or he enjoyed the challenge of eating food without me knowing probably to avoid another needle! Now, on the I-Port™, I can give him some insulin before the meal and the rest after he finishes as needed. I feel more comfortable checking his sugars more often now knowing that if he needs more insulin it just goes into the I-Port™ and not his skin. His sugar levels have improved greatly!! Also I love the fact that his skin looks so much better. One needle every three days is so much better than multiple needles daily.
There have been no complaints about inserting the I-Port™. A technique to rub an ice cube on the intended port site was suggested and it works great. I believe there is also a numbing cream available by prescription to help eliminate any discomfort that young children may encounter. The durability of this device is outstanding. It lasts through baths, swim lessons, and even a little rough housing with the siblings!
Nicholas just turned five and I am so proud of him. He has been faced with major challenges over the last 8 months but thanks to the I-Port™, Nicholas can be a happy five year old boy with great blood sugar control, no limitations, and NO MORE MULTIPLE NEEDLES IN THE SKIN!!!!!!! So thank you Patton Medical Devices for opening this door of opportunity for our family and I look forward to hearing about other family's lives that have been improved by this small device with such a huge impact!!!
Cathy
Aston, Pennsylvania
