I’ve been Type 1 since 1993 and have spent most of my life, including before I was diagnosed, staying active—running, hiking, biking, lifting, stretching, all of it. After years on an insulin pump, I didn’t expect to suddenly find myself back on multiple daily injections, but that’s exactly what happened when I let my prescriptions lapse. It wasn’t on purpose; it was more of my laziness and just forgetting to get new things sent. By the time I noticed I was out of supplies I would have to wait a week or 2 to get new stuff. So I had to stop using my pump connected to a CGM and go back to finger sticks and MDI (multiple daily injections). Right away, I started noticing things I hadn’t thought about in years.
I still used a CGM but it wasn’t tied to my insulin pump because I had a sample of one that wouldn’t pair with my Tandem. Having at least a CGM with constant updates every 5 minutes really helps even if you are not using an insulin pump.
The first surprise was how easy it is to forget a once‑a‑day Lantus dose. You’d think one shot would be simple, but after years of a pump quietly handling basal insulin, remembering that single injection is hard for me. Missing it throws off the whole day—bigger meal doses, bigger corrections, and CGM graphs that look like mountain ranges instead of rolling hills. Exercise gets trickier too. I’m extremely insulin sensitive when I’m in shape, and without the pump’s micro‑adjustments, even tiny doses are too much. Pens don’t help either (at least the ones I have); the smallest click is a full unit, which for me is like trying to measure spices with a shovel.
Fueling during activity becomes a whole different mental game. On long rides, I normally eat 600–800 calories an hour, but on Lantus I barely eat at all because I don’t have much rapid insulin in my system and Lantus itself seems to blunt my appetite. If I do eat, I need insulin, which feels counterintuitive when I’m already trying to avoid going low. The whole rhythm of riding shifts from constant fueling and adjusting to careful timing and restraint.
But here’s the funny thing: being pump‑free comes with some small, almost silly freedoms that I wasn’t expecting. They don’t outweigh the challenges, but they’re real, and honestly kind of refreshing.
Pump‑Free Perks I Forgot About
- No tubing to snag on doorways, handlebars, or bushes
- No infusion sets to roll onto during yoga, stretching, or foam rolling
- Easier showers and fewer things to unclip
- Better sleep without worrying about ripping out a site
- No bent cannulas, silent occlusions, or mysterious highs
- No site changes every few days
- No having to take spare infusion sets along for every run or ride
- Whippet hugs that don’t end in accidental infusion‑set removal. When we get back from being out our 2 Whippets, Willow and Clover, get super excited and move at lightening speed and sometimes get snagged on my tubing!
Even with those perks, I still miss the simplicity of having everything in one place. With the pump, I just charge it, fill it, and forget about it for days. On MDI, I have to remember to bring a pen and my tester. I’m still using a CGM, it’s an over‑the‑counter sensor that isn’t integrated with anything, so I’m back to fingersticks, especially during workouts, which is a PITA!
The hardest part, though, is the mood shift. Lantus leaves me feeling mentally foggy and physically heavy in a way that’s hard to describe but very real for me. It’s part of why I moved to a pump in the first place, and feeling it again has been a not‑so‑fun reminder.
This whole detour has been a mixed bag. I get some freedom from hardware hassles and a quieter life without constant alerts, but I trade that for bigger doses, harder exercise management, and mood challenges I didn’t miss. Still, stepping away from the pump has made me appreciate what it quietly does for me every day. Sometimes you have to leave something to realize how much you value it.
If you’ve ever taken a break from your pump, I’d love to hear how it went—whether you stuck with MDI or sprinted back to your pump like I probably will.
Gravel Riding is Where It’s At
Gravel Riding is a good option for me overall because I love the freedom, ability to explore and see different areas, the speed compared to mountain biking is higher, lots more options in places I haven’t been because everywhere has gravel of some kind if you look hard enough, and it offers me a safe place to stop and not worry I’m going to get run over by a coal-rolling maniac in a giant truck (although they are around on gravel rides sometimes too!)! How’s that for a run on sentence?
Gravel riding also gives me the freedom to choose a road that is more inline with what my goals are for that ride: if I want more difficult and technical, there are 2 trackers or moto trails for that or even single track, if I want relatively easy and chill, there are a ton of routes for that. My favorite is Dirty Freehub Lava and Water which I ride at least once a week in one way or another. I’ve been riding and racing mountain bikes for almost 30 years and it’s good to have a different modality.
I love to run, especially trail runs, but gravel gives me a way with less impact (so does mountain biking) and allows me to put in more hours with much less abuse to my body.
