“Does my pump look big in this?” This may seem silly, but for people with type 1 diabetes who use an insulin pump this can be a very real concern.

Your health care provider and your diabetes educators can give you the inside scoop on how the pump works and how to tweak its settings – but they can’t help you decide what clothes will cover your pump the best.

People manage their diabetes in different ways but for those who have a skin-tight personal relationship with an inanimate object it can be difficult to decide what to wear. Most pumps have tubing that needs to be securely hidden and some pumps can make it seem as if you have an oddly shaped protuberance growing out of your body. While many people are happy to wear their pump loud and proud this is not for everyone.

When you are a pumper, it is necessary to consider how you are going to incorporate your pump into your daily fashion statement. Men and women wearing pants who do not care if the pump is visible can always wear it on their belt or waist band but for some people, being discreet about who knows they have diabetes can be important; therefore concealing outward signs of having a pump is a priority.

Here are some tips:

• Many workout clothes such as running shorts or leggings for cold weather have small, built in pockets in the waistband. Although they were originally intended for holding keys or phones, they are the perfect size for an insulin pump, and these types of leggings are a great option in the colder months as an alternative to regular leggings.
• The pump in the sock seems to be a favourite trick. Of course this requires long enough tubing for the infusion set to be attached to the skin on your stomach and the pump to cocoon into your sock.
• For women, the real conundrum is finding an easy place to wear the pump when you are in a dress or skirt. Tight garters are an option but there is still a risk of slippages.
• Shape-wear like spandex shorts are also a good place to hide your pump in the waistband under your dress or skirt but they’re not always the most comfortable things to wear. The biggest downside is that it is difficult to access your pump so you may need to duck to the ladies’ room to check it.
• Sewing a pocket on the inside of the dress is alternative, though there is a risk of looking unbalanced due to disproportionate weight on one side.
• Believe it or not for many women with type 1 diabetes their most popular place to hide their pump is in their bra! But like shape-ware unless you go to the ladies’ room, it is difficult to pull a pump out of your bra in public without attracting notice.

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