Pump Burnout: Helping Your Child Stay Motivated With Their Insulin Pump

If your child has Type 1 diabetes and uses an insulin pump, you’ve probably seen the highs (pun intended) and lows of pump life. Pumps can be game changers, offering better blood sugar control and fewer finger pricks. However, at some point, many children (and parents!) hit pump burnout- that moment when the pump feels like more of a burden than a benefit.

Maybe your toddler keeps trying to pull their pump site off like it’s a temporary tattoo. Maybe your primary-schooler suddenly insists they want to go back to injections. Or your teen, who once raved about their pump, now “forgets” to bolus half the time. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

What is Pump Burnout?

Pump burnout happens when wearing and managing an insulin pump starts to feel overwhelming and frustrating. It can look different depending on your child’s age:

• Toddlers: Constantly tugging at or removing their site, resisting site changes

• Children: Complaining about wearing the pump, feeling different from peers, saying they want to quit

• Teens: Skipping boluses, ignoring alarms, expressing frustration or shame about diabetes management

Burnout doesn’t mean your child is ungrateful or irresponsible. It’s a completely normal response to the never-ending demands of diabetes. The key is helping them work through it without losing the progress they’ve made.

How to Help Your Child Through Pump Burnout

1. Acknowledge Their Feelings

Diabetes is 24/7, and it’s okay to feel tired of it sometimes. Let your child express their frustrations without judgement. Try saying:

• “I hear you. This is really hard sometimes.”

• “It’s okay to be frustrated. Let’s figure out how to make this easier.”

For teens, a little empathy can go a long way. Instead of jumping straight to problem-solving, just listen.

2. Offer a Break (If It’s Safe)

If your child is truly struggling, a temporary switch to injections might help. Talk to their doctor about trying multiple daily injections (MDI) for a few days or weeks. Sometimes, a short break can renew appreciation for the pump.

3. Mix Up the Routine

Burnout can come from feeling stuck in a routine. Try:

• Letting them pick a new pump skin, sticker or pouch

• Rotating infusion sites creatively (make a fun chart)

• Changing up reminders- if a phone alarm is annoying, try a fun watch vibration or a family code word

4. Give More Control (Age-Appropriate, Of Course!)

Children and teens often feel burned out because diabetes feels like something happening to them rather than something they manage. Let them have a say in things like:

• Which infusion set they prefer

• When and where site changes happen

• Choosing a new pump colour or tubing length

Even toddlers can be involved- let them press a button or hold a “special” pump-change toy

5. Find Pump Friends

Feeling different can be a big part of burnout, especially for school-age children and teens. Connecting with other children who wear pumps- whether at a clinic appointment, online or in a local support group- can make a huge difference. Sometimes, just knowing they’re not alone helps.

6. Focus on the Benefits, Not the Burden

It’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the work involved in pumping, but reminding your child of the good parts can help shift their perspective:

• “Your pump lets you have ice cream without an extra injection!”

• “You can sleep in without waking up for an injection.”

• “It’s helping keep your blood sugars steadier so you feel better.”

For older children and teens, showing real-life role models- athletes, musicians, influencers- who wear pumps can be inspiring.

7. Make Diabetes Management a Team Effort

If burnout is turning into rebellion (especially in teens), it might be time to tweak the approach. Instead of nagging, try partnering up:

• Use positive reinforcement: “I noticed you bolused without a reminder- well done!”

• Set small, achievable goals: “Let’s aim for 80% bolusing this week and build from there.”

• Offer incentives (not bribes, just motivation!): “If you keep up with boluses this week, you pick the weekend family activity.”

8. Remember: It’s Okay to Ask for Help

If pump burnout turns into diabetes distress- where your child seems overly anxious, sad or completely disengaged- consider reaching out to a diabetes educator, therapist or support group. Mental health is just as important as blood sugar management.

The Bottom Line

Pump burnout is real, but it doesn’t mean your child has failed (or that you have!). With some patience, creativity, and teamwork, you can help them push through the frustration and keep moving forward. Some days will be smooth, some days won’t- but every day, you and your child are going a great job managing something that is really tough.