As many of our long time readers know, my 12 year old, Jaci has type 1 diabetes. She started using an insulin pump about 5 months ago. An insulin pump is fantastic because instead of giving herself 6 injections a day, she only has to get one injection every 3 days.
Because she doesn’t make her own insulin, this pump gives her a constant drip of insulin. This does mean that this medical device has to be connected to her and worn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the rest of her life.
Jaci has a t:slim pump. It’s compact, that is until you put the clip on it. Then it becomes a big bulky bulge and that’s when people look at her and ask, “is THAT a PAGER?!?!” <grin> I’m continually aware that it isn’t easy to be different from your friends when you’re a pre-teen. I was thankful to Miss Idaho for her recent bikini walk, sporting her own insulin pump.
Today I made Jaci a pump band. She’s been asking me for one for a while now and I’ve finally come up with a workable design that’s easy to make and comfy to wear. All you need is some swimsuit lining fabric (this can be purchased at your local chain fabric store), a measuring tape and a sewing machine. 
I started by measuring Jaci’s waist. 28 inches! I cut my piece of fabric 25 inches wide X 6 inches tall. I eyed the height of her pump and it was approximately 2 to 2.5 inches tall – the swim fabric is so stretchy, I knew by cutting the fabric 6 inches tall, even with an envelope style opening, it would still stretch over the pump. 
I started by finishing the top edge with a serger for aesthetic purposes then realized how unnecessary this step was. Finishing the edge does help a little bit as the fabric tends to want to roll but once the band is securely around you, the fabric doesn’t roll as much rendering this step only marginally useful. 😉 
With right sides together, sew the short ends together forming a short tube.
Form the bottom of the envelope style opening by folding the bottom of the tube up approximately 1.5 inches and pin in place.
Now form the top of the pocket by taking the finished edge, folding it down so that it overlaps the bottom edge by 1 inch.
Remove the pins that are now in between the layers and place the pins through all 3 layers of your band.
“Stitch in the ditch” or back seam of the pump band and every 3 inches around the band. Initially, I didn’t do this and the band desperately wanted to come unfolded. This step creates handy little pockets around the band.
Ta-da! A comfortable and less bulky alternative to carrying around an insulin pump. Hope this helps some kiddos out there!
#showmeyourpump
What a clever solution for Jaci’s pump, and using the right material, too.
Much more comfy! God Bless Mom’s who are always willing to go the x-tra mile for their children!. Proud of you, Carli!
That is a great idea. Your daughter is very lucky to have such a savvy Mom!
Thank you so much Sheri!
Wow thank you for sharing this. I plan to make one for a friend of mine who loves to wear skirts and dresses but doesn’t get to as often because she doesn’t have anything to hold her pump.
Yay! Glad I could help!
Sarah, This belt is a great idea for holding a pump but still would be awkward for dresses for an adult (especially if the dress is somewhat snug to your figure). You might want to suggest to her to clip it to her bra. Totally works for me 🙂
Great idea! I have been a pump user for 29 years and have yet to find a good solution to dresses and nightgowns w/o pockets. Can’t wait to make one. Thanks!!!!
You are very welcome, Fanie! Enjoy!
What a great Idea. You are a very special mom
Thanks Jacqueline! 🙂
Just by changing the dimensions from waist measurement to thigh measurement, you could wear this under skirts and dresses without pulling your dress up to far. My granddaughter is Type 1 and the dresses have always been a problem especially since she’s now 14. Gonna make one for Anna.
Great idea, Teresa! I might consider using a little bit rougher material for the thigh so that it won’t start slipping downward. That swim material is so silky and slippery. Maybe even a ribbed cotton knit would be a great alternative for the thigh.
What a great idea. My adult daughter would love one of these.
Thank you for this pattern. I have been wearing a pump for 20 years, with Type I for 57 years. This will be better than a 2″ wide piece of elastic around the waist. Tell Jaci she’s a trooper and to keep up the good work.
Thanks so much, Christy!!! So glad to be able to help even the more experienced crowd! 😉
thank you for sharing this pump band. My granddaughter has been fight diabetis 10years. This I hope she will enjoy. Thanks so very much! Tabitha’s grandma
OMG just what I was looking for !!! I’m not diabetic but I got a neuropathy and I need to wear a neuro stimulator to help stop the pain. The problem is that the electrodes are on the top of my leg, on my belly and on the bottom of my back… Since I started using the stimulator, I got problem with the cables and the stimulating box… I cannot wear dresses any more and I love dresses. On top of it I live in South of France so in summer the temperatures goes high !!!
I will made one of my own from your tutorials. I also think I’m gonna post on my blog the idea and a tutorial in French. But I don’t want to do it without your permission to do so… Would you mind if I post a French version and refer to your post il my post ? If that’s a problem for you I won’t do it
Thanks for the idea. It’s great
I’m looking forward hearing from you about my post
Tika
Thank you. My two girls are starting on a pump and wanted to make them a pump band. Commercially they are quite pricey and I can make 4 with as little as AU$15! Have used Colton Jersey. Your tutorial is great.
So glad you found it useful, Maria! Everything diabetes related is so darn expensive. It’s nice to find a DIY project every once in a while. 😉
Thank you so much. My son got his pump 2 weeks ago, can’t wait to try make these.
Hope he loves it, Joyce! Our first few weeks with the pump were tough but now, 1.5 years later, you couldn’t pry it from her hands. 😉
Thank you so much for posting this! I didn’t want to pay $30 for one band for my son. I have made several for less than $10 total from this pattern. It works great and he has much more variety. And it is a lot less bulky than the ones you clip on.
Lucretia
So glad the tutorial is useful to you, Lucretia! Diabetes is expensive enough, huh? Enjoy!
Thank you do much for this super easy tutorial. I tried making one for my 11yr old but her pump kept slipping out. Of course I didn’t have a pattern, I tried to “wing it”. This pattern nakes it perfect to be able to hold both the pump and Dexcom. THANK YOU!!
Yay! So glad to hear that it was useful to your daughter, Chris!
My granddaughter has diabetes and I like your ideas.
Thank you Susan. Good health to all! <3
Wow this is a fantastic tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing. My 3 siblings, 2 brothers and 1 sister all have type 1 diabetes. only 2 of them have the pump as there aren’t enough to go around on the NHS. But I know my sister would love this. Particularly when she’s going out and has to wear a dress or clothes with no pockets. Thanks again. This is brilliant. Lee xx
Thank´s a lot for this pattern! Got diabetes type 1 when I was 4. Got my insulinpump when I was 50. Love how much better life became!!!! Wish I had got the pump earlier, but better late than never! I say that my diagnose isn´t a sickness it´s how I prioritase what I do and how I want to feel. Big hugs to the whole family of yours!
Muchas gracias por compartir esta muy útil pieza para mi ya que soy usuaria de infusor de insulina. Saludos desde Argentina.