SKIRT MY PUMP
Erin Calhoun-Dulaney created the SkirtMyPump slip for insulin pumpers. She was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic (T1D) in 1982, at the age of six. Regardless the age of diagnosis, being informed that you are a type 1 diabetic is a life changing experience. At that time, finger sticks and meters were not available to the masses and things like insulin pumps were such a futuristic idea.
Here we are, a couple decades later and diabetics are able to see their blood sugars literally every five minutes with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and have insulin automatically dispensed into their bodies consistently throughout the day with the technology of insulin pumps. These advancements in technology have been life saving for insulin dependent diabetics.
In 2003, Erin moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment public relations. Not long after, she was fortunate enough to begin using an insulin pump. For twenty years, she worked in the entertainment industry, working some of the most glamorous and highly publicized award shows in the world.
For most of these shows, it would be required to wear black pants and tops, but for some of the more elegant events such as the Golden Globe Awards, she would be able to instead wear dresses and ball gowns. These events, while incredibly exciting, were stressful for Erin as her chosen attire made for difficult planning regarding how and where to wear her insulin pump. Of course she could have worn pants suits to these events, but she much prefers to really dress up, when life calls for that as an option.
In 2016, Erin became acutely aware how the advances in the delivery of insulin have evolved, but the clothing to accommodate these advance had not evolved along with the technology. Erin had grown to absolutely love the consistency of having her pump on her at all times, and the steadiness that pumping insulin brought to her blood sugars, and therefore to her moods, her train of thought and her entire peace of mind. Conversely, she grew tired of consistently trying to figure out how to wear her insulin pump so it was comfortable and easy to get to when she wanted to wear dresses or skirts.
Then and there she took it upon herself to make her life easier when wearing skirts and dresses. Initially, she came up with a prototype of a slip with a deep pocket in the front, so she could easily wear her pump under her skirts and dresses. This prototype was only beneficial to her for so long. Modifications were needed to the design so that the slip would both securely hold her pump in place, but also make it so that wearing the slip also made it easy enough to access her pump as well for when she needed to bolus (take insulin).
After years of modifications and self-trials with her design, in 2019 she was finally pleased with the modified designs of the slip, and the SkirtMyPump was officially born. This patented undergarment has uniquely placed pockets, zippers, buttons and elastic bands. The SkirtMyPump makes for a safe yet accessible way to wear an insulin pump with a skirt or dress. This innovative slip provides insulin pumping diabetics with maximum freedom to be able to wear insulin pumps with tubing, with their favorite skirts and dresses.
The 2020 Golden Globe Awards were the first, and only, award show that Erin was able to wear the same SkirtMyPump slip that is now also available for others to purchase.
Insulin pumping, T1D customers from across the United States, and even across the globe, have also been making their lives easier with the purchase of a SkirtMyPump slip. Brides have written to Erin, elated that the SkirtMyPump slip saved their wedding day and made it so they could more easily wear their pump on their big day and not also have to modify their lifestyle to try to figure out multiple daily injections (MDIs) or make any more decisions in the midst of all of the other wedding planning.
This was the exact reason Erin set out to make this piece of apparel available to others; we’re in this together and it brings Erin a tremendous amount of joy to be able to bring an additional sense of freedom to other insulin pumping T1Ds.
Living in Los Angeles, some of Erin’s colleagues work in wardrobe departments on television shows and movies. Upon seeing and hearing about the SkirtMyPump slip, a few of these friends immediately said what a great tool this slip would be for microphone packs on set and for live performances for actors and singers.
The slip is presently being used as a way to discreetly hide microphone packs on the sets of tv shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Dead To Me.
The slip has further evolved to be used as a safety measure for non-diabetics who use it to discreetly carry their passports and money while traveling.
The SkirtMyPump slip for insulin pumps, other medical devices, microphone packs, passports and money is available on SkirtMyPump.com, Instagram and Etsy.
The SkirtMyPump Instagram, TikTok and YouTube pages discuss all things insulin pumping, living with diabetes, and ideas on where to put a pump when rocking certain outfits. The SkirtMyPump slip is available in six sizes and two colors, with worldwide shipping options.
For more information, please contact:
Cathy Cardenas PR
cathy@cathycardenas.com
208-713-3573
