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Pump Wear's Julie DeFruscio: Helping Kids Battle Diabetes in Style
Like the millions of people with Type 1 diabetes, Julie DeFruscio's three kids are forced to wear insulin pumps 24 hours a day. So she set out to design a line of clothing and accessories that make the task a little more fashionable.
Posted 7/ 7 11 at 12:30 PM | Entrepreneur Spotlight, Leadership, Starting a Business, Home-based Business, Consumer Products & Services, Health, Inventions & Innovations
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Like many great moms-turned-entrepreneurs, Julie DeFruscio found herself faced with a challenge on the homefront and turned her homegrown solution into a booming business. In her case, she's helping children with Type 1 diabetes, including her own, do what kids do best -- be kids.DeFruscio's three children have Type 1 diabetes, and as a result, they are forced to wear pumps that dispense insulin to control their blood sugar levels. As you might imagine, wearing a small pump all the time can hinder the running, jumping and playing that kids are wont to do, not to mention drawing some snickers on the playground. It's a disease that affects an estimated 3 million children and adults in the United States.
While searching for a kid-friendly solution back in 2001, DeFruscio and her best friend Dawn Juneau decided to devise their own and started making cases and clothing that would solve the problem of carrying these pumps. Nearly 10 years later, Pump Wear now features a full line of -- dare we say -- designer accessories that help kids and adults conceal their pumps with a little bit of flair.
How did you come up with the idea for Pump Wear?
My daughter, Nikki, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2001 when she was 2 and a half years old. My husband and I did a lot of research on the best management of Type 1 diabetes and found a doctor who was willing to put a 3-year-old on an insulin pump. The pump company had given us this ugly harness to carry the pump in. This is her life support. This pump and harness has to be on her 24/7 for the rest of her life. I don't think it bothered her, but it bothered me. Every shirt I put on her, there was this big, bulky thing in her back. I thought, "We've got to be able to do better than this." I had a friend's mother sew pockets on the back of some of her T-shirts. This worked great because you couldn't see the pump -- Nikki was comfortable and still her cute little self -- and I had easy access to it.
Dawn was over one night and we were talking about how great the T-shirts were working and decided to see if something else was out there that she could carry this insulin pump in. We searched thousands of websites and the only things we could find were very medical-looking, so we decided that night to change that and come up with some pieces and cute T-shirts. I have to say, our business was really created out of love for my daughter. Nikki started on the pump in April, and by August we had Pump Wear up and running. We started with six products -- just our pump cases and T-shirts.
Was it difficult to find local manufacturers?
Neither Dawn nor I had any experience starting a business, but we've learned a lot. When we started, we had to have the fabric cut in one spot, have it printed in another spot and have it sewn in another spot. At that point, there wasn't any one place that would do all the procedures for us, so even though we can't sew, we felt like we were making them because we were so involved. Today, we've streamlined that whole system and we manufacture here in the U.S.
How do you make your products so they're compatible with the different types of insulin pumps?
We just try to make sure all our cases are quality cases and don't interfere with the tubing, which is the most important part. We make a standard case, because although there are several different pumps available, the sizing isn't off by that much. We have some cases that are made to fit a specific pump, but for the most part we try to stay to a standard size. We also make pump cushions you can fit inside a case to make the pumps fit better.
How did you get in touch with the medical community and get your product out on the market?
We did it through our own marketing efforts -- basically, word of mouth. We constantly send out e-mails and we've built our database within the diabetes community, pitching our products to diabetes groups and educators. A lot of it has been through happy customers and repeat customers, and we also get recommendations from diabetes educators and doctors' offices.
Your product line has grown significantly and includes some unique items, such as a pump-carrying garter. Are you constantly refining your designs?
We have over 800 products today, from cases and T-shirts to sleep and active wear, which we've expanded to include children and adults, male and female. We've also begun making fundraising-walk T-shirts and diabetes-awareness clothing. As time has passed, we've made some improvements, but we still use the original idea of the pocket design for our clothing items. We're continually learning what works best.
Since starting Pump Wear, all three of your children have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. How has helping them manage their condition improved your business?
Originally it was Nikki, and then two years later, both of my sons were diagnosed within four months of each other -- Adam was 14, Patrick, 11. That encouraged us to increase the boys' and men's products. Patrick was very athletic, so it was important to us to have products that could accommodate children involved in sports, whether it be gymnastics, baseball, soccer, anything. They've really been our inspiration as far as what products are needed. Our goal all along is to make wearing an insulin pump a positive experience, and ensure there isn't anything you can't do while wearing an insulin pump.
Pump Wear has a great blog that you and Nikki post videos on. How do you come up with the content?
Basically it's evolved to what we call Diabetes Tidbits -- bite-sized pieces of information that we've discovered to be helpful. We thought we could post things like what to do when you're going to a sleepover, or when the insulin site keeps coming off in the pool. I want parents to know we go through the same things they're going through and these are some of the little things I've found helpful. We just did one on sugar packets. Those little sugar packets are a great tool for children when they're having low blood sugar and just need a boost quickly. I just discovered that six months ago. It makes me think other people may not know, either. So we're just trying to volunteer information for others to share.
As an active member of the diabetic community, does Pump Wear participate in any kind of fundraising or awareness activities for diabetes?
We just hosted our third annual Caring and Sharing weekend, in which we help raise funds to send 20 families to the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, N.Y. The entire immediate family -- mom, dad, sister, brother, grandma -- gets to go completely free. This is really important to us, being a family with children with diabetes. Diabetes affects the whole family, and your life as you once knew it has changed. So we thought, what better way to bring these families together and let them bond? They go horseback riding, swimming, boating, we have campfires and a talent show, and it's just a fun, relaxed weekend where families don't have to worry and diabetes is the norm.
We also do the Wall of Change. That's where kids and adults form the number of years that they've had diabetes with their spare change. They take a photo, which we post on our website, and that change is forwarded to the Diabetes Research Institute to help find a cure. We've had over 100 people post photos and donate through that effort. It's not so much about raising money as it is about bringing awareness to finding a cure for diabetes.
How has the business affected your family?
We've been fortunate that both my and Dawn's families have contributed their help since the beginning. Dawn and I run the business, but at one point or another, everyone has pitched in during busy seasons or has helped us develop a new idea. That's the great thing about having a small family business -- you can have an idea and act on it without having to go through 10 layers of people. We do most of our business through our website and we've sold across the United States and internationally, along with having some presence in children's boutique shops. Are we successful? Well, we are satisfied when we can pay our bills. We try to manufacture in the U.S. and unfortunately, the costs are high, but we think it's important to keep jobs here. Dawn still works a full-time job aside from helping with Pump Wear, and I started working with Pump Wear full-time three years ago. We've both had to manage other careers and our families while growing Pump Wear, but that's the nature of small business.
Entrepreneur Spotlight
Names: Julie DeFruscio and Dawn Juneau
Company: Pump Wear
Ages: 51 and 51
Location: Cohoes, N.Y.
Employees: 2 full-time, 2 part-time
Revenue: Undisclosed
Website: www.pumpwearinc.com
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Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Wow, it is amazing these negative comments! Yes, I am a type 1 diabetic and an adult having it 23 years. A pump does help especially in the teen years (wasn't available at that time nor do I have a pump today) but it is so neat this Mom created something that helps her kids and all kids at that age to look normal at that age, we all wanted to be like everyone else. You go Mom!
As for the comment from PatM... you should be quite, we pay the highest insurance rates of all! I pay more for my insurance/pharmacy than my nice home in Austin. I have a 5000 deductable and because I watch myself, have never had to use it. Not the case for many... the insurance companies still make money off of me! Sucking them dry is not the case! Basically, shut up until you know what you are talking about!
Lakelanierlady, I suppose you can't wait for the Brave New World.
I presume you are a "perfect" human being and so have nothing to fear ?
JACKASS !!!!
I applaud these two woman for doing this. I'm a type 1 diabetic for 49 years and have been on a pump for the last 10 years. They are cumbersome to say the least. However, this pump has gotten my diabetes under great control and if I was put on it since I was 8 years old, I would not be in a wheelchair today with 1 leg. Only people who do not deal with this issue on a daily basis could make such cruel and rotten remarks. Diabetes is a very tough disease and anything to make it a bit simpler is always welcome. I will support these two woman for all that they do. Thank you!!!!!
I have had Type 1 Diabetes since 1977 and yes, I have complications. With the MiniMed Insulin Pump, my life has been a lot better. I have been on the Pump since May 1998. Those that are making negative comments either don't have the disease or have second-hand knowledge of this disease. I don't think the creator of this merchandise has created anything new or better. You either put it on a waistband or a pocket.
To all the negative/ignorant commentors - you know one disease far WORSE than having Type 1 Diabetes? This disease spreads much, much faster and causes far more damage! It's called stupidity. Too bad we can't just spendy sucky and get you guys some brain pumps... or maybe your parents were stupid too, so they just shouldn't have bred at all and the world would just be a better place. After all, 1 in 1 stupid people spread the disease to their kids, famil?es, neighbors, community and online. LOL...Just trying to make a point.
And BTW - we pay for our own D supplies and we pay into the tax base at a whopping 25% marginal rate on our income, so not only do we pay our way, we pay for a lot of stupid people too. We had no idea about Type 1 Diabetes when we married and had children - no family history, nothing. Sometimes, for those of us capable of handling it, I suppose, life just throws you a curve ball. Most of us step up to the plate and move on - like this woman. And I really hope all the people with Type 1 Diabates many who have done AMAZING things with their lives have children! We need more of them! The negative/ignorant comments are kind of sad, actually. Sometimes, I really wish ignorance was lethal. It would just solve so many problems ;-)
I cannot believe these ignorant comments. Type 2 Diabetes doesn't occur only in obese people. Some people develope it without any one in their family having it. Ever heard of kindness? Ever heard of what you say will come back to bite you in the butt? Get a grip people, golden rule anyone?
How interesting. My grandaughter (5) was diagnosed with Type 1 at 2 years. She has been healthy and never sick. We just had gotten her a pump holder for her new pump that she got a couple months ago. There has never been Type 1 dignosed in any of our families. We are blessed to live in San Francisco Bay and have two major medical facilities. I have since met friends who have children that have had it for over 40 years. The treatment is totally different. Then the children were given an injection once a day and didn't even have blood testers. We have come a long way. People are not suffering like they did in the past and hopefully in the near future they will find out why this happens to people. There doesn't seem to be from Familly Genes. People should find out more about it before they comment. But I guess this is our job as the families of these people. By the way I sold Health Insurance for 25 years and the most expensive claims are for premature babies who usually don't live for six months. Should we not do anything for the?
Type I diabetes is different, or rather the cause is different, than type II. Children can get Type I and Type II. Usually, overweight children get Type II. Type I strikes for no apparent reason. It has nothing to do with an hereditary proclivity. It may be a virus that totally destroys the gland or the hormones. We don't know the reason for Type I. Kudos to this mother who went ahead to work to make life easier for her children.
Okay first I totally agree with Sara M. Thank you so much. Second: I am type one diabetic and I am thirteen. I was diagnosed when I was five. From what I have heard diabetes is not hereditary but I may be wrong. Neither one of my parents are diabetic. For all of you that are posting ignorant comments on here, DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST. People who tell type one diabetics that they should have taken better care of themselves, are so wrong. Type one diabetics did not have a choice, it just happened. It could happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Do you think we wanted diabetes? Do you think we wanted to get shots everyday? If you think otherwise I believe you should consult your doctor for you may have a bad case of Stupidity. Better get it checked out soon.=)
What a great contribution to society!!!
Just wanted to say that At the time our daughter was diagnoised she was 2 1/2 years old and our sons were 5 and 9 years old the boys did not get diabetes till 2 years after my daughter was diagnoised. So to say stop having children is a little harsh don't you think? They were already here and had not shown any signs of diabetes until 2 years after my daughter
I would not wish this illness on anyone, we simply are trying to do the best we can for our three children and also try to help people with diabetes . We cherish every minute with our kids and we hope that they are learning compassion for others no matter what the illness or challenge they face.
3 of my 4 children have type 1 diabetes and they are all doing well in their early 30's. All are on insulin pumps and they have never been in the hospital except when diagnosed and to have babies. My older daughter who is 33 and had it since she was 3 has given birth to 3 healthy girls. My other daughter has given birth to two healthy children. She had it since she was 17. My son who got it when he was two is an engineer and lives a very healthy life. None of them have had any complications and a lot of it is that they have been on pumps most of their lives. By the way, neither the dad nor myself has diabetes.
I am apalled at the negative comments. Those of you who have made inappropriate negative comments, ask yourself this question, How ethical was it of me to say or write what I said? Seems to me there are people in need of an ethics class.
Hi. I've had Type 1 diabetes for going on 47 years and still have all my body parts and eyesight, and even have three healthy adult children, a husband of 32 years, and two college degrees! Imagine that... I wear an insulin pump and use instant glucose monitoring, also. I can't imagine life without these aids and I'm so happy that Julie and Dawn have developed this creative line of clothing. Sometimes it has been a little crazy trying to store my pump in my clothing, and I think for kids especially these are very welcome products. Thanks you guys!!
What stupid comments by some here. If you have diabetes it is not a sure ticket to complications. However they will show up if you ignore the disease. Most diabetics know this and take proper care of themselves.
Your negative comments are just proof that you are stupid and don't know what you are talking about. I have been diabetic for 46 years and don't have any problems. Just as some of the other comments, I have two non-diabetic adult children.
The pump gives you as close to a normal life as possible. There are plenty of other diseases I wouldn't want to have. If diabetes is all I ever have I am thankful.
The insulin pump is a wonderful device and I applaud these women for what they are doing.
Great story. Good for your guys! I hope you guys corner the market and make a nice profit. Its people like this that deserve to reach success!
This lady is only trying to make the best of a bad situation. With a family member with Type 1 Diabetes I know first hand how difficult and challenging it can be. She would gladly give up the profits, if her children, not one but 3 were Type 1 Diabetes free.
I saw the headline "out of love" and the text about diabetes and it certainly drew my attention. I wrote a memoir titled "It Was Out of Love" (www.itwasoutoflove.com/home)--my wife passed away ultimately from the complications of 22 years of Type 2 Diabetes. It certainly is a disease requiring active management by the patient to ward off the onset of so many complications. I pray for both young and old working to control their insulation levels. Be diligent and live a fullfilling life!!
Blessings!
Jim
I am a 14 year old, and have managed my Type 1 Diabetes for 7 years. Honestly, with enough care and good decisions it's easily manageable. What these people are trying to do is well worth it, however I get along fine with a clip on my waistband. I'm not unhealthy, I am a competitive soccer player, and my pump does not affect me. The pump is a great invention, but you are not FORCED to wear it, it is a choice, albeit a good one.