Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pump?

[benedict]

Today's Diabetes Week question is for type 1s: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pump?

Are you someone who has constantly been asking to go onto a pump?
Are you on a pump and now reaping benefits?
Have you gone onto a pump but are now questioning whether it's best for you?
Or do you prefer to stay on injections?

Let us know which you prefer and why?

[cahmn]

I'd definitely like to be on a pump, but been told there is no chance at all as my A1C is less than 7 and therefore too good.

The one area I know it would help is where foods require long bolus'. This isn't often, but with some foods that high fat content (naughty, I know) I find it impossible to keep my BG within range.

Having said that pumps are expensive and do I really need one? I do believe however it would improve my quality of life.

Nick

[MegHarveyJones]

Desperately trying to get an insulin pump,my local Diabetic Centre in the West Midlands are eager to reccomend it,but that's all they do. I have learned that its hard for Type 1 Diabetics to get an insulin pump in the UK,without having to pay for it yourself. Im very frustrated and just want to get one to improve my Diabetes.

[Scardoc]

I have to admit, I am a little ignorant of pumps as I've never had my doctor or DSN mention them before. From what I've read in other threads I probably wouldn't get one as my HbA1c is always around 6.

I've just read a little on them and my initial reaction is I'd prefer to remain on injections. I don't like the idea of having the needle in me for 2/3 days at a time and I don't think it would really suit me with exercise either. I'd have to remove it every other day and for a few hours a couple of times a week.

The one advantage I could see is the reduced number of injections. If a needle with a pump stays in for say 2 days then that would reduce my injections by 7 over that period. That means my current 1,460 injections a year (minimum) could be cut to 180-ish. That's a big deal for me as I only have enough fat to inject around my stomach so I am permanently bruised

[ljwilson]

I would love to be on a pump. My levels are all over the place at the moment and I have a stack of weight to lose. I can't take metoformin to help with insulin resistance as my kidney function is below 30%. I only see a DN at my GP's so am trying to get referred to a consultant at the hospital.

How much does it cost to buy the pump yourself? I assume you would be able to get the consumables on prescription?

Lorna

[cahmn]

When I looked at it last, pumps were around £3k, with consumables about £1,500 a year. I doubt that the NHS would pay for consumables as it tends to be all or nothing (anybody know different). Also, if it wasn't NHS funded, then you'd have to pay for Dr/Consultant appointments too....it's not going to end up being cheap.

Personally, I'm waiting for a really good CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system) linked to a pump (sometimes known as artificial pancreas) before I really push for one. I reckon this would make more difference than a pump alone.

Nick

[franclegg]

I changed over to a pump in November of last year - the end to continuous injections - it is bliss. Huge weight loss due to the drop of insulin needed, better levels by far and more control of what i eat and when - i much prefer the pump to a pen. It took me 5yrs to get but have to say it was well worth the wait.

[SophiaW]

My daughter uses an insulin pump and for us it was the best decision made. There's no way we could get the flexibility with basal rates that we do compared with using injections. If injections had worked well for her then I'm not sure if the pump would have made such a big difference but as injections were not working well I can say without a doubt that the pump has made a huge difference to our lives.

Lorna, at one stage I looked at self-funding a pump for my daughter. The prices Nick gives are about what we worked out the costs to be. I believe that the consumables would not be funded by the NHS so you'd have the fit the bill for that too. The concern we had at the time was that we might have been able to fund the pump but circumstances change for people and it would have been distressing to have circumstances change to a point that we can no longer fund pumping. Not only then are you faced with financial stress but also the stress of reverting back to injections which would be very hard to do if you have grown to love using the pump. You cannot just go out and buy a pump either, it has to be recommended by a consultant even if you are funding it privately. If your consultant recommends a pump for private funding then really he ought to be recommending it for NHS funding too, either you'd benefit from a pump or not so the decision shouldn't be based on who is paying for it.

[shop]

If I can get the reqiured results on injections then I will be happy to continue on them. If however the need arises for me to use a pump then I would welcome anything positive to help my control. I can see the benefit of children having pumps definately.

Lucy.

[ducati]

I have had diabetes for 12 years. I've been on the pump for the last 2. It has changed my life in the best way possible! I couldn't control my sugars with just the pen, even when I'd been in hospital they had trouble keeping my sugars under control. Since being on the pump I've had a gorgeous daughter and my HbA1c has never been so low! I reccomend the pump to anyone who's having trouble controlling with a pen.

Claire

[jopar]

I'm on a insulin pump...

And no I wouldn't want to go back to injections...

Injections can't deliver insulin in a way to match my needs, pre-pump I was injecting over 2200 times a year, with a unreasonable high end input on management and couldn't go to bed before 11pm, and had to be up for my morning timed injection..

I see mention about HBA1c's, even though it is part of the NICE guideline criteria the individual doesn't necessary have to fit this part of the criteria, you've just have to fit at least one part of the criteria, A HCP/PCT can not decide which parts of the criteria a patient has to fit before funding can be granted, It's illegal to do this and even attempting to stall by putting obligations such as, won't be consider until you've attended a carb counting course are also illegal behaviour!

As to costs of pumps and consumables, well yes £3000 and it's around £1000 a year for consumables, is the self-funding prices most PCT's will have arranged a contract of supply with a company, hence why most clinic's only deal with one manufacturer, this enables costs to be driven down...

[noblehead]

For the time being I would prefer to stay on MDI.

[glenmoray]

Pump.

[dani-a]

Definately pump......only fairly new to a pump but after many decades of MDI it's a godsend.....especailly with the different boluses/basal rates

[SamJB]

Definitely injections. Don't like the idea of carrying a pump around with me and having a constant intravenous insulin drip attached to me. Plus my sugars are ok, if it aint broke...