Engineer88
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,130
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
Why do all diabetics feel they are entitled to a pump these days? diagnosed 5 mins and all of a sudden want a pump those of us who have been diabetic 20+ years cant get.
Understand your frustration if you had to fight to get your pump Engineer, but surely if someone is struggling with their control (despite their best efforts) they should be entitled to enquire about a pump no matter how long they've been diagnosed, the sooner bg levels are brought under control the less likely there is of any long-term damage, going by the number of posts lately there does seem to be more and more people being offered insulin pumps, which is quite encouraging.
Noblehead it took 10 years of fighting and hoop jumping and distrust by the drs towards me to get a pump. But what frustrates me is the poor attitude and lack of trying by some who think a pump is a 'cure'.
Do the best you can with MDI before you consider a pump, its a last resort not a first.
There's a difference between struggling and can't be a*sed which some people do not seem to understand. My take on the comment "I can't have a pump because I don't test enough" means poster can't be a*sed with his own basic care. A pumper needs to do a lot of testing so why waste a pump on someone who doesn't care two hoots about their wellbeing?Understand your frustration if you had to fight to get your pump Engineer, but surely if someone is struggling with their control (despite their best efforts) they should be entitled to enquire about a pump no matter how long they've been diagnosed, the sooner bg levels are brought under control the less likely there is of any long-term damage, going by the number of posts lately there does seem to be more and more people being offered insulin pumps, which is quite encouraging.
Noblehead it took 10 years of fighting and hoop jumping and distrust by the drs towards me to get a pump. But what frustrates me is the poor attitude and lack of trying by some who think a pump is a 'cure'.
Do the best you can with MDI before you consider a pump, its a last resort not a first.
There's a difference between struggling and can't be a*sed which some people do not seem to understand. My take on the comment "I can't have a pump because I don't test enough" means poster can't be a*sed with his own basic care. A pumper needs to do a lot of testing so why waste a pump on someone who doesn't care two hoots about their wellbeing?
The insulin pump wasn't a last resort for me. I was offered one to aid me in leading a more 'normal' life.
Yes they are hard work. They take a lot of effort to get right but when they are right, they are so worth it.
As for people making out that they are nothing but a hassle and most people couldn't deal with one... Why have such a negative attitude?
With the right education, a pump allows the user to be able to gain some normality to a life full of injections.
As for the people who just think they should get one when they aren't prepared to put the effort in, they need a lot more useful information about how much time and effort is needed to run a pump. Not people telling them horror stories.
Then if that's the case and it isn't used, that's the hospitals fault for not withdrawing the funding for it. I have the risk of my pump being taken away if I don't attend hospital appointments and show that I have put a lot of effort into it.
The negatives come from people assuming that the person who needs to test more automatically being lazy. No body knows how many times they test already. We aren't in possession of all the facts. I'm not trying to pick fights, but people are just automatically assuming that the person cannot be bothered. I test 5 or so times a day. Maybe they are already doing this?
Also, people's experiences differ greatly. I have fantastic back up from my hospital team with pump specific clinics every 6 months, pump meetings with reps and other pump users every year and also appointments whenever I need with my pump trained specialist. I'm not perfect. There are days where I don't test enough or eat the right things. Does that mean mine should be taken away from me because that's what a lot of people are implying. We're not all perfect so why should we assume that a pump wouldn't benefit the people who maybe struggle with the day to day life of being a diabetic?
I was referring to the other person who wants a pump but has to test more often. I have made my feelings clear on the original post before about him not testing and not knowing his insulin on a previous thread. All I'm trying to say is that with the right education people can change their ways and if they want a pump and go through the required education programmes and get the right support, they may just be able to do it.I think the main point here is the OP has admitted he doesnt test enough and hasnt a clue how to carb count or even know the name of the insulin he is on. Does that sound like a suitable pump candidate to you? concentrate on the ones who give a **** first eh?
Also people need to hear the horror stories as opposed to the magic and fairy dust because it isnt all one or other.
Sorry, I consider that theses are horror stories on this posting. Just very real life experiences of how education and support can so vastly help people, but it is the Patient that has to be responsible at the end of the day.
A pump is definitely more responsibility and the NHS can't be 100% that non compliant MDI'ers are going to be compliant with a pump.
When a Patient has done everything as a MDI user and still can't get good results then why should they be jumped in the queue.
I know of people on pumps that still don't regularly look at their patterns and regularly log their readings and make changes. So they still aren't really looking after their health as they really should be.
I'm an example of a person being too anal and being told off!! So the opposite because I care too much.
I guess, from my talking to Patients and consultants that I have gained very strong opinions still that our NHS is struggling and cannot afford to have even 1 person given a pump that ends up in a shed.