Only certain people aloud a pump?

[Stephanie.F]

Is it true that only people who are prone to having hypos are aloud a pump?
I asked my diabetic Dr about having a pump in the future and he told me that only certain people who have had diabetes for a long time or young children and people prone to hypos are aloud them? Yet my other diabetic Dr said if I wish to change from injecting to a pump I can?

 

[noblehead]

Well loss of hypo awareness symptoms is certainly one as you have highlighted Stephanie, but there are many more reasons to why pump therapy might be offered.

Over the last year we have had countless members change from MDI to pumps, some have only been diagnosed for a year or two (and have good diabetes control) but still have been offered the chance of a pump to improve their quality of life, only recently I've been provisionally approved myself for a pump due to the fact that I'm having on-going injection site problems, by changing over will mean I will go from injecting up to 15 times over 3 day to inserting a cannula every 3 days, this will help my diabetes control in the long term as it will give my sites time to recover from the relentless needle stick injuries, although I've never really had any issues with the injecting insulin, especially since the arrival of the modern insulin pens and small gauge needles.

 

[dannyw]

There are many reasons why someone would qualify for a pump. Certain areas have more funding and it is easier.
@noblehead, I can't imagine 15 injections in a day !!!! I inject 5 or 6 times at the most.

 

[noblehead]

There are many reasons why someone would qualify for a pump. Certain areas have more funding and it is easier.
@noblehead, I can't imagine 15 injections in a day !!!! I inject 5 or 6 times at the most.

15 over 3 days Dan

 

[AlexMBrennan]

Pumps are very expensive, and as such their availability is limited - if you are doing fine on MDI but wish to have to inject less then you are not going to get one because other people (e.g. Those struggling with severe hypos, or unable to control BG despite the patient's best efforts) need them more.

 

[Deleted member 83869]

Is it true that only people who are prone to having hypos are aloud a pump?
I asked my diabetic Dr about having a pump in the future and he told me that only certain people who have had diabetes for a long time or young children and people prone to hypos are aloud them? Yet my other diabetic Dr said if I wish to change from injecting to a pump I can?

Nope, I wasn't prone to hypo's but my hba1c was constantly over 100...since being on the pump it is now 58!

 

[hale710]

I'm one of those noblehead was talking about

My consultant decided I was eligible. My control wasn't poor, but I did get some fairly extreme hypos from exercise (reading of LO on the meter). I was fully aware of these lows and treated all without any help. I am also 25 and getting married in the new year. I hope to have a baby one day in the not tooooo distant future so that was also a factor they considered.

One big factor was my consultant knew I had done my homework, I knew what I needed to do to make the pump work for me and o already kept log books and carb counted as accurately as possible. He knew I would use the pump to its full capacity and for that reason he could support me getting one