I agree with what anna marie has said.
Be prepared is the best tip. When you first start to do set changes and cartridge changes it can seem so complicated and sometimes you feel like you've forgotten everything you've been taught.
Take things slowly and try not to panic if things don't seem to be going right.
It's a learning curve and get's easier with time.
When it comes to changing sets and cartridges, get your booklets out so you have something to refer to and don't be afraid to call your pump nurse or you can even call the help line and they really will talk you through it and i find they are so friendly it puts you at ease!
Most places don't give you a choice of what pump you get, as they get pumps cheaper if they buy them in bulk, which i think it's good as if they get it cheaper they can buy more pumps
Like anna marie says, it doesn't really matter which one you get as all pumps available now are different in their own ways but they are all pretty much on the same par.
I'm sure when you get the pump you'll have plenty of questions to ask as you often don't think of a possible issue until it arises
I was warned with the pump i would be testing ALOT. Especially at night in the beginning so be prepared for a few restless nights, but it definately is worth it when you've got in cracked!
It's also commonly known that insulin sensitivity can increase when on the pump, so your currently doses of insulin will be initially slashed so avoid hypos, then you may find you have to slowly tweak certain parts of your basal to get a good balance again, because of this you may have a few highs which can make your first HBA1c either only slightly decreased of can even increase in some cases if you already have particularly good control, so don't worry about numbers on your first HBA1c.
My first one came out at 7.2% from 8.4% which is a good drop, but i did have a good few hypo's whilst tweaking things, but i also had some highs so even though it looks good i don't think it's exactly accurate, so i expect my next one to be roughly the same but if it is i will know it's because im starting to swing high less and less and i haven't had a hypo for 4 weeks now!!!!
Might be a good idea for you to look at cannulas and tubing to think about which one you would like to try.
There are either steel of teflon cannulas. The teflon ones are changed every 3 days and the steel ones every 2 days. Some people change more often but this is the longest it's recommended you keep them in for.
Both types have pro's and con's. I use the 6mm steel ones after changing from teflon ones due to a re-call from accu-chek. I prefer the steel ones as they are easier to insert and i have peace of mind knowing they won't kink, it's off putting knowing it's steel and not flexible but i personally cannot feel they when they are inserted properly!
Tubing can come in different lengths, varying depending on what is available with the cannula you choose. Mine is 50cm which is a good length for me as i only wear cannulas in my stomach so i put the pump mainly in my pocket and tuck the tubing in, also when i go to the toilet the tubing allows room for it not to be tugged!
You can also look at accessories for wearing the pump, there are some fantastic products designed for children, colourful belts and pump skins, clips and allsorts!
You might also want to look into lift spray or adhesive wipes to ease taking a cannula out as they can be quite sticky and tough to get off. you can also get numbing cream which could help with cannula insertion.
Also before you get your pump, ensure you have everything you need on prescription and the correct amounts too.
You will still need to have insulin pens and needles for a back up incase of pump failure which can happen of course with anything electronic.
Anything else that pops into your mind just ask
good luck
