Hi RichWatt.
When I saw your post yesterday I was hoping someone else would reply to you as I get far too passionate about my insulin pump and end up writing far too much. As no one has posted a reply I felt the need to say how good it is and to try and answer some of your questions.
You should take a moment to visit the 'NICE' Website to see if you fit the criteria to receive an Insulin Pump of the NHS, here is the link:
http://www.nice.org.uk/TA151
If you don't fit the criteria, it doesn't mean you can't have one though. You have to inform your diabetic specialist the reson why it would be benificial if you had one. For example, do you work shifts? Are you a sports man? Are you suffering from any complications where a pump might improve your quality of life if your levels were more stable? Any other things you can think of why it is necessary for you to have a pump. If your specialist believes you have a genuin reason for your request, s/he will ask for funding and it will either be granted or denied. Saying you are fed up of injections - unless it is causing depression, wouldn't necessarily be a valid reason.
The good: It is a flexible regime for delivering insulin. It can be turned up and down by the hour depending on how active you are, if you suffer from the dawn phenomenon, if you are ill, if you are exercising etc. You can deliver insulin immediatelyfor food or deliver it over a period of time, say an hour or two for example if you were eating a buffet and kept going back for more.
The bad: personally I can't think of anything. I guess needing a large space to store all your equipemnt maybe!! Roche deliver my cannulars, cartridges, battery packs etc every 3 months and it takes up a full cupboard and wardrobe space!! Its a good idea to carry a spare insulin pen sometimes too. I cary a spare pen if im having a long day away from home or going out for a fancy meal. Most of the time I just carry a spare cannular incase I pull it out by accident. (doesnt happen very often but will ruin your day if you dont have a spare!!!!)
You do need to be attached to it permanently as it is constantly delivering your basal evey 3 minutes. How it all happens for example is: On monday you attach a cannular to your skin. You use your pump. Keep it in your pocket or use a pump accessory to attach it to your arm/waist/thigh. you can detach the pump, leaving the canular in place while you shower, swim, being intimate etc then simply re attach your pump when you are finished. On wednesday you completely remove your cannular and re-attach a new one somewhere else on your skin. You stay attached to the pump while you sleep. You can leave it loose and it will follow you around the bed. You can use a pump pouch round your waist or you could sew a mobile phone sock or baby sock to your bed time clothing. I like to sleep in a shirt and I put the pump in the chest pocket.
Its fine at passport contol/immigration. You can let your testing kit go through the x-ray. You can keep your pump attached to you and you can go through the metal detector archway. DO NOT let your pump go in the body scanner or in the x-ray. Simply tell them you have an insulin pump on if you set the metal detector off. You can either take it off, allow it to be swabbed for explosives and go into the body scanner without it (if the airport is using body scanners). Or tell them you wont detach from it and that they will have to give you a pat down search (in which case they will still swab the pump for explosives). Swabbing wont harm the pump. It is a clean piece of cloth that is wiped over the pump and then the cloth is analysed for bomb residues. You'll get the all clear and off you go on your travels.
I hope this helps and I hope i've answered all your questions. Any other questions please ask,
Dusty