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Advice on the pump

M

maya_fowler

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have had type 1 diabetes for 16 of the 17 years of my life and I am still using pens to administer my insulin. I have struggled with my glucose levels for a number of years now, especially since becoming a teenager. I want to learn to drive this year and be able to look after myself so that I can go to festivals next year and consider travelling in the not too distant future. I feel as though my diabetes is curbing me but I know I can help myself by using the pump, I was introduced to it when I was around 10 but I was never told the positive benefits, leaving my young mind to believe the pump was an awful idea. Of course now my doctors are advising me constantly to start carb counting and to look at some pumps but I still have doubts in my mind. Has anyone got any advice or experience on starting on the pump as I feel like I would benefit to hear other peoples stories. Thank you
 
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Hi maya_fowler, I've had diabetes for just over 27 years now, and like you was on multiple injections daily, whilst I didn't mind the injections as they had been a massive part of my life for so long, I didn't love them either. I was offered the pump for around two years prior to me deciding to go on it, I was worried about tubes coming out of me and how would I cope sleeping with it mainly. I had already been carb counting before I went on the pump too.
But I decided to go for it, all of my diabetic nurses and consultants are on a pump, so I thought, if they are on it, it must be pretty good. I've been on my Medtronic 640g pump for 8 months now, and it is without a doubt the best thing I've ever done regarding my diabetes. It does take a lot of hard work but you will reap the benefits if you decide to go for it. My hba1c has also dropped and I'm now at 6.4.
If you need to know any more, just ask. I'm happy to discuss it
Good luck.
 
Everyone has fears because it's unknown (out of comfort zone) Once you start pumping you will think oh wow why didn't I do that sooner. Carb counting is simple to do and having diabetes should not stop you doing anything in life that you want to do, be it with MDI or a pump. Test and inject oh and obviously count the carbs.
 
@maya_fowler I've had a pump for 13 years and I love it I was worried before I got one, and had a number of concerns, but what convinced me to go for it was this:

"I thought the pump would make me a prisoner of my diabetes, but in fact it's given me back my freedom."

That's how I feel too. My pump makes me feel more like me before I was diagnosed.
 
@maya_fowler hi and welcome to the forum!

I was diagnosed aged 11, and got a pump when I was nearly 41. With hindsight I had been allowing my diabetes to hold me back from all sorts of things I could have been doing - own fault - I had an attitude of fear really!

I started pumping just over a year ago, and it has changed my life. I feel I have so much more freedom - not just physically, but in my head. It has been unbelievable. It has taken me a while to get to know my pump, but now I'm very very confident, altering basal rates on the fly to cover all the exercise I do (I've only really started exercising properly since getting the pump - turns out I love the endorphins - who knew?)!

I wish I'd had the opportunity before. Had I thought about tackling my hospital team sooner about it - well, I would have 'found' my new life decades ago!

Travelling and going to festivals - brilliant! Your pump will be an excellent companion in all your adventures. Go for it!

Love Snapsy x

 
Hi @maya_fowler
welcome to the forum !!

a slightly different angle from me and the pump !!

I was diagnosed aged 14 in 1972 -- long before pumps
Fast forward to 2002 and I was offered a pump but thought "why fix it if it isn't broke"
because I thought I was doing really well on multiple injections.

another fast forward to 2014 and because I have limited hypo awareness I was again offered a pump -- but this time I said YES !! and after a long while in getting the funding approved and consultant appointments I started pumping in September 2015.

I can honestly say it is a real game changer for me-- it gives me so much more flexibility and has helped tighten my control .
 
@maya_fowler , I started on a pump 2 years ago and it's been life-changing, it gives you so much more flexibility and being free from multiple injections is a welcome relief.

So do consider what your consultant has said about carb counting and looking at pump therapy, if you look on Youtube you will find many video's of the various pumps on offer with users feedback. Good luck.
 
I am definitely considering using it, thank you very much
 
I'm very appreciative of your advice, it's great to hear and I'm most definitely going to start the process in getting a pump, thank you
 
I've just ordered a demo pump and I'm definitely going to start the process, thank you very much
 
maya_fowler said:
I definitely will, I ordered a demo pump last night just to see what it's like, thank you
Click to expand...
I'm sure it will change your life for the better!

Just being nosey, can I ask what you mean when you say that you have ordered a demo pump? I've been looking for a sort of "dummy pump" to wear just to see how I'd get on being constantly attached to something - but I can't seem to find anything like this. Just a tubeless equivalent from OmiPod.
 
Definitely, I'm really excited to start! Thanks
 
I was reading through some forums last night and saw someone was using the Omnipod so I looked it up and they offered a demo one for free (doesn't actually work) so that I can look at the size of it and so on. I haven't looked to see if there are any demo pumps that have wires yet!
 
Great to know, I'm ready to start, thanks a lot
 

I'm not sure if that would be necessary as after a few days you don't notice that you're attached to something. At the moment I have my pump clipped to my belt but I would have to stop and think where the set/cannula was because I simply don't notice it or think about it.

That was one of my main worries pre-pump - being attached to something - but once I got my pump, I realised that that wasn't an issue really
 
@GrantGam my DSN lent me an old pump (tubed) that wasn't in use - she stuck a cannula on me (just the plaster with tube attached, not actually with the cannula IN me) and I connected the pump to it and went on my way. Had it on me (pocket, belt, waistband, 'free range', you name it) for a week and a half.

Went swimming as usual, but remembered to unclip the pump, put it in my locker, etc etc. Went for long walks, went to work, went about my everyday life, all with the pump attached (or indeed unattached, if showering, swimming, or - erm - doing any other stuff which I sometimes like to disconnect for). *coughs*

I was blown away by just how much it wasn't a big deal. I was so, so pleased to have got to know what it was like to wear a pump and hosepipe before I actually got any further with the process.

I think it's great that you're getting a sample Omnipod to play with, @maya_fowler . Maybe have a chat with your hospital team as well to see if they've got a tubed pump you could pinch from them for a bit.

I love my pump. Have I said that before?!

 
maya_fowler said:
I definitely will, I ordered a demo pump last night just to see what it's like, thank you
Click to expand...
has your demo pump arrived ?
how are you finding it ??
 
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