another back to mdi

[novorapidboi26]

I don't have a choice, depending where you live you may or may not get to choose which pump you have. It is a bit of a postcode lottery I believe.

I only tried it in my backside once (tries not to giggle) but found it was awkward for removing the plastic connector when dressing and going to the loo etc as will as the initial insertion part as I couldn't see what I was doing. I am going to persevere though and will try all options as I really would like to get it to work and give it a fair shot.

I too didn't have a choice of pump although there is an animas option now.......due to my size [strapping lad] I required a pump with capacity for a larger reservoir.....

trying on the bum might give better results..........i think generally, even now for me, the cannula and tubing can still be a pain, but only for short periods as your not usually at the loo, bathing/showering or dressing/undressing for longer periods.......

 

[victry77]

in my 2 years i have not had any issue with my medtronic quick set cannula........

I'm using the Medtronic and initially I was using the quick-set 9mm (nothing but problems), then the 6mm (led to my first ever proper diabetic sick day) and now I'm on the steel. First two set changes and I was sky high after 2hrs, so it appears I need to bolus when I change sets. Like you, I find the buttocks better, but I always feel very cautious when I sit (or plonk) down on a chair, for example. I did hurt myself doing that the other day and was then worried I'd bent the cannula.

Yes my feelings exactly, I have lost a lot of trust in actually getting the insulin into my body and with that level of mistrust then it is hard to feel comfortable using the pumps.

I totally understand. Since pumping I've had to cancel two evenings out due to late afternoon set failure, high BG and ketones. Knowing I could get a failure at any time during the day or night has really been playing on my mind.

 

[Spiker]

The problem with me is not the actual operation of the pump but the complete failure of the cannulas

This really is becoming a common theme. :-(

 

[azure]

Yes, the sets and cannulas are the problem as far as I'm concerned. When I had problems with mine some months ago, I was SO fed up and worn out by it. Luckily, I got help on here, but if the problems had been frequent, it'd have been unbearable. All that work and then having your BS messed up by a silly cannula. Infuriating.

I wish pump manufacturers would spend more time and money on sorting out better sets, than on competing to introduce special features on pumps. They should concentrate on the basics first.

 

[noblehead]

They should concentrate on the basics first.

Indeed @azure

As @Spiker says the problems (in those people who have returned to MDI) seems to be with the infusion sets rather than pumps themselves, a great shame as pumps are a fantastic piece of kit.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I know another diabetic who has decided to come off her pump too..........

I personally just couldn't even think about coming off it.......

I think, and some people may disagree, that a lot of people have been put on the pump without first being at the stage where they are ready.......

being ready for me means, being on MDI and attended DAFNE or similar, being able to show evidence of blood sugar readings, basal testing, tests to see how long your insulin lasts, sensitivity tests etc...

doing all of the above would be classed as trying to carefully and thoughtfully manage the diabetes to the fullest of you and your teams ability which is one of the criteria of getting a pump.........

we all know that countrywide meeting the NICE criteria is loosely followed, and why not, but I genuinely don't think some people are ready as they should already be knee deep in it all for a good while before even being considered........

this is not directed at you @brett as it seems to be an operational issue for you as opposed to the actual blood sugar control.........

are there any pumpers who could share their readiness upon beginning on their pump?

I'm sorry to hear that you believe that some people have operational issues.....

I have come off pump because of peoblems with being lean and muscular. I loved my pump. My levels would be flat for a day and then eratic due to set failure..

I think the worst thing for any pump user is for the dsn's to set everybody up on plastic, flex sets no matter what. This is setting up certain to fail.... The dsn's seem unable to comprehend that flex sets are sometimes being less suitable to persons with less body fat.... Perhaps this should be considered as a way to measure which sets are used.

I was absolutely anal and recognised immediately 5 years ago through using a certain set that there was problems with it. Nobody else here really believed me... But within months it was withdrawn.

To me, half the problem is that there is no follow up from Pump companies.. They do not find out if their users have changed from flex sets to steel ones or the reasons why. They don't ask any questions and pump users are vague at giving feed back to them.

If pump users aren't exact and blame theselves like you are doing as "operational errors" - then there is no hope for faults to be realised....

People come on forum at times to say about highs etc,,, but do they actually anslyse and report failures..to Company snd MHRA.. I bet less than 1% of users have actually bothered to inform MHRA of set failures or even talk to Compsny each time they occur...

Accuchek have been fantastic with me because they knew I was absolutely anal about my eating only one meal a day and giving them proof of figures, stats, errors etc... They have reported every problem upward to the worldwide designers etc.. And I am emailed with their responses.

I am definitely not a case of operational issue.

I know of users 6 months after being given a pump that not been given the advanced menu.. And other problems with quite a number of issues.. Ie one lady was told if high or low say at 11am you alter the 11am basal!!

I beg to differ against your thoughts totally...

Some of ys have reported problems because we are so anal... And analyse and report faults.. Just like @Spiker and certainly me..

I played a part in a certain set being withdrawn 5 years ago because I was so anal... And this was within 3 months of going on to my first pump... Please do not tar everyone with operational issues.

I think 1/2 the problem us due to users not giving feedback to pump companies.

 

[smidge]

Not posted for a while, so hi all. After reading @spikers post a while back I was already thinking of going back to mdi so, finally did and what a relief its been, no more cartridge filling, bubble problems, cannula insertion, battery changes, re programming hourly basal rates, wondering if cannula bent, and the list could go on. Eventually got prescription for pens sorted (another story). Did think it would take a while but, after 3 days back , (just over a week ago), readings all normal, if not slightly better. All in all , after 2ish years pumping thinking id never go back to mdi, eventually, it just got too mentally draining to the point I at least needed a break, but could be a permanent one.

Hi Brett and welcome back. Sorry to hear you have come off the pump. My consultant raised the subject of a pump with me when I was struggling with control on Levemir. I was really reluctant as I was pretty sure I would find it stressful to handover control to a gadget! I would certainly not use a pump without a CGM for reassurance - it would drive me out of my mind. I would find the needle and having it permanently attached to me stressful too. Luckily, I have found a change of basal to Tresiba has really helped to stabilise my BG and has reduced my MDI because I now need only one basal jab and very rarely need to correct. I hope you find a suitable MDI regime.

Smidge

 

[mrman]

Thanks smidge, interestingly, because of what I now do, I am deliberately giving myself slightly more basal than I need so I get good readings overnight/morning. It does mean having a snack before bed to keep me steady early hours but, deals with the dp very well, until I get up and give a unit qa straight away. Also, I inject my levemir at 6pm as I'm guessing it runs out early afternoon, which works well as I used to use minimum basal on pump, from lunch till tea. So, I am using more basal on mdi but, less bolus so about the same amount of insulin overall.

 

[novorapidboi26]

I'm sorry to hear that you believe that some people have operational issues.....

LOL.................You have completely misunderstood the post........I only mentioned 'operational issues' once at the end and I was stating to the original poster that his issues seemed to be operational..........

in fact the point I was making is that too many people, and this is just my opinion, are given pumps without actually being prepared to the fullest........

so that means, extensive carb counting knowledge to a level where they can be counted accurately visually, extensive knowledge and experience of basal testing.........in the habit of testing their BG more than just the usual pre meal tests..........etc......

so aside from people who have problems getting the cannulas in due to being lean and muscular, I believe one of the main reasons for people not getting on with them is because they were not ready.........

so, have wee read of my original post........................it sounds like you are looking for an argument......

and your obsessed with anal......

 

[donnellysdogs]

Not an argument but a different view point.... and a lot of people that are enquiring about pumps I always respond that boy.. They are not an easy option!'

I was not ready for my pump!!! I had two weeks notice due to the nurse being on hol. I never attended any dafne course. I disn't even know what a pump was 5 years ago and the main questions that were being possd were that of "what colours are available?!"

I actually agree that people aren't prepared... But the commitment to your health is the biggest thing.....

I am exact, precise and I care hugely for my health which is why I could adapt so wlquickly and realise that there were problems with a particular set when others were telling me they had no problems etc.

Commitment is the buggest thing to reinforce for any person considering a pump. Ut is vital that people do not think it is an easy life pumping.

I think NHS Persons do not get this point over enough... They say we can get better levels for you on a pump -stick people on a course but don't actually explain the detail enough. If they did we would not have so many people with queries on this website....

Didn't interpret your post as being to OP ref operational issues. Sorry I read it as pumpers with probs are all having operational issues rather than the OP...

I do however get concerned that people are not reporting set failures etc to Companies and to MHRA and that pump companies do not send out annual reviews to their patients to get genuine feedback.

I do know of a 23 year old lady who was put on a pump after numerous DKA. Her pump has been in a shed for a good couple years now...she rarely injects and still ends up in DKA... Because she has no commitment to her health and nobody has been able to educate this young lady with commitment to her health...

 

[Auckland Canary]

Not an argument but a different view point.... and a lot of people that are enquiring about pumps I always respond that boy.. They are not an easy option!'
I am going to report my cannula issues to Animas after what you have said. I actually hadn't even thought of this before but unless they are told they won't start to look at fixes for these issues so thanks for raising this idea with me.
I am ready to go back to the pump this weekend after a couple of fairly stable weeks back on MDI. Fingers crossed and thanks for your advice DD

I was not ready for my pump!!! I had two weeks notice due to the nurse being on hol. I never attended any dafne course. I disn't even know what a pump was 5 years ago and the main questions that were being possd were that of "what colours are available?!"

I actually agree that people aren't prepared... But the commitment to your health is the biggest thing.....

I am exact, precise and I care hugely for my health which is why I could adapt so wlquickly and realise that there were problems with a particular set when others were telling me they had no problems etc.

Commitment is the buggest thing to reinforce for any person considering a pump. Ut is vital that people do not think it is an easy life pumping.

I think NHS Persons do not get this point over enough... They say we can get better levels for you on a pump -stick people on a course but don't actually explain the detail enough. If they did we would not have so many people with queries on this website....

Didn't interpret your post as being to OP ref operational issues. Sorry I read it as pumpers with probs are all having operational issues rather than the OP...

I do however get concerned that people are not reporting set failures etc to Companies and to MHRA and that pump companies do not send out annual reviews to their patients to get genuine feedback.

I do know of a 23 year old lady who was put on a pump after numerous DKA. Her pump has been in a shed for a good couple years now...she rarely injects and still ends up in DKA... Because she has no commitment to her health and nobody has been able to educate this young lady with commitment to her health...

 

[Spiker]

They are not an easy option!'

True fact

5 years ago and the main questions that were being possd were that of "what colours are available?!"

Sad but actually true.

I actually agree that people aren't prepared... But the commitment to your health is the biggest thing.....

[...]

Commitment is the buggest thing to reinforce for any person considering a pump. Ut is vital that people do not think it is an easy life pumping.

I think NHS Persons do not get this point over enough... They say we can get better levels for you on a pump -stick people on a course but don't actually explain the detail enough. If they did we would not have so many people with queries on this website....

Exactly.

I do however get concerned that people are not reporting set failures etc to Companies and to MHRA and that pump companies do not send out annual reviews to their patients to get genuine feedback.

I agree. The NHS have a misleadingly rosy picture of pump use, as a result of underreporting of problems.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I am strangely on very much less levemir than the pump basal. Completely astounded me!!

How you getting on @Spiker??

 

[Spiker]

I had a bad week last week but I am putting it down to bad basal and/or some kind of illness. So I am soldiering on. Loving the freedom and not displeased with the blood sugars either @donnellysdogs

 

[RuthW]

I am strangely on very much less levemir than the pump basal. Completely astounded me!!

How you getting on @Spiker??

Is it strange? Didn't you just start a new gym routine that you are very enthusiastic about? Changing your exercise type (I know you normally do gardening) always drops your basal rate requirements.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Is it strange? Didn't you just start a new gym routine that you are very enthusiastic about? Changing your exercise type (I know you normally do gardening) always drops your basal rate requirements.

Whilst on my referal scheme for gym I am only allowed to go twice a week for 12 weeks. The gym is very little exercise really compared to my normal daily activities.

In fact when I go in the mornings I don't even lower my basals or bolus because of DP.

I would understand it if I was going to gym everyday, or even every other day but I'm not.

My hospital messd up ref degludec insulin and I will find out next week if they have got permission from CCG. Quite glad that I established levels on levemir first with them lowering so much.

My gardening is just constant in my life although recently I have been dog walking as well more..but thats only in last couple weeks as well.

It just surprises me how little insulin doses are now needed...peehaps my body is liking the break away from a constant 3 minute feed of quick acting and being nice to me!!!