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Can Adults Get a Pump on the NHS?

S

Scarlet_Witch

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone,

Basically, I've been on the pump since the age of 12, I was told that I could have got it for free as I was a child. I was on the Animas pump for a while, but have now been on the OmniPod.

I've been with my boyfriend for 4 months now, and he too suffers from Type 1 Diabetes, however he is on the pen injections still. What really irritates me is that he doesn't look after himself. He never injects, never monitors his blood glucose because he's scared of needles. I understand that it is a common fear, but I keep telling him that it's for his own good and having an injection 4 times a day is better than being in hospital. I've asked him to go see his doctor, he tells me that he has seen his doctor but to be honest, I think he's lying as nothing's changed. I'm worried sick and mentioned maybe a pump would be better for him as his blood glucose is always in the 20's. He works in a warehouse, so having the pumps (like the Animas ones) which require tubing can be dangerous as it could get caught on items.

I thought maybe the OmniPod or there's another one called Cellnovo would be better as it has no tubing, but am unsure on whether he can get it funded on the NHS and who does he go to see to get it? He doesn't have anyone else to go to aside from his doctor, and apparently his doctor is "useless" so I'm really stuck.

I'm worried sick about him as he never takes his base insulin or any insulin for that matter. I've got a feeling his ketones are extremely high as he's constantly complaining that he feels dizzy, his body aches and he feels sick 99% of the time. He eats a lot too. If anyone can give me advice as well on how to get him to actually take his insulin that would be great too. Unfortunately, as I don't live with him, on days I don't see him I can't really do much to make him take his medication.
 
himtoo said:
Hi Scarlet_Witch
this link may help with info on insulin pumps http://www.inputdiabetes.org.uk/alt-insulin-pumps/

and this link http://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/Getting-an-insulin-pump.html

Your boyfriend would have to demonstrate the ability to carb count / go on a DAFNE course

By his Doctor do you mean his endicrinologist ? He could possibly make an enquiry with his DSN as an alternative.

Sounds like he needs to get some help in some form or another :eek:
Click to expand...

He's completed the DAFNE course apparently. But he still doesn't do it correctly. He just guesses his insulin all the time, never works it out properly...

Thank you for the links, though. They have some great information. And he only sees his GP. Nobody else... He isn't registered with anyone else, or so he says. He doesn't seem to tell me much which makes me wonder if he even understands what he's doing...
 
does he not find your pump interesting?

have you shown him how you test and work out things...........?

I was going to ask if you live together but then reads the last line of your post........this is unfortunate as you would be together during meal times, which would be an ideal time to let him see how easy it can be.........which he should know if hes done DAFNE.......

Sorry I haven't been much help, just keep at him.........I would have really appreciated someone doing that for me growing up...

do you stay close enough to have meals with him, make it a habit etc.........?

does he like carb free foods....?
 
Hi and welcome to the forum @Scarlet_Witch.

As a pump user yourself you are well aware of the work involved in using a pump, especially in the initial stages of changing over to one, if your boyfriend can demonstrate that he is willing to put the effort in then he may be considered for a pump given his needle phobia and high bg levels.

The Omnipod would be a ideal choice as it has an automated cannula insertion,
 
Lets be honest here though, whilst he has needle phobia and will also have a very high Hba1C, it's going to be very difficult to get him on a pump in his current state. He is showing no desire to deal with his diabetes and consequently isn't doing anything that would normally be required.

It strikes me that he is less in need of a pump and perhaps more in need of some psychological assistance to come to terms with his diabetes and get on track. You are trying to help with this, however, he will need to be seen by a diabetic clinic and this will require a referral from his GP. It may be worth attending the next diabetic GP appointment with him in order to raise concerns that you have.

It might be worth taking a look at this topic http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/diabetes-burnout.74048/ and seeing if any of it reflects what you have seen with him.
 
..is it too harsh to say, "dump him" and move on, all he's bringing you is grief! Don't let him sink you both.
OK sorry too harsh, he needs professional help, but with the current NHS funding for mental health he would probably have to present through a number of A&E visits to be lifted to high priority. He may not have suffered too much longer term damage if he can change his behaviour, maybe? Most doctors do like a challenge, so if you can get him in front of a consultant and be open to the issues, you would have to go with him, you could get a pathway to pump therapy or at least a start on it.
 
I think he needs counseling before he needs a pump and I think dumping him would be disastrous. Maybe buy Think Like a Pancreas and read it with his knowledge, then offer to lend it to him. My guess is that he has developed a strategy of keeping his blood sugars high because he has a very physical job, and if he follows doctor's orders, he keeps having hypos. He probably needs help with managing bolusing and carbs for physical exertion and a different injection routine for days off. That used to be one of my major head-f#$%s when I was a young diabetic. And I never got any help with it.
 
An overly simplistic two sentence explanation for why a relationship can fail.
One person thinks the other will change, but of course they don't. Or one person thinks the other will never change, but of course they do.

So what are you asking advice about accomplishing? Do you want to take over his body and start living life "the right way" for him? o_O

The rule of thumb I try to remember to go by is "Your body, your choices, your consequences".

From everything you've said I have gotten the impression he is well enough informed about what changes he should make in his life for longer term benefit. But this is always overwhelmed by the need to obtain the short term gratification of not having to inject. Sure, from the neck up he no doubt knows he's killing himself slowly. But that alone does not seem to be enough to motivate him to change his behavior. It's a very human way of behaving. Unfortunately.

You could probably help him more by working with him to pull together a tentative plan for how to handle things when bits and pieces of him start to "break".

My understanding is that dogs have what I have heard referred to as an "opposition reflex". It's just a two word way of saying that when you pull the leash in one direction, the dog tries to pull as hard or harder to go in the opposite direction. By reflex.

Humans also do this, but usually in a more indirect and complicated way. The effect is the same. The more you advocate for him to change, the more he is likely to dig in and resist. Before you can even think about changing the problem, you need to either stop "pulling" or reconcile yourself to picking him up and "carrying him" everywhere.

Your life. Your choices. Your consequences. :(
 
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If your boyfriend isn't able to bg test that often due to standing up most of the day in a warehouse, then of course it's understandable that he doesn't want to go hypo in front of work colleagues or the general public, so tries to keep bg higher than ideal to eliminate the risk. Although high bg levels don't cause any nerve damage in the short term, it's later in life, that people get bitten on the bum and that's when we all have to address the reasons.
Can your boyfriend change jobs and do something where bg testing might not be difficult? Could he afford cgm? He may not want to do anything at the moment, but most likely will do, once eyesight gets jeopardised in the form of retinopathy.
 
If his needle phobia extend to lancets and so he avoids testing his blood, then he'd find it hard on a pump. Or do you think his phobia regarding the testing could be more a fear of what the meter is going to say? Sometimes people can be defensive or engage in avoidance type behaviour when they 'know they're wrong' or are struggling to cope.

How long has your boyfriend had diabetes? Has he always struggled like this? Could he be embarrassed about having to inject and deal with his diabetes in front of colleagues. It's not nice feeling different.

I agree with Tim that possibly some psychological help or counselling may be most beneficial for him to start with. That would help any phobias and also hopefully support him to get a different mindset towards the diabetes. If, for example, he resents having it then it may be having a pump attached to him 24/7 isn't going to sit easy with him at the moment as it would be a constant reminder.

You say he doesn't tell you much about his diabetes, but maybe he feels it's something he wants to forget? Or maybe he feels bad because you're obviously doing well. Could you try to ask his advice about something to do with diabetes and allow him to think he's being consulted as an expert or equal?
 
33 years living with diabetes type 1 with little or no untoward associated health problems, my advice is you need to give him a shocking dose of reality.
If he continues to ignore his condition the DVLA who will request his consultants details will refuse him a driving licence if he withholds details or does not show proper control. They have revised the law and are just looking for a reason not to issue him with a driving licence.
He needs to be reminded that his body will react against any misuse and he will probably go blind; lose limbs, suffer organ disease eventually leading to ....death long before his time.
What is he more frightened of now: needles or the results of poor control outlined above.
Come on - man up shut your eyes at the last second if you have to, but just do it.

Edited by a moderator to remove incorrect medical advice
 
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