Difficulty getting a pump

[kangoo]

I found that the restrictions on pumps were not just the lack of funds for the pump itself. My consultant found the money for equipment but then discovered there was insufficient dietetic support for pump patients. 5 years on and I have managed to get dietician support. We are reviewing carb counting just now and I have been given an old pump with saline to try. Hope to get funded for a pump by the summer.

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[tinyroman]

I had the same issue as Kangoo, in that my Gp said funding was available for a pump but that the support staff weren't available. As soon as the support staff were in place though, my diabetic clinic in Pontefract were able to supply one as long I fulfilled the criteria , which I did. Still getting used to the pump but it's great so far.

 

[artofmany]

When I go hypo, I now also start to fit, which is not good

Hi Julie, if you're reading this. For you to be experiencing hypos like this with fits, etc, your control regime may need some serious changes. You may be taking too much insulin. Has your doctor/consultant not raised this concern? Have you been type 1 for a while? A level of 1.anything should manifest some kind of reaction even in longer term diabetics unless you're at low sugar levels all the time.

 

[Julie1471]

When I go hypo, I now also start to fit, which is not good

Hi Julie, if you're reading this. For you to be experiencing hypos like this with fits, etc, your control regime may need some serious changes. You may be taking too much insulin. Has your doctor/consultant not raised this concern? Have you been type 1 for a while? A level of 1.anything should manifest some kind of reaction even in longer term diabetics unless you're at low sugar levels all the time.

Hi artofmany, it's my consultant, that has caused this, he's split my Lantus dose and I'm having one dose in the morning 20u and 20u before bed, I'm now dropping this dose a unit at a time, but I'm still having problems and very sore fingers . Points last week tested after breakfast 6.8(very good,for me), 20mins later dropped to 3.2, I've lost all signs of highs and lows. I've been diabetic for 32years now, my DSN's have never passed on any changes in diabetic care to me, like time of the month causing blood sugar problems or no exercise with a blood sugar over 13. And both of these nurses have known me for 15+ years and been through both of my pregnancies with me. This morning my husband woke up next to me starting to fit, he gave me some sugar to get me round and out of the hypo and this was at 6am this morning, if this had happened next week, hubby would have been at work at that time . My new consultant is repeating everything that previous consultants have done with the same outcome, he's told me to do a Katie course, at my first app, put me on waiting list, told me waiting list, not that long, saw him again in Jan, said again he would refer me for said course, but now their is quite a long wait, I'm still waiting for an appointment to come through to do, the course .

 

[iHs]

Julie

Its difficult to know whether you need to reduce the lantus a bit or to reduce the insulin in the carb ratio. To have a bg level of 6.8mmol after eating breakfast is too low and yes not surprised at all that you went hypo. Cant remember now what carb ratio you are using but alter it. If you are low before you eat a main meal, then eat for example 30g carb but only count 20g and then that will allow for your bg levels to be better balanced.

 

[Julie1471]

I was told by the diet person @ local hosp, to use 2u to 10g, then consultant said I needed to do a Katie course and adjusted all my insulins, to what he thought I should be taking. . So to say I'm getting conflicting points of treatment, is only the start of it.

 

[iHs]

I was told by the diet person @ local hosp, to use 2u to 10g, then consultant said I needed to do a Katie course and adjusted all my insulins, to what he thought I should be taking. . So to say I'm getting conflicting points of treatment, is only the start of it.

Julie

Just recently another forum member - Jontyw posted a message all about carb counting and adjusting ratios to suit the bg levels diabetics needed to achieve. I suggest you print out the websites featured in the message and then have a good read. Also have you bothered to buy and read Think Like A pancreas? If not, get it for goodness sake.

If 2 units to 10g carb causes you to go hypo, then why on earth aren't you adjusting the ratio and try 1.5u to 10g. Come on babe, use your brains a bit. Loads of diabetics have to use different carb ratios for different times of the day. They dont all use the same ratio no matter what time of day they eat food, Never mind what your consultant has advised, he doesnt live with you and sees how many low bg levels you are having.

Ive never been on a carb counting course but I did end up putting my brains into gear and slowly figured out what to do. If you test your bg levels every 2hrs and eat a snack to correct low bg levels, then if you write everything down on paper you should be able to work out how to adjust the ratio so that your bg levels are higher 2hrs after eating. Its really not that hard to do just time consuming.

To improve your awareness, try using a bg level of 7mmol as your before you eat bg level, then slowly adjust the carb ratio so that 2hrs later, your bg level is 10mmol, then dont eat a snack, wait another 2-3hrs to see if your bg levels fall back to 7 or 6mmol. If you can adjust all your insulin to carb ratios like that, then a lot of your hypos should become far less. Testing frequently is key to working out carb ratios. There's no magic way ... just trial and error..

 

[Julie1471]

iHs, I'll have a look for that. I've sent you a pm.

 

[Julie1471]

I've started doing 1u to 10g, I really don't want to have to go back to eating snacks, as I feel I have a problem with my weight, but at the mo won't go to the gym for the fear of making things worse. i use your shape at home or my rebock step to music.But everytime I adjust I get told no your wrong do this, then they change everything.

 

[iHs]

I've started doing 1u to 10g, I really don't want to have to go back to eating snacks, as I feel I have a problem with my weight, but at the mo won't go to the gym for the fear of making things worse. i use your shape at home or my rebock step to music.But everytime I adjust I get told no your wrong do this, then they change everything.

This might be where you are going a bit wrong Julie. How about you using a ratio of 1u for 10g carb and eat about 25g carb so that you bolus 2.5u but instead of eating the 25g carb, you only eat 13g of it and then wait an hour and then eat the other 12g. Sometimes, there's an awful lot to be said for staggering the amount of carb eaten in order to get the control that we all want.
Worth trying it all out just to see what the effect is???? It wont cause weight gain.. I sometimes eat this way with my insulin pump so that Novorapid behaves itself.

 

[Garysomtype1]

Hi guys I find this post very useful I have been trying fir a insulin pump fir over 5 years now and seem to keep hitting a brick wall with it first time I was to high blood sugar level which was a lie as its designed for high blood sugar levels to control them then next time I got put in to a trial and was refused on grounds of having diabetic related eye problems. And the last time I tried my age was a problem apparently being 25 is to old to have a insulin pump I'm feed up of it but refuse to give up on this do good luck to every one trying to get one I wish you all the luck in the world as the nhs are so bad for things

 

[donnellysdogs]

Garysom..
Find a hospital that supports people for pumps . I'm sure if you gave a vague description of where you live then some pump users will be along from hospitals that are local ish to you.... Can they pm you?

You are able to ask your gp to go to a different hospital...

 

[maria030660]

hi,

i did but suceeded. I have been all over teh world and now i live in Ireland. Diabetic care here is beyond believe compared with other countries. As the country is bankrupt you can imagine how many pumps were given out...zero. I had a pump of my own that needed reconnecting but as the care is done by my GP as i feel safer there there was great hassle like 'its cost a lot of money for the infusion sets' etc. I have been persistent and now i am wearing the pump. better management means staying out of hospitals etc. so in the end it works cheaper. Also the freedom it gives me...in the end the doctor is not the patient so he cannot imagine how someone feels to be sticking needles in himself day in day out.

 

[shirls82]

How does a insulin pump work

 

[alohanicky2009]

Has anyone been refused a pump by consultant as there hbac1 are too high, have gastroparesis so very hard to keep stable BM range from 1.1 - high 20s in just a couple of hours, I fulfil NICE guidelines for a pump specialist diabetic nurse feels I am right for a pump but consultant has final say so frustrated sure he will never change his mind been trying for nearly 5 years,


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[amberzak]

I've been fighting for the pump for years, and kept being refused. Finally got a diabetic nurse who thinks it will be beneficial for me. I think it's a bit of a post code lottery.


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[alohanicky2009]

Garysom. Just a quick question your story is identical to mine your care in Cornwall?


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[alohanicky2009]

Yes in Penzance but have to be treated at Treliske ,guess I was under the same consultant as you had 4 different consultants in 5 years


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[alohanicky2009]

A bit of good news today in the post a letter to see a pump consultant on 15 th oct , that is next month might still have a wait but at least I am moving forward not at standstill,


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