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How Long Do I Have To Wait Before I Can Be Put On An Insulin Pump??

N

Neckarski_94

Well-Known Member
Messages
346
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
I know I am newly diagnosed but how long do I have to wait before I can get an insulin pump? Sick of the DAILY injections. (4 times a day) I CAN’T cope with all the having to inject and eat at certain times which isn’t always possible! If I go anywhere I have to make sure I have my insulin. Don’t like injecting in toilets I feel like a junkie!! Isn’t much of a LIFE at the moment! Feel like diabetes is taking over!!
 
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Neckarski_94 said:
I CAN’T cope with all the having to inject and eat at certain times which isn’t always possible!
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Once you get the hang of it, and more knowledge and experience on adjusting your insulin to your food, you won't need to eat at specific times, I definitely don't.
Neckarski_94 said:
Don’t like injecting in toilets I feel like a junkie!!
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Have you thought about why you feel you need to inject in toilets?
I've never done so, I inject anywhere and everywhere, it takes less than 10 seconds and I do so in the middle of a conversation, no one bats an eyelid really, and more often than not they don't even notice.

I don't have experience with insulin pumps (I prefer injections), but even with a pump you need to do the work to keep your BG stable. They're not fully automated, and you'll need pens to fall back on in case of pump failure.
 
Hi, I have been type 1 diabetic for over 37 years I have been asking for years and years to go on a pump and have always been told no. When they announced at the beginning of April the changes to the guidelines to make it more available to more diabetics I got excited I saw my diabetic nurse last week and she still said no, said they are still going by the old guidelines and they don’t know when the new guidelines will happen.

being diabetic is not fun.
 
An insulin pump is not a silver bullet. Unless you have hybrid closed loop, it is just another way to dose insulin. Whilst you do not have to inject, you still have to bolus insulin whenever you eat. Plus, you have to change your pump every 3 days.

As @Antje77 mentioned, if you are injecting every time you eat, you do not have to eat at set times. If you don’t want a meal, you don’t need the insulin for that meal.

As to when you can have a pump, the answer is the same as how long is a piece of string. There is no set answer but, as it is more expensive than injecting, you need a good reason to get a pump and “sick of daily injections” is not considered a good reason.
 
You need to know the basics and generally have done a Dafne course first, before you would even be considered for a pump.
Pumps can fail, cannulas can fail, so you have to carry an insulin pen or syringe with you, plus testing equipment and your blood meter. Like a lot of people, I had to wait a long time before I got a pump, and some hospitals are saying they've already spent their budget for pumps for this financial year.
Sorry if this sounds blunt, but I think you have to be realistic about how long you could be waiting. It's amazing you've already got a cgm, I was waiting years to get one.
 
I think you will find life much easier when you get moved from fixed doses to a basal bolus regime. Though I love my pump (started in march) I still have to use all the principles I learnt from 40 years of basal bolusing with a glucometer.

And to be honest, the biggest change in my diabetic life came when I was moved to basal bolus and given a glucometer. ( Pre glucometers we were all on fixed doses. )

And pumps have disadvantages as well as advantages. Despite the newspaper hype, they aren't really artificial pancreases.
 
Hopeful34 said:
You need to know the basics and generally have done a Dafne course first, before you would even be considered for a pump.
Pumps can fail, cannulas can fail, so you have to carry an insulin pen or syringe with you, plus testing equipment and your blood meter. Like a lot of people, I had to wait a long time before I got a pump, and some hospitals are saying they've already spent their budget for pumps for this financial year.
Sorry if this sounds blunt, but I think you have to be realistic about how long you could be waiting. It's amazing you've already got a cgm, I was waiting years to get one.
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My Diabetes Nurse said something like I have to be diagnosed T1 for 6 months and have done the DAFNE course before I can be considered for the pump. DAFNE course in October can’t come quick enough!!
 
Neckarski_94 said:
Because I’ve been told to have my insulin at set times 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00 I have to inject 15 mins before I can EAT!!
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You may well have to pre-bolus when using a pump as well.

Insulin pumps are great pieces of kit but you do need to learn the basics. 6 months minimum. And as said above they're not a silver bullet. Overall I would say they require more effort than MDI but the rewards can be greater, especially when coupled to compatible CGM and going closed loop.
 
eventhorizon said:
You may well have to pre-bolus when using a pump as well.
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You DO have to pre-bolus with a pump. It is using the same insulin.

Neckarski_94 said:
Because I’ve been told to have my insulin at set times 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00
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This is NOT the case. You need to bolus before you eat. But you can eat when and as often as you want.
In this regard, injecting is also the same as pumping.
 
In Response said:
This is NOT the case. You need to bolus before you eat. But you can eat when and as often as you want.
In this regard, injecting is also the same as pumping.
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I believe that @Neckarski_94 is on fixed doses of insulin at the moment, also possibly still on honeymoon? (Happy to be corrected if I've misunderstood).

Honestly, the sooner he gets given ratios so he can start adjusting his doses, the better. (Edited to say, just my non-medical opinion, it may be that his team has good reason to delay this?)
 
EllieM said:
I believe that @Neckarski_94 is on fixed doses of insulin at the moment, also possibly still on honeymoon? (Happy to be corrected if I've misunderstood).
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But even if they are on fixed doses, they do not need to be taken at fixed times. They are to be taken with food whenever that is eaten unless they are using mixed insulin which I do not believe to be the case as the thread has mentioned bolus.

I do agree that waiting until the DAFNE course in October is too long to be on fixed doses.
Learning to carb count and understanding how insulin works (in the absence of DAFNE, the online Bertie course could be used) is likely to reduce the mental anguish @Neckarski_94 is experiencing. And, until they are carb counting a pump will be of no additional value.
 
EllieM said:
I believe that @Neckarski_94 is on fixed doses of insulin at the moment, also possibly still on honeymoon? (Happy to be corrected if I've misunderstood
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Yes I’m on fixed doses! 6 units of NovoRapid before Breakfast! 4 units before Lunch and 7 units before Teatime plus 10 units of Levemir.
 
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In Response said:
do agree that waiting until the DAFNE course in October is too long to be on fixed doses.
Learning to carb count and understanding how insulin works (in the absence of DAFNE
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Way too long!! But I’m next seeing my Diabetes Nurse and Dietitian on the 10th July. I’m going to be learning some carb counting then before the DAFNE in October.
 
Neckarski_94 said:
Is its affecting my mental health a good reason?
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Most of us who are Type 1 have gone through this as well, some it lasts longer than others, some multiple times over their lives (me definitely included - at various times I hated it) - and if it was a valid reason for having a pump then the vast majority of Type 1's would get a pump at one point or another, but the NHS certainly just cannot afford that - these things aint cheap :(

Whilst more do now have access to pumps, it certainly is not all by a long long long way.

I know I had to fight for mine - I eventually got one on 2020 after having diabetes for 42/3 years and for me its been a complete game changer - but and this is a big but, it works for me because I love data and numbers and I can work with data (even if its data I dont like) - but some just do get very overwhelmed by all the 'numbers' especially when its all thrown in at the beginning.

Once you're not on timed fixed doses it should mean you are a lot less restricted and have a lot more freedom - the set times thing seems very strange as previous said by a few others
 
I was only given an insulin pump after a few years of fighting. Insulin pumps are actually a lot more work than daily injections as there is a lot that goes into getting everything right to make sure your blood sugars are always within range which means lots of basal rate testing/testing carb ratio's etc. Unless they can see that you are actively working on trying to get your sugars in a good place they may also not consider giving you one as they need to make sure you are mentally prepared to take on everything that comes with an insulin pump.
 
Neckarski_94 said:
.... how long.... an insulin pump?
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I would recommend patience, and becoming skilful at carbohydrate counting. I received my first pump ten years after I first asked to be considered for one.

This morning I saw a GP face-to-face (!!!). He is a Type 1 diabetic who has been asking for a pump.
So, not even medics can jump the queue.
 
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