How to get a pump?

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I'll bump your post up for a pump user to reply.

Hi, you need to look at the NICE guidelines, first that would be a good start, to see if you meet the criteria set down, by them. Also you should have done a carb counting course, and you would also need to speak to your diabetes team as well. Have they mentioned pump therapy for you??. It also comes down to funding, their is a lot more to take into consideration as well. Are you able and willing to test, loads. Sorry to say this but getting a pump doesn't happen over night. And it's a lot of hard work, to start with.

I'm currently trying for a pump with the support of the diabetes team, been t1 for 17 years and have an issue with night hypos, I've just got CGM for a week, which I've waited a few months for, been on 2 courses. If your diabetes is well controlled with injections, there won't be a good reason to change a good working routine with a pump.


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There are other considerations as well such as
- frequent unexpected hypos
- very high insulin sensitivity adn associated risk of hypos
- significant interuption to "normal" lifestyle

and others. It's not just down to poor control=pump

As nikknak said you won't get a pump without good reason(not just because you want one) . Unless you self fund and if you do that an animas vibe( pump I'm on) 3grand to buy, plus sets at £98.00 a box, plus cartridges. Not cheap to self fund.
I got my pump due to what ElyDave posted, no signs of hypos and was still in control and able to hold conversations, even at 1.3 with my diabetes Dr at the time, who could not get over I was not fitting on the floor, but sitting and telling him without mumbling or slurring words, was going x,,y,z and he was still able to understand what I was saying. So stamping feet etc and going I want one. Won't get you one, without good reason.

Here are the NICE guidelines http://publications.nice.org.uk/con...-for-the-treatment-of-diabetes-mellitus-ta151

and mostly it takes longer than you think, lots of testing before (and probably after making sure it is all set up right - the nurse said conversations every day for at least a week and then maybe lessening once it looked ok, as well as follow up appts to make sure it is all ok) - then carb counting training and pump awareness days - there are lots of bits to make sure you know enough.

Speak to the hospital about it and see what they reckon - the general idea is whether having MDI has 'failed' for you - so you have nasty hypos or night hypos or just cannot achieve good control after having support from them. Have a chat with the reps and good look into it all and see what you reckon and whether you can get it 'justified' by your Drs - good luck.