insulin deficient type 2 or 1.5 on pump?

[anna29]

Hi, Sorry if this question seems or is bit daft/thick... When spoke to my new DSN last week on phone and she explained my cpeptide test was insulin deficeint n possibly could be 1.5 n not the type2 I was originally was told n consultant will discuss this with me on weds 1st june, am in the unknown yet. I have n do avoid doing my injections on time due to dreading the jabs plus have ruebella retinopathy eye condition n its sometimes hard to see where to go in the lower belly with 6mm or 5mm needles. Its a daily mental battle with myself to force myself to do it as I know I HAVE to. Plus am diabolical at maths n calculating skills and am wondering whether to ask about a pump? They want to do some training with me to try n get me more confident on self injecting n basal/bolus new regime n am terrified to be honest as already had bad experiences with a dreadful DSN hence me getting a new one. Do any type 2 or 1.5 on MDI end up on a pump? Thats all I wish to know. Anna.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi anna,

I do not have the expertise to answer anything about pumps.

In America there are Type 2's that use pumps.

Read this article and you will see that they can be a godsend for some Type 2's.
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2011 ... han-beach/

Here you would have to fund it for yourself, there are Type 1's that have great difficulty in obtaining one and the cost is prohibitive. Steve Redgrave has one.

 

[anna29]

Hi, Many thanks for the info have saved it in my computer. What is the situation IF we [hubs n me] Can afford a pump easily ? plus if hubby works for actual company that make n supply pump? [possible employee discount] does that make it any easier for me to get one? IF consultant veto's it? Am so meds intolerant n pumps do reduce insulin sensitivity, plus avoid doing my jabs due to psychological trauma hate n cant see the needles with my ruebella retinopathy. Someone else will end up [mum, daughter, hubby] having to do them for me. Anna.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi Anna,

Pumpers seem low on the ground today.

An organisation that may be able to help you with your queries,
http://www.iddt.org/

I can think of one person with Type 1.5 who pumps, that is Phoenix. She does very well on it. There may be others.

Have you ever thought about psychological input for your needle phobia?

 

[jopar]

HI anna

Insulin pumps are just another method of delivering insulin so can be used by anybody who's insulin dependant.. But for NHS funding there is only NICE guidelines for the use of pump therapy for T1's however T1.5's are classed as T1.. T2's who are dependant on insulin therapy aren't covered by this guidelines so they would have to approach their PCT special individual case committee hence why only a handfull currantly have funding..

Self funding is an option, but you would need a precription from your consultant to set it up, as pumps are prescription only item..

Your eye complication would need to speak to your consultant, as even though pumps can help avoud or hold complication at bay, there is an intrim period during the improvent of control where they can cause the complication to get worse, sometimes yes the risks of this makes the pump unsuitable options...

Also to enable you to use the pump effectively you will need to learn carb counting, calculating insulin dosages etc, as pumping therapy is totally based on this..

As to whether if self funded and worked for the manufacturer's would you get staff discount, well the only ones who could say would be the company themselves... As this would be purely an agreement between employer and employee

 

[anna29]

Hi, thanks for replies, am trying to glean as much info as possible before this weds! see consultant. I started off okay with self doing my own shots, however as times gone on have got worse n worse with my shots times, keeping avoiding them n it gets later n later , plus have given up on 'hoping' to even see my BS levels coming down on my BS meter as theyre just staying the ruddy same! Even my hba1c keeps climbing upwards each time they do it... though cholestrol n lipids have come down well, its always my glucose levels going up n up ... Am doing a low carb/excercise thing [never call it a diet then it dont feel like on one! bit of self mind trickery] n with victoza's help have lost 1.5stone since feb 25th 2011. Am tiny in frame, gliclazide piled 2.5 stone on me then I refused to continue on it! Started off great with shots then terrible huge bruising n can feel needles etc sweat n shake now when doing them, plus get weepy at thought of doing them too. Makes me avoid them. Plus cant n dont eat. New nurse suggested we go back to basics again n do training to get my confidence up with a new MDI regime. Hence how n why I asked the question of maybe consider a pump. Anna.x

 

[ams162]

hi
altho with the pump u dont need to inject daily u still need to insert the canula every 2/3 days do u think u could do that if u feel like u do about injections, my son is fine but he was ok with the injections too just a thought.

also if u decide to self fund i think im right in saying that u would also have to fund for the consummables also which amount to alot of money through the course of year maybe worth considering this too before deciding what to do. what ever it is i hope u find something to suit u like u say there are def worse things to have but having diabetes is hard work good luck

anna marie

 

[iHs]

Hi

Although what Jopar has stated is correct, there are some Type 2's who are completely reliant on injected insulin because of insulin resistance who in actual fact do use an insulin pump. My friend saw that famous Prof and it was agreed because of her medical circumstances that she should have a pump.

TBH the Nice guidelines need to reviewed so that anyone who uses injected insulin is not discriminated against because of Type ?

 

[jopar]

Anna

Take a look at this site http://www.input.uk.me they are a wealth of information about all aspects of pump therapy, and necessary can provide support if a battle is required to get funding etc.. please give them a call!

I can see where your nurse is coming from, sometimes relooking at the injecting technique or what consumables you using, such a needle type, make or size can make injecting experience a lot more pleasent...

Should have seen the state of my thighs (couldn't inject into stomach due to being pregnant) when I was first diagnoised! Black and Blue was a tad understatement, then I got the knack of injecting and as I got better the brusing went, only to happen on a rare occasions.. So very worth while pursuing this with your team..

 

[phoenix]

I can think of one person with Type 1.5 who pumps,

Yes, I have 1.5 but really that's not an official designation. I'm officially a T1, it's just that it was, a slower onset as often happens in adults.
I can't tell you much about pumps for people with T2 in the UK as I live in France. I have met one T2 with a pump and read of others online. There is a T2 on one of the US forums (LLoyf Mann) who has been very sucessful in using a pump and has self published a book about his diabetes management which you can get from amazon in the US (haven't read it though )

 

[anna29]

Hi. thank you for your replies, have written a list of questions for weds when I see the consultant and am reading up on the threads you have suggested. One thing I dont quite get is, I started off well with the self injecting then as time gone on have gone worse, plus yes it has made me weepy n stressed so have avoided them. Knowing this is the last thing I should be doing. Thanks again for your help so much appreciated. Anna.x

 

[jopar]

Before we had diabetes, every time we were unwell it was always a case of 'take the tablets' for a week or so then every returns back to normal or perhaps you got to face a longer course of treatment but at some point there is an end to it all...

So when they break the news to you that you'll now diabetic, yes it's a confusing bomb shell, but like every previous medical ecperiences, we follow the instructions and can do really well to start of with, injecting stabing our fingers avoiding the bad foods etc..

Then as we slowly plod our way from one day to the next, it slowly dawns on us that it aint never going away we look into our futures and it seems very scary indeed.. So you want to hide from it all, if I ignore it will go away etc etc and it all becomes harder to cope with...

It's kinda of like going through the 5 stages of grief when you lose somebody close, the greiving for the life lost, and the percieved live you had ahead.. And we all not only go through all these following our own route through the stages, but we take our own time in it stage of the process...

In your case your increasing difficulties with injecting is probably your own way of having to tackle it all...

Quite often some good counselling session help us through and come to terms with our 'new' but unwanted we... I would ask your consultant if he can make a referral to a counsellor to the extra support would do you a world of good..

 

[anna29]

Hi, just cut the hubby's hair! [used to be an hairdresser now retired due to ill health] how good are you jopar! Am actually on list for next 6 weekly course, "living with a long term health condition" n will be in a small group taught ways n skills to adjust n cope with things better. Think she said next course n availabilty would be oct 2011 for me. Have various health conditions alongside the diabetes so it does get to me sometimes. Keep reminding myself there are other persons far worse than me... For me its the sense of not knowing what will? does? can? work for me to make a dramatic improvement on the complications of the diabetes, and having to just muddle along through in the 'fog' so to speak till it all clears n then you feel much brighter and energetic etc... if you see what am trying to say? even my hba1c is weird everything else is coming down bar the glucose level 9.1% feb 2011 n 9.7% april 2011 . My confidence has been hit with it all impacting I do know and realise this. Anna.x