Type 1 INSULIN OR PUMP?

[Courtneybrittanyx]

I'm currently insulin indepedent and have been for over 14 years but I'm thinking or maybe bringing up at my next diabetes appointment about changing to a pump. I've heard a lot about omni pods but I'm not sure if they're that wildy popular in the UK? Maybe I'm wrong .. but my questions are.

Is there better diabetes control with an insulin pump? My range tends to fluctate a lot.

What are the pros and cons from switching from a pen to a pump?

Thanks for ur help.

 

[Emile_the_rat]

Well the biggest pro I see is that you can give yourself units in decimal, and some pumps even calculate how many units you need if you just add how many carbs you’ve eaten. So calculating and giving more precise amount of injections are a lot easier.

Another pro is that some pumps, like medtronic can connect a CGM to your pump. Giving you a constant reading of both injections of insulin and blood sugar, very helpful if you ask me.

Last thing I like, but that is just personal preference. You don’t have to tuck up your clothes and poking yourself with a pen every single time you have to eat. I think it looks alot more discreet to just wear a pump.

Unfortunally there is some downsides to using a pump. The tubing can fall off or disconnect from your body, and unfortunally your blood sugar might be sky high before you realize. Or the pump can fail, or sudden stop working. Not often, but it can happen, meaning you always should have a pen at hand in case something happens or go wrong with the pump.

But all in all I think using a pump are alot more easy and gives much better control than just normal pen and glucose monitor

I don’t use a pump but a pen myself, but these were the pro and cons I’ve heard from people I know using a pump.

 

[hodders]

I'm currently insulin indepedent and have been for over 14 years but I'm thinking or maybe bringing up at my next diabetes appointment about changing to a pump. I've heard a lot about omni pods but I'm not sure if they're that wildy popular in the UK? Maybe I'm wrong .. but my questions are.

Is there better diabetes control with an insulin pump? My range tends to fluctate a lot.

What are the pros and cons from switching from a pen to a pump?

Thanks for ur help.

Hi
As a type 1 battling constantly to get a pump in the UK. One of the reasons that they may not be used as widely than many other places in the world, is that they are nigh on impossible to get here down to NHS funding. The criteria is almost unattainable for us adults.
Good luck with it.