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Type 1 Insulin pump

V

Vicky19

Member
Messages
19
Location
Southampton
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi I was wondering if anyone could give there honest thoughts on having a insulin pump. Did it make your levels more controllable and not have many highs or lows? And is it easy to use?
 
Yes a pump made my levels more controllable.
It was not easy to use at first - it was like learning to manage diabetes all over again. But, like injecting was, pumping is now second nature.

The main benefits are
- ability to change my basal every 30 minutes. This means I can plan for Dawn Phenomenon and suspend my insulin when I exercise.
- much smaller doses. I can give myself 0.05 units of insulin. This gives me much finer control to bolus.
 
I have the tandem and dexcom... I have the best hba1c that I've had in the 10 years since diagnosis

So yes more controlled BUT it takes more effort than mdi

If you qualify for a pump.. and have been offered it.... and are willing to put in the effort then its worth it
 
Definitely worth all the effort it needs to get the dosages correct. The specialist team will indicate one month to get there but it takes much longer. I'd say 4-6 months before I was comfortable with settings, a lot less hypos as can set temporary basal when more active. I'll be honest I despised it to begin with, I was ready for giving up but Support from the forum made me sit down & assess the improvements it has made for me. Worth sticking with. I have the omnipod dash.
 

Nice to hear you've gone from hating it to accepting it

The thing I hate the most is realising 3 days have past... so set change day
 
Thanks everyone. my diabetic nurse has asked me to have a think about trying the pump out. I didn’t want the libre senor at first but now that’s made my life so much easier. So I think I will feel the same
About a pump once I get used to it
 
Hi Vicky19

I agree with comments above. I also have the Omnipod Dash. In particular the time it takes to get used to the pump and get basal rates correct.

Getting to handle a pump and try out the cannula or Pod would be helpful. I had real difficulty doing set changes on the Medtronic due to arthritis in my hands

Good luck
 
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