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Insulin pumps, cgm and x-rays

D

dancer

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,390
Location
West Dunbartonshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I phoned NHS 24 after having a fall this morning. I was given an appointment at 1.30pm at a non A&E hospital 's minor injuries unit. After seeing a nurse practitioner I was sent to x-ray. At x-ray I told them about my Medtronic pump and sensor. They said it was perfectly safe to wear them while being x-rayed. I said that was not what my diabetes clinic says, so they checked in their computer. They insisted there had been an update, approved by Diabetes UK, which said it was now safe for them to be worn during x-rays. I disagreed and had my husband help me remove both pump and transmitter. Unfortunately I couldn't save my sensor, as I had no scissors with me. I don't think my husband could have removed the transmitter carefully enough anyway.;)
I had several x rays and ended up having an elbow stitched and a wrist plastered, so I'm feeling rather sorry to myself as I'm supposed to be going on holiday next week. That remains to be seen!

Have any other pump users been told it's now ok for pumps to be worn during x-rays? I have the feeling someone is telling porky pies!
 
Hi @dancer, I'm sorry to hear about your fall, I hope you're not too sore and can make a speedy recovery :(
I'd be inclined to think they were telling porkies too. I don't have the sensors myself so I'm not sure what is allowed with them, I only know about pumps but have x-rays changed? Not as far as I'm aware. I'm sure Medtronic would let their users know if their pumps etc were suddenly ok to be x-rayed and surely they would advertise the fact their pumps are now safe to be x-rayed too. I just googled and couldn't find anything. It'd be slightly more believable if they had said for example pumps under 6 months old were ok to be x-rayed, but aaaaaall of them? No.
It's a shame your sensor couldn't be saved but I'm 100% sure you did the right thing.
 
So sorry about your fall and I hope you are making a speedy recovery!

The last time I had an x-ray (couple of months ago) I was told it was best to remove my insulin pump and CGM although the risks of a malfunction were extremely low as the part of my body they were x-raying wasn't near where my pump/sensor were. I was told I could keep them on if I wanted to but it was my choice. Haven't heard or seen that they've changed the rules on wearing them during an x-ray though, seems a little odd to me, always stick with your gut instinct!
 
Nicola M said:
So sorry about your fall and I hope you are making a speedy recovery!

The last time I had an x-ray (couple of months ago) I was told it was best to remove my insulin pump and CGM although the risks of a malfunction were extremely low as the part of my body they were x-raying wasn't near where my pump/sensor were. I was told I could keep them on if I wanted to but it was my choice. Haven't heard or seen that they've changed the rules on wearing them during an x-ray though, seems a little odd to me, always stick with your gut instinct!
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Thanks @Nicola M I have an appointment tomorrow at the fracture clinic of the main hospital in our area. It will be interesting to see what they say when I go to x-ray. Hopefully they are better informed than the last hospital.
 
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