Insulin Pumps?

[djjenko]

Hi to all,

I am type 1 diabetic who has struggled with my control for many years now i have had diabetes for 34 years but always have had problems, i also have many diabetic realated complications lost most of my sight had right eye removed, kidney function decling (236) Neuopathy in my feet,now been told i have femeral artery desease in my legs, my sugars are very hard to control and at present are having at least 6 shots of insulin a day, i am on actrapid penfil throught the day (short acting) and Novo insultard at night (Long Acting) but my sugars can spike within 1 hour of testing, so i have been asked by my specialist Dr if i have ever considered a insulin infusion pump, i have searched the net for videos on these products and read reviews and found them to be very helpful but i am unshure which pump to have if i decide to go onto pump therapy. i do use Accu chek Aviva blood meter and i have heard the spirit is a good one, has anyone any advise they fcan give me please with thanks.
My sugars can run normal first thing on a morning and within a hour without any food just a small amount of insulin test my sugars and they read 20.

Many thanks for any help

Cheers

Shaun

38 years old.

 

[sugarless sue]

Moved to Pump forum for more informed input.

 

[diabetesmum]

Hi Shaun,
My older daughter is on the Spirit. It has really helped her control, and would be even better if she wasn't going thru' the teenage rebellion thing of ignoring her diabetes a lot of the time. The only drawback is that it doesn't have a bolus wizard (which calculates 'on board' insulin etc), but it is a very good basic pump, so I would go for it if I were you. It is quite a lot of work up front, but once you get the ratios sorted out, it becomes easier.
Good luck - you are fortunate your consultant is pro-pump, a lot aren't! And Merry Christmas!
Sue

 

[hanadr]

Hi Sean!
the pump may well be your best answer, but have you tried a low carb diet?
As to the pump, I know very little about them, but i can't understand why they aren't offered sooner.
Your complications are probably costing at least as much as a pump would have.
I do believe you need to be very motivated to use one successfully.

 

[jopar]

Hi Sean

If the raise you said that you have is a constant problem, then it is a possibility that you have Dawn Phenomenon, where the liver is delivering a higher rate of glucose into your system…

Yes the pump would help with this, has you can build a basal rate that adjust by the hour ( I think that some pumps might even do this with ½ hour increase) providing a flat Basal Line to work you Bolus dose from…

If like me, my basal needs for a work day is very different from a day off, then you can program these into a profile enabling you to swap from one to another (most pumps you can program at least 5 profiles)

And coping with carbs, well that is so much easier as you can do several different bolus deliveries, which does over-come a lot of problems…

I have the Accu-Check Spirit pump, and yes it is sort of the Escort of the pumps, but it does do the job well and if you are already carb counting, then not having this feature on the pump won’t be missed, Accuk-Chek does a software program that runs on either a PDA and certain PDA/smart phones which has a carb wizard ect in…

But if they are offering, then I would except as if you don’t like it you can always hand it back…

 

[nat5282]

Hello

I am a user of the Accu-Chek Spirit pump since December 2007 and I would never go back. I always thought that I couldn't be bothered with something attached to me 24/7 but it got to the point where my injection sites weren't great and I needed an alternative. Due to this I pushed for an insulin pump on the NHS and I was successful and became the first insulin pump user on the NHS in my local home town - I was also a bit of a guinea pig for my health team to see how I got on with it, etc but I took to it straight away and haven't looked back since. It can take a little bit of ironing out but thats the same with any routine change. I don't notice the pump now when I sleep or while out and about - it was strange at first but this is something you soon get used to. I've had diabetes nearly 24 years so I was extremely pleased to be given the opportunity of the pump and can recommend it highly, however being keen on the idea and wanting to have the pump is very helpful in it being a success - I think so anyway and my healthcare team agreed with me as they had seen patients that had been given the pump and didn't really want it but the medics pushed them with it and they ended up handing the machine back as they couldn't get away with it. If you are positive about the pump then you should be fine. If you have any questions then just ask as myself and i'm sure other people on this forum are more than happy to give advice and tips, etc so you can maybe find whatever you want to know out prior to your medical appointments and then can base any questions you have for the medics on things you have picked up from people who have experienced using a pump on here.

Good luck.

Nat

 

[nessa-lou]

hello, i am 18years old, i have been a diabetic for nearly 5 years now
throughout those 5 years i have struggled so much to control my blood sugars and i never seem to make progress. i decided i would give the pump a go, iv got my clinic appointment tomorrow and im going to ask them about it. i have researched the pumps and i really want the animas 2020, can i ask for that pump or do i just get what i am given. i am a bit scared about going on the pump. but i think overall it will help me so much. im a bit scared about it being in the way does any one have any problems hiding theres...like im 18 so i wear skirts, dresses etc and i no you can take it off for about an hour but that is no gud if im going out. can any body give me any advice on this situation it would be appreciated so much. thank you x

 

[Stuboy]

When you go for your appointment be armed with all your reasons on why you think a pump will be better for you and your expectations, remember it wont be a quick fix and will be a lot of hard work to start with.

You will also need to know how to carb count.

Regards to wearing the pump... im a guy so hopefully i wont have a problem with a skirt if i get my pump in the next few months! lol but i have seen accessories for pumps including a bra strap, and "the thigh thing" which is a strap that wraps aroudn your upper thigh... like a gartar but it holds your pump!

Im sure there are other ladies on here that will have some other suggestions.

 

[heidiphillips]

My daughter is using the Medtronic paradigm pump and it is extremely easy to use. She is 7 and can navigate herself around it with no difficulty. I would recommend it wholeheartedly. There is a pump-school-online (I think its the first thread). That being said I think it may depend on the pump that your diabetic specialist is familiar with, because they will be your first call for advice

 

[nessa-lou]

i went to my clinic appointment today..hmm well... they didnt seem to keen about me going on the pump. basically i got told i need to test my sugars and write them down..etc because i dont now and they said they will see if my sugars improve etc...but thing thats annoyed me is for the past 5yrs of having diabetes iv recorded and all that and its still the same routine which hasnt helped me in the past...felt like an idiot to be honest . i do understand i need to test my blood sugars etc n i already no how to carb count...i jus felt they were saying no we wil sort it out doin ur injections...i hate my injections!!!! i get bruises, lumps, everythin n i hate it!! its so hard wen ur arms hurt and ur tummy needs a rest from the injections but u cant cz u still need to take them im jus going round in one big circle!!! eeek rant over! lol x

 

[Stuboy]

did you tell them how you feel about your injections!?

At my PCT there is a category of people that they consider for pumps...

That's those that hypo alot, those who can't get HbA1c down with MDI, and those who dont get one with injections. Those were the words the dr used when i went to initially ask about goin on a pump.

It might be worth a shot. Pumps can have a massive emotional effect on people as well as control.