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Is it really worth changing to a pump?

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Dotty1

Member
Messages
6
I've been diabetic since I was 12 and always struggled to contol my levels. Recently I've given up drinking and they're a lot better. I'm now 35 and want to have a baby and my nurse is advising I go on The Pump for better control. I tried it a few yrs ago but wasn't fully committed. Also I found it hindered what I wore etc. However I'd be willing to do anything to get good levels and hopefully a healthy baby, so the question is, is it really worth giving The Pump another go?
 
What have you got to lose, if you don't like it, you can always hand it back, and surely you have answered your question in one sense, if it helps you have a healthy baby, than sure using a pump to gain that tighter control, while expecting is a worth while sacrifice?? I wish I'd had a pump when I was expecting my first child( he's now 12), I was told I could have one, but would have to pay £500 a year for it. Which with all the things that a baby needs was out of the question. So I had to put up with coming to in A&E after crashing hypo's. So it shows how much things have changed, if I personally was in your postion, I would be grabbing it with both hands.But that's my personal view and remembering the crashing lows and highs that happened durring both my pregrancies, also if you take a pump, it makes dealing with a newborn easier as you can always garuntee, they want to eat when you do.
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me. I really appreciate it. I think you're right. I'll go for it. It's so worrying when they tell you all the things that can go wrong with the baby. How's your 12 yr old? Do you have anymore children? What are crashing hypo's? God I can't believe you had to pay £500 if you wanted a pump. Makes me appreciate what I've got!
Thanks again x
 
Hello Dotty

The only concern for people who get loaned an insulin pump whilst they are pregnant is that when the pregnancy is over because the pump is only loaned, if wont be yours to keep and you will need to give it back to the hospital, even if you get excellent bg levels whilst using it. The only way that you will get a pump that will be yours to keep will be for a D consultant to apply to a care trust for you to have pump funding using the NICE TA151 criteria. This all seems grossly unfair to me and I think that INPUT are trying address the situation but good luck with your pregnancy and I hope that a pump will help you. You will think that the pump will be your baby for a while as it will depend you giving it a lot of your attention especially bg testing.............
 
Crashing hypos are low blood sugars and those that you need to help recovery from, when you get pregnant your body goes to dealing with babe first, body puts you second, if you can prove you need a pump before and after babe and they offer it take it. I wish I could have afford the upkeep but no chance and I'm sure iHs will agree pump uptake has changed a lot. I have one 12 year old boyc and a 7,year old girl. So if you can get it and keep it, I would have.
 
Ah I see. Thank you. So good to hear about diabetics having healthy babies after you hear all the doom and gloom. I daren't even start trying until my levels are perfect! I'm pretty sure I can keep the pump after I hopefully have a baby. They gave me one before and said I could have one again. I'm doing ok on injections but my nurse says it's easier if I'm on the pump. I'm 35 so want to get started as soon as poss. Thanks again for the advice x
 
Hi iHS. I'm pretty sure I can keep the pump after if I am fortunate enough to get pregnant and have a baby. I had one before but wasn't fully committed so gave it back. Thanks for the advice though. I honestly thought anyone could have one for as long as they wanted! How naive of me x
 
Dotty1 said:
Hi iHS. I'm pretty sure I can keep the pump after if I am fortunate enough to get pregnant and have a baby. I had one before but wasn't fully committed so gave it back. Thanks for the advice though. I honestly thought anyone could have one for as long as they wanted! How naive of me x
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It unfortunately appears at the moment that a sure fire way of getting an insulin pump is by getting pregnant but I think you will have to ask some questions when you get one as to whether the pump will be yours to keep or whether you will have to give it back to the hospital when you are no longer pregnant so do ask wont you as it can all start to get a bit confusing...........
 
Dotty I would so go for it... But do remember it's can be hard work setting up the pump to begin with, but if you've go good control with injections it should be easier than those who are looking to resolve control problems..

Whether you be able to keep the pump afterwards, well you'll have to check with your clinic, as each clinic's have different protocols surrounding pump funding...

Some clinics are very pro-active towards pumps and funding isn't an issue, however some clinics are more pro-active in avoiding pump funding so will place as many hoops to jump through as they possible can :shock:

Same with pumps and pregnancy, some clinics treat pumps during pregnancy as a separate area to general pump funding, so have pumps that they loan out during pregnancy other clinics will see providing a pump during pregnancy is part of it's normal pump funding, so once issued full funding for insulin pump therapy is maintained afterwards as well..

Not sure how long ago you tried pump therapy, but I very much suspect that pumps had changed quite a bit since..


As to pregnancy, I've got 3 children, but my oldest I had pre-diabetes, and they all adults now, my youngest being 21 in a couple of months :shock: It was a lot different when I had my two, animal insulin and 2 injections a day with prescribed carbohydrates amounts 3 meals and 3 snacks a day, all had to be at same time with corresponding prescribed carb intake... A very military style regime, very difficult but must admit I didn't get the problems with hypo's etc that MDI's users seem to suffer..

But good luck with everything...
 
Thanks Jopar. Your advice has been really helpful. Thank you fir taking the time to reply in such detail. How wonderful to have 3 healthy children. It helps put my mind at rest. You must have been a brilliant diabetic to go through the tough times of pregnancy without all the new equipment we have now. Well done! X
 
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