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Omnipod - how can I get one?

J

jax8008

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Hi

I was diagnosed with Type 1 4 years ago at the age of 46!! I have struggled ever since, repeatedly telling health professionals that "I don't feel right" and they answer that I've got good control. I know myself that I haven't been right and that I shouldn't be continually feeling this way, up and down (blood sugar levels). I recently saw my consultant and although I had started to feel a little 'better' my H1bac had risen to 62. This was as a result of them last being 53 but I was having lots of hypos. Since I saw him I have had 6 bad hypos with no warning signs, the most recent one today at work, having just sat down to have my lunch and tested.....3.4 with 0.8 units of insulin still to go! My emotional wellbeing and that of my daughter (I'm a single parent), who is 9 and bears the brunt of my irrational behaviours when hypo.
I attended a JRDF Type 1 Discovery Day on Saturday and it highlighted the need for me to be a little bit more proactive in seeking the right treatment for me. I asked about a CGM over a year ago and was told "they didn't have any". I would like to know if anyone has any information on the Omnipod and any suggestions/advice on how to go about requesting one.

Many thanks for reading and sorry for going on a bit of a rant!

Thanks

Jackie
 
Well I live in the United States, and from what I have seen, it is very easy to get the OmniPod or a CGM.
You just need to know what your looking for.
I am a T1d, living with it for 15 years now -- diagnosed at age 9. I have been on the OmniPod since 2006, and about 3 months ago, got the new OmniPod system. I love how much smaller the new pods are!!! I also have the Dexcom CGM (older version, not the G4) and I noticed it didnt work too great. It started to become very annoying with all the beeping, and then I just stopped using it. If it wasnt too expensive to get the new Dexcom G4 CGM, I would.
I do not have great control. My a1c was last 7.9, and I had hypos too. The doc just told me to work on checking my sugars more often and to give a little more insulin before a meal. When my a1c was 5.8, i had a TON of hypos, and even had the paramedics called 3x in one week because of some severe lows. I completely understand your struggle, and I can only offer some support.

If you would like to know more about how I take care of my diabetes, and about the OmniPod, check out my blog at www.iamatype1diabetic.wordpress.com
 
Hi Jackie,
Well pumps are not easy to get in the UK mainly because of the cost, however as time goes by PCT's are slowly coming round to the idea that they actually save money in the long run through improved control less hospital trips paramedics etc. This is only a short post so have a look on inputs website, they have all the info you need to apply to get a pump, they can also if you want put you in touch with someone close to you that wouldn't mind showing you there's and chatting about how it works etc. Being proactive is the only way to get one very few people have them suggested they are usually begged for. The more persistent you are the better the results. As for CGM's they are even fewer funded than pumps, but you may be in the position to self fund, especially if you get a pump that integrates the CGM into it. For example mine that I'm getting for Christmas, cost £500 (dexcomG4, to go with my animas vibe) The sets cost £186 for 4 they recommend a weeks use, however many people use them much longer it is completely up to you (I'm not advocating anything). I can't afford very much I recently quit my job and I now studying full time. I getting the transmitter and 4 sets (£500) for a combined birthday/Christmas present from all my family and friends, I don't want anything else and I plan on using my sets longer than a week. You may still be able to get these funded but you just need to put up a really good case why. Good luck with everything.
 
Jackie,


Hypos should be aggressively avoided! First and foremost they are dangerous. If your sugar goes low enough it can be fatal. If you have one while driving you can have an accident. Etc.

Hypos affect different people in vastly different ways. They have a huge emotional impact on some people. I know I'm emotionally drained the rest of the day. It sounds like you're the type that really gets messed about by hypos. Avoid them. High blood sugars increase your risk of complications, but so does stress!

High blood sugars can also have an emotional effect on you, so keeping your sugars well controlled is really important. However my advice is that high is preferable to low.

An insulin pump is not likely to solve your problems. The main benefits of the insulin pump are lifestyle factors - not needing to inject in public, fewer needles, easy to reduce your insulin while exercising. A pump may certainly help you, but it is NOT a silver bullet. Understanding your diabetes better is more important. (In many cases what you are taught in order to use a pump does more for your diabetes management than the pump itself!)

Diabetes is a chain of many links. One weak link and your sugars are all over the place. You need to find the weak links and then strengthen them. And that needs poring through details. Maybe you would like to post up a few days worth of dosages, blood sugars, how much you eat, exercise, and anything else you think is relevant. Point out the things you don't understand. Forums like this are a gold mine for insight into what might be going on and what to do about it.

I certainly don't want to discourage you from trying a pump, but it sounds to me like there are existing issues in your diabetes management that you should seek to understand and address.
 
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