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On my way to a pump, how was the process for you

L

LaughingHyena

Well-Known Member
Messages
233
Last week the wheels were set in motion for me to start pumping. I already have a letter form the consultant a few weeks back indicating she thought I would be a candidate for a pump. There were a couple of adjustments she wanted me to try first, which I've now done. While they have improved things a bit it's still felt that long term a pump is my best option.

So what should I expect next? How did the process go for you once you had approval?

I've been given a food diary sheet to fill in for a couple of weeks to prove I can carb count. I'm still waiting for the date of my first appointment with the pump team, however the plan is for me to start on the pump at the begining of September so I hope it won't be too long.
 
Hello, I am in about the same position as you. Had my diet sheet checked a fortnight ago, having CGM at the end of the month, then see pump team in September. I have so much hope on the pump helping me, it's like waiting for Christmas!
Kat




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I'm not sure I can quite get excitied by it. I'd like to but I'm still worried about how long it will take to get all the settings sorted and get used to it. It takes me a while to adapt to change :lol:

Hopefully by Christmas we'll be sorted though and be able to take full advantage of the extra freedom of a pump. I'm looking forward to having a lie in without either having to get up to inject or getting up with a stupidly high BS.
 
Got my letter through with the appoitment with the pump team, 24th June.

I think the idea is we go through some of the targets we are hoping a pump will help me reach. Not sure about what else will happen. I'm hoping they can have a quick look at the food diary then too, otherwise I'll have to make another trip the same week.
 
Hi
That's good to hear. I'm all in the same position as you, I will be meeting with my pump team on the 25th. Will be told about what the pct will be looking for when considering someone for a pump.
If I qualify for the pump should have it fitted about sept/oct just in time for Xmas.
Richard


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I've recently been through the process, my consultant wrote to the pump clinic in March and I met with them in April.
I was prepared and I consulted with INPUT who informed me that I should wait no longer than 2 months after meeting with the clinic to have approval and a date for the pump.
7 weeks after meeting with the clinic I have a date to start pumping on the 3rd of July.

I know some people struggle for months trying to have pump approval, I've been quite fortunate, the whole process from requesting pump therapy with my consultant to starting pump therapy has taken 3.5 months.

Best of luck!


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hi i was referred to a different hospital on the 1st sept 2012 for the pump, i had my first appointment at the new hospital on 12th feb 2013 where i was told by the consultant that i could have a pump he told me that the dsn's would be intouch with me to choose my pump and go over my blood sugars (.i had that appointment in march ) the consultand made another appointment for 12th june he said that he wanted me up and running on the pump by this appointment!!! well the appointment is tomorrow and im not on the pump!!!! i was told at the march appointment that i had funding for the pump!!
 
I live in Scotland, and have had a much different start to the pump process. There was no approval stage, my bloods were terrible (always high) as I had issues with my Lantus working. My diabetes team asked before Christmas if I would like to give the pump a try, I had a ton of questions and was not sure about it at all, but after a ton of research and speaking to other pump users, I agreed to do it. The pump clinic was already pretty full with patients starting the pump, so had to wait until the end of April to start. Our clinics like to do workshops and inductions with a group of patients. My first workshop with my group was the 18th of April, started on the pump on the 29th April (had 2 sessions that week) then my final worshop on the 17th May. Was in constant contact with our diabetes team throughout the process, and can call up anytime if having issues. Took 1 week off work when I started the pump, but I would recommend 2 weeks, as it can be very mentally and phisically draining.

So been on the pump now for a month and half, and love it! I'm still trying to sort out all my ratios, but I'm close. Still trying to get the hang of my temp basals, but ill get there. Had some confusing times, and times where I thought I'd never get the hang of it, but got over that now you can do so much with the pump, which is great. You have to carry a lot more about with you on a daily basis, and I test between 8 and 12 times a day at the moment. The first month I was pretty tired due to getting up during the night to test, I've stopped that now, but ill still get up every now and again to check anyway (its recommended you do this once a month). I've tested for ketones more in the last month than the total time I've been diabetic (12 years), thankfully no ketones at all it's a big change, but so far its been well worth it.

Good luck.
 
kels im really happy for you hun i wish my process was as quick as yours . hopefully at my appointment tomorrow the consultant will get things moving a bit quicker ! when i had my appointment with the dsn she told me that i would have pump training on the day i get the pump fitted and then sent home on a safe rate of insulin and they will ring me daily to see how i am and i would be ok to go back to work the next day ! im a bit worried about this because the pump clinic is over an hours drive from where i live and i dont drive my partner takes me to my appointments.
 
Hi,

My workshops were split into 4 mornings. Workshop 1 was just getting the pump, and playing with it, learning the buttons etc... Workshop 2 was starting on the pump. I had daily conversations with my Pump team, which was ace. I would highly recommend taking time off, at least during the first week, just remember that if you do your ratios and rates will probably change when you become more active, being back at work etc... I really was mentally and physically drained for the first couple of weeks, plus the first couple of days I was freaking out, just because it was such a big change, letting a machine do all the work

Hope you get a quick turnaround, fingers crossed
 
i hope i get it soon im really fed up now of waiting, high and low bgs !! my daughter is emmigrating to dubai next month and i want to be on the pump and stable by the time i go out there to see her in october
 
My story so far is,

Dec’12 the DSN finally sold me on using a pump. Until then I didn't fancy the thought of being attached 24/7 but we had tried all scenarios with MDI and it didn't make a difference to Dawn Phenomenon. I wanted my BG’s under control so agreed.

Feb’13 and I have my appointment with the DSN for pump suitability. They know me well from shared online diaries, phone calls and generally being a nuisance so it's a formality to tell me I'll be recommended and will be discussed at March monthly Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting.

End of March'13 I haven't heard anything so being impatient I called the clinic and asked the DSN what's the latest. Due to an admin error my case wasn't discussed but these things happen and was told it would be at April's.

Beginning May'13 and being impatient (again) I call and ask if I definitely was discussed this time. My very patient DSN told me I was discussed and approved. I now had to wait to be scheduled for the saline start and then pump training. It's a very busy clinic with a lot of people, children and adults, waiting for a pump so as soon as they know I'll know.

Today still same as May, waiting like a child waiting on Christmas I want mine now! lol Until then it's a case of Carry-On Correcting (sounds like a diabetes film with Sid James) and religiously testing, recording, weighing etc

@Kelsmell82, hope I'm not being nosey but can I ask which PCT you're under?

@Marie.T1, know how you feel with the ups n downs with your sugars while you wait, but knowing your getting one makes it the tiniest bit more bearable
 
I enquired about pumping last year and was told I'd be a good candidate but they had a few things for me to try first, January this year I had a car accident related to my diabetes and and ketoacidosis and my consultant appointment was bought forward a few months. My consultant referred me to a different hospital who specialise in pumps and since being referred there, things moved quite fast and from the day of being approved to my pump start date..in two days time... It's taken about 5 weeks. The entire process from me enquiring about it has been much longer, probably about a year. It's been a long rocky wait but the day is finally here!


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Kelsmell82 said:
Hi Derek,

New to the forum thing, so I'm assuming PCT is primary care trust? Sorry if so then I'm with Forth Valley in Scotland.
Click to expand...

Hi Kelsmell82,

Yes PCT is primary care trust, I just like using abbreviations

I asked because I'm always interested to see how different parts of the country differ from one another for people getting there pump.

My PCT is Lanarkshire and there's people in it that have been recommended pumps with the Dawn Phenomenon criteria like me and one took 6 months all in while another at the same time took over a year. I'm hoping mines is more the 6 months than a year though

Derek
 
hi i had my appointment with the consultant yesterday and he said he wants me on the pump in the next few weeks. he said he was going to speak to the dsn's and if i have not heard from them in 4 weeks i have to phone them. so hopefully not long now!!!!
 

That's great news marie.T1 :thumbup:

I hope it's on the quick side of the 4 weeks and you don't have to phone to chase them when your this close
 

That's great news, hope it comes through quickly for you. Do come back and let us know how it goes.

I went for my pre pump appointment this afternoon, approval has all gone through :thumbup: so that's good. Been through my food diary to prove I'm doing plenty of daily testing and am OK with carb counting so I don't need to go back for that which is a bonus.

My next steps are to email my DSN with the current results on my meter (since it wouldn't download for them today) and get a pre pump HBA1C done at the end of August. I'm going for the Animas vibe as I like the idea of everything being on the pump, even if I do have to enter BGs manually. The big decision left is which colour to go for.

The plan is to get my pump at the beginning of September, since the kids will be back at school it will be easier for me to get to the clinic, and I'll be doing a week long trial with saline to get used it all before going live. There is another pre pump clinic in August so there will probably be a few of us starting together.
 
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