Pumpin-ell !!!

[Peanut1980]

hiya guys and gals .... I'm type 1 and 33yrs old and was diagnosed at the age of 7 . In the past 2 years my eyes have deteriorated a little and I am in the process of having treatment for them. Iv so far had 12 lots of laser and 2 injections into the eyeballs. Obviously this has given me the wake up call I needed but I'm struggling day to day with fluctuations in BG levels. Iv done the Dafne course and my HBA1C is 8.4. Iv tried to get a pump but the doctor says he needs to try other things first like a BG monitoring system. Really struggling at the minute any advice on how to get accepted for the pump ?

 

[Spiker]

hiya guys and gals .... I'm type 1 and 33yrs old and was diagnosed at the age of 7 . In the past 2 years my eyes have deteriorated a little and I am in the process of having treatment for them. Iv so far had 12 lots of laser and 2 injections into the eyeballs. Obviously this has given me the wake up call I needed but I'm struggling day to day with fluctuations in BG levels. Iv done the Dafne course and my HBA1C is 8.4. Iv tried to get a pump but the doctor says he needs to try other things first like a BG monitoring system. Really struggling at the minute any advice on how to get accepted for the pump ?

That's unusual as you meet NICE criteria for a pump. Doubly unusual as it is really hard to get prescribed a CGM (is that what you mean?) other than for a temporary study.

I would contact INPUT who can really help get you a pump. Sounds like you could really benefit for one, you sound motivated.

 

[Hooked]

hiya guys and gals .... I'm type 1 and 33yrs old and was diagnosed at the age of 7 . In the past 2 years my eyes have deteriorated a little and I am in the process of having treatment for them. Iv so far had 12 lots of laser and 2 injections into the eyeballs. Obviously this has given me the wake up call I needed but I'm struggling day to day with fluctuations in BG levels. Iv done the Dafne course and my HBA1C is 8.4. Iv tried to get a pump but the doctor says he needs to try other things first like a BG monitoring system. Really struggling at the minute any advice on how to get accepted for the pump ?

I understand just what it's like!
I'd neuropathy and proliferative retinopathy with levels that just wouldn't behave, varying wildly from day to day despite lots of testing and recording everything. Thankfully I'd already been through telemonitoring and a week of CGM and the DAFNE course before I'd even asked to get on a pump. Will all that in front of him the consultant agreed that a pump was the only way forward as long last insulin just wasn't cutting the mustard. Even with that it took about 6-7 months for me to get on the pump as there is some assessments etc the diabetic team needed to do and basically the over stretched staff are limited on time and resources to run pump training. (Bearing in mind I'd wanted the pump from Feb last year, but took until November before I could see the diabetic consultant!)

Keep pushing, keep yourself in their minds coming to see the diabetic nurse and ringing for advice when you could do with it. Record everything, food eaten, exercise, as well as insulin and glucose levels.

Hopefully won't be too much longer till they have gone through the process and get you onto a pump. But it will seem a lifetime while you are waiting!

 

[ElyDave]

hiya guys and gals .... I'm type 1 and 33yrs old and was diagnosed at the age of 7 . In the past 2 years my eyes have deteriorated a little and I am in the process of having treatment for them. Iv so far had 12 lots of laser and 2 injections into the eyeballs. Obviously this has given me the wake up call I needed but I'm struggling day to day with fluctuations in BG levels. Iv done the Dafne course and my HBA1C is 8.4. Iv tried to get a pump but the doctor says he needs to try other things first like a BG monitoring system. Really struggling at the minute any advice on how to get accepted for the pump ?

I think you need to take a look at Input, print out the NICE criteria and tick off which ones apply to you adn takem them in to your quack's.

It's not likely to be quick though, I'll have taken 10 months from DAFNE to pump by the time I get one in October and I think I've pushed pretty hard.

 

[donnellysdogs]

You need to prove that you have tried to get your bg's to normal parameters and no matter whatyou do- injections don't work.

He is on about a cgm to find out where your peak and troughs are and to see if adjustments to your insulin can be made.

A pump is NOT an easy option. You need to be able to put a lot of work into the management of it initially, lesser so ongoing.. But definitely more blood tests for me than when I was mdi...

If you have had dka then you are less liky at my hospital to be considered for a pump. In fact, you wouldn't be considered....


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[kkkk]

Another vote for INPUT...they also have pump friendly clinics and if it doesn't work out with yours you can transfer, though if you are happy with your current care then just keep persisting in talking to them and asking for help etc...so you keep yourself on their minds too. They will also be able to talk to you about pumping as well and there are loads of us on pumps (often the hospital does pump awareness type days and introductions so ask to go on one) - it doesn't instantly make diabetes easy - it is a more refined management of diabetes compared to injections but it still takes lots of work and testing at least 4 times a day but the potential for it helping you live with a better quality of life is also in there too. The main advantages for me on the pump is less hypos and more stable blood sugar levels, plus the ability to do exercise (proper - run til you feel exhauster - rather than just do a long walk) has been fantastic. However still needs lots of tweaking as all diabetes does as each day is a new day and you do different things, eat different things and then it just does something different for fun

 

[fig]

this made me smile as i could have written the first line of your post myself as i am also 33, diagnosed aged 7 and type 1! I was finally accepted for a pump in April this year after a long time asking and proving i did everything by the book but still couldn't gain control. Keep asking questions and nagging them and prove to them that you are willing to do whatever is needed. I haven't looked back since having my pump, couldn't imagine having to go back onto mdi now, i feel like i have much better control already but time will tell when i get my next hba1c result on wednesday