• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Pumping Newbie- questions

L

Loopy88

Member
Messages
19
Location
Bedfordshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Yesterday, I saw my DSN and dietician who spoke to me about a pump. A Medtronic one which would connect with a new meter.

I'm not exactly sure what model it would be but I was told to ask about pumping and how it benefits people. I've had T1 for nearly 12 years and have really really struggled with control and acceptance. I am quite insulin sensitive. 1 unit of NovoRapid drops me by 1.5mmol.

Can anyone please enlighten me and explain all the ins and outs of pumping please?
 
Hi Loopy88 I've been T1 for 54 years next week and I have been on a pump for 8 months,I use the Medtronic 640g,which is the pump I think you are talking about.i personally think it's a superb pump,as I have not used any other pump,so,I am biased.When you start pumping there is a lot of basal testing,I can find nothing against.As with all insulin delivery systems you only get out what you put in.Would I go back to MDI,absolutely not.
 
I honestly can't remember what the pump is called but only that it will come with a new meter which is a shame as I really like my Accu Check Aviva Expert but if it helps with control and my A1C results, I am all for it.

I understand there is a lot of maths involved which is a bit daunting as I am awful at maths. Also, how do the seasons affect insulin? How easy are the cannulas to change?
 
Have a good read around the insulin pump forum, there's some great information and discussions there which discuss the pro's & con's of pumping insulin.

Also echo what @yingtong has said, you only benefit from a pump if your prepared to put the time and effort in, it does take a little while to get things like the basal settings right but after a while it all becomes routine, if you want to read a good book which will prepare you for using a insulin pump (and one which you can return to time and time again) then purchase Pumping Insulin by John Walsh & Ruth Roberts.
 
I'm on an Accuchek Insight pump, and the handset/meter it is linked to is called the Accuchek Aviva Insight - which is the same as the Aviva Expert standalone meter in all but the fact that it links directly to the pump. Basically it's a meter that's identical to the one you're used to, except it ALSO talks to the pump.

So, you test using the handset/meter and go through the bolus/correction calculator steps that you are using now on the Expert meter, and then it links to the pump to carry out your instructions based on those results.

Is the Insight pump an option for you, rather than the Medtronic? Might be worth an ask at the clinic.

I'm new to pumping (just over 3 months) but it's changed my life.
 
Loopy88 said:
I am quite insulin sensitive. 1 unit of NovoRapid drops me by 1.5mmol.
Click to expand...
That made me smile :) 1 unit drops me by 5.5mmol

Any pump you have is just fine they all do basically the same thing. Hope you manage to start pumping sooner rather than later.
 
Wow you are very sensitive then! I thought 1.5mmol was bad enough. I've been known to go from 17mmol to 3mmol in little over an hour in the past.
 
Loopy88 said:
Yesterday, I saw my DSN and dietician who spoke to me about a pump. A Medtronic one which would connect with a new meter.

I'm not exactly sure what model it would be but I was told to ask about pumping and how it benefits people. I've had T1 for nearly 12 years and have really really struggled with control and acceptance. I am quite insulin sensitive. 1 unit of NovoRapid drops me by 1.5mmol.

Can anyone please enlighten me and explain all the ins and outs of pumping please?
Click to expand...

Hey @Loopy88 :)

I'm not exaggerating when I say my medtronic pump has changed my life! I got diagnosed aged 10, and struggled along for 18 years before being offered the pump. And, ohmygosh! What a difference! Gone are the constant high readings after constant hypos, gone are the days where I'm so tired from BG fluctuation that I can't do anything & gone are the foul mood swings!

I LOVE the fact that I can alter my basal, so it matches my lifestyle throughout the day - something you physically cannot achieve with injecting - once it's in there, you can't control it, but with the pump, you can control how much basal you get for every minute of the day if you choose!

The only critique I have with the pump, and it is the only one, is that a handful of times, for whatever reason (still havent figured it out but I think it was a bad batch of infusion sets) but the pump failed to deliver basal & I've ended up with high readings.

But I would 100%, without hesitation recommend going on the pump. :D
 
Back
Top