rules for getting a pump

[Adrian1]

I recently attended my twice yearly visit to my diabetic consultantand enquired about going on a pump. I am 55 years of age and have dibetes for 47 years. I was told I was told that the only way was to go on a waiting list for the latest carbohydrate counting course (the waiting list for this is over 2 years) is this normal or should I ask to be refered to another Hospital?

 

[Steveee]

Adrian,

There are two aspects to going on the pump, i.e. do you meet the criteria and can you carbohydrate count:

NICE has recommended insulin pump therapy as one option for people with type 1 diabetes provided that:

* multiple-dose insulin therapy (including using insulin glargine when it?s appropriate) has failed, and
* they are willing and able to use insulin pump therapy effectively.
NICE considers that multiple-dose insulin therapy has failed when someone has been carefully trying to manage their diabetes but hasn't been able to keep their blood glucose levels within recommended levels without having ‘disabling hypoglycaemia'. This means that they have repeated and unpredictable hypoglycaemic episodes for which they need help from other people, and which make them anxious about the episodes occurring again and significantly spoil their way of life.

The key point here is that the statement willing and able to use insulin pump therapy effectively. Generally most PCTs interpret this as successfully completing a carbohydrate counting course such as DAFNE or BERTIE and then getting trained to use the pump.

I do suggest you remind your consultant that as a diabetic of over 47 years you started out carbohydrate counting - well I certainly did 40 years ago! Perhaps if they have a specialist diabetes dietician you could ask for some 1-2-1 training.