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Slow progress getting a pump :-(

N

neryscm

Active Member
Messages
30
Hello,
I initially queried about a pump at the beginning of April. I finally got an appointment with my consultant on the 4th of this month and she said I'm eligible for a pump and will write up my case to ask for funding. She then said I should get one by the end of the month.
I rang the diabetes centre as I have an appointment on Tuesday. I phoned to ask who the appointment was with and what was the situation with my pump, as it was ideal timing for me to spend some time really discussing and deciding what pumps were available as I'm a teacher and next week is half term.
The response I had was along the lines of this was just a chat with the diabetic nurse regarding my split basal that I've been doing for a few weeks and whether that was going ok.
I'm currently feeling really deflated and frustrated about the whole thing as I've been really wanting a pump since April (although I didn't expect one overnight) and thought I would have had one by now.
My BMs are nearly impossible to manage and average at about 13 on a good day.
Can anyone give me a realistic time gauge of when I'll have a pump? Am I supposed to get a phone call to say I'm approved or a letter of some sort?
Thanks in advance,
A very fed up diabetic.
 
hi there-- the post code lottery seems to have the answer on this one.

There are other similar threads on this topic with peeps getting a pump in 3 months to my sort of situation where I waited for 13 months in total ( started pumping 3 weeks ago :) )

expect to be able to prove you can carb count on the road to approval !!
 
Just sit tight @neryscm , if the consultant says you should here soon on the pump approval just wait and see, if you don't hear anything in the next couple of weeks chase it up with the consultant secretary.

Time allowing you could ask if there's any progress when you meet with the DSN next week, it should all be in the system and they'll say if there's been any updates.

I didn't get a letter to say I'd been approved but was already going through the pre-pump training so was in regular contact with my DSN, from approval to actually pumping insulin it took around 3 months for me.
 
IT will probably take your CCG 3 months from date of funding application by your consultant if you are lucky depends on who holds it up. You have been told you can have a pump so now patience is the name of the game. Hopefully Christmas you will have one and as that's a longer holiday it will give you longer to sort things out.

While waiting buy yourself pumping insulin so you have a head start on the life of pumping :)
 
Hi

There are a few stepping stones that need to be crossed first before getting a pump. I waited about 7 months and during that
time, I changed from once daily basal to twice, saw a dietician twice to prove that I could manipulate my bolus using carb ratios without too many low bg levels and not be too tight with my control.
So....be patient and you will get there..
 
Thank you for all of your replies. It seems I have to be a little more patient! Have looked at the pumping insulin book on Amazon - will go ahead and get it :-) thank again.
 
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