Starting on a pump

[jemmaedias]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to ask a quick question as I've noticed so many of you have started pumping recently.

I'm desperate for a pump as I find injecting makes me very uncomfortable in public places and I still get weird looks in the common room at lunch time!

I'm not entirely sure how the funding works as my DSN has not mentioned anything to be and the first time I read about any funding was when I joined the forum, but I'm hoping that's all sorted as they've been expecting to get me on a pump eventually since I was diagnosed, I think due to my age, control and perfectionism with my levels.

Although I am aware that rates and cannulas will take some trial and error, I have an appointment with my DSN on Tuesday but I was wondering how long the process will take before I actually have a pump?

Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using DCUK Forum

 

[GrantGam]

Hello!

Are you in the UK? If so you may want to have a look at this:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/Getting-an-insulin-pump.html

As far as I understand (and I am not on a pump) they are typically fully or partially funded. Fully if you are having pretty severe low BGL episodes or equally, an uncontrolable BGL. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the funny looks in public places or the common room. Your health is the priority.

There are many threads wrt to pump therapy, I myself started a thread asking about pros/cons of pumping and tbh it's still something I don't think I'd be interested in. But each to there own!

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/pump-benefits.101738/#post-1163895

Good luck
Grant

 

[noblehead]

Hi @jemmaedias,

The following article from INPUT has all the information you need on pump approval and pump funding:

http://www.inputdiabetes.org.uk/alt-insulin-pumps/is-it-provided-by-the-nhs/

How long it takes varies from clinic to clinic, from approval to actually starting on a pump took 3 months for me, but I would expect that 12 months would be the upper limit for most people.

 

[tim2000s]

@jemmaedias I'd suggest the quickest way to get there would be to mention it to the DSN and take it from there. As they say, if you don't ask, you don't get, and showing willing and understanding always helps in the process (and in some cases can speed it up).