Hello all
I have had T1 diabetes for nearly 29 years and my recent HbA1c was 59 (7.5 in 'old money'!)
I was told off by the practice nurse last week for my HbA1c result as it was 'really quite high'. I mentioned this to a hospital consultant the other day and he mentioned I should consider the 'patch pump'. He's not the first to try and sign me up to having a pump, and I can't understand why the clinical community are so desperate for me to use this equipment. Honestly, my HbA1c has been between 5.8 and 7.5 for about 8 years!
Now, I'm quite queasy about the thought of a needle always being in my skin. Doing injections I can handle, but it always being there doesn't feel right! How obtrusive is a patch pump? How does it feel to always have a needle in your skin? Does control really get that much better than what I already have to warrant having it? (given my reluctance). How prohibitive is it? Where do you wear it? Does it chafe on your clothes? Can you go bathe without having to take it out all of the time? Has anyone had an infection from it? Anything else I've forgotten to ask?
Anyone that has a pump, love it or hate it, I'd love to hear your perspective, please. And if you have investigated it, and decided against it, why?
Thanks to anyone in advance
I have had T1 diabetes for nearly 29 years and my recent HbA1c was 59 (7.5 in 'old money'!)
I was told off by the practice nurse last week for my HbA1c result as it was 'really quite high'. I mentioned this to a hospital consultant the other day and he mentioned I should consider the 'patch pump'. He's not the first to try and sign me up to having a pump, and I can't understand why the clinical community are so desperate for me to use this equipment. Honestly, my HbA1c has been between 5.8 and 7.5 for about 8 years!
Now, I'm quite queasy about the thought of a needle always being in my skin. Doing injections I can handle, but it always being there doesn't feel right! How obtrusive is a patch pump? How does it feel to always have a needle in your skin? Does control really get that much better than what I already have to warrant having it? (given my reluctance). How prohibitive is it? Where do you wear it? Does it chafe on your clothes? Can you go bathe without having to take it out all of the time? Has anyone had an infection from it? Anything else I've forgotten to ask?
Anyone that has a pump, love it or hate it, I'd love to hear your perspective, please. And if you have investigated it, and decided against it, why?
Thanks to anyone in advance