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Talk to me about the 'patch pump...?! (Please)

S

Stadm3

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
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 :)
 
Why a patch pump as opposed to a tube pump? Patch pumps are comparatively rare. They have some specific pros and cons vs a tube pump.

Are you really asking about pumps in general?

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Patch pump specifically as I was absolutely adamant no tube pump. I don't want this machinery attached to me on a permanent basis and then flopping around the bed for me or my partner to end up lying on.


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Most people who don't want a pump quickly change their mind when they've had one for a few weeks. Why not give it a go and see what you think? You're lucky that you're being offered one - plenty of people have to fight tooth and nail to get a pump.



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January last year a DSN suggested a pump to me as I'd been pulling out my hair for a long time trying to sort out my levels. No way, says I, for most of the reasons you mention. Yuk! Not a chance. By March I started to get more curious and watched lots of youtube videos made by diabetics using pumps and got more interested. Read up more on them and decided I wanted one; so next time I seen my consultant I was very keen to get put on the waiting list.
I'm now in my first week of using a pump, pesky tubes and all, and it is the BEST thing I have ever done. Wish I'd done it years ago now. Already there are big improvements in my levels and with a few tweaks they should get even better. I honestly don't find it a hassle at all, in any way. It makes life much easier. I'd completely recommend finding out more and asking about trying one out.

Just do it! Worst that can happen is you don't like it and just go back to pen injections again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
 
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