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Transition to Insulin Pump Therapy - would welcome some advice

thanks for that - I'll check it out. I called the clinic earlier today and they tried to fob me off for the fourth time! They stupidly didn't put me on hold when they were discussing me - they were saying as I said I didn't want to do the DAFNE then they didn't think I should be on the pump therapy (despite the fact I've been carb counting for 32 years!!) and to just bring my annual appointment forward to a six month one. When they came back on the phone they said they'd sent out an appointment to the clinician leading the pump therapy. So, we'll see what come through the post!
 
Ok some answers.

I don't believe you have a right to a particular pump such as the Omnipod. Basically you have to choose from what's on offer and that depends where you live.

I understand the issue about 5 days off work and I delayed DAFNE for nearly 2 years because of this. I have been T1 for twenty years and carb counting most of that time and I found the course incredibly valuable on all kinds of subjects I had never imagined. Even if the instructors had been useless (they weren't) it would have been worth it for the advice and experience from other diabetics on the course. I thought I knew it all, but I was dead wrong. Now I wish I had attended much earlier.

With an hba1c of 7.5 you are borderline eligible for a pump. The reason they insist on DAFNE is because they need to prove that you are doing MDI properly, according to the latest NHS advice, and still not achieving good HBA1C. Those are the NICE criteria, they can't vary those. So they are not being difficult with you and this is not a post code lottery, it is a national policy.

Having said all that, if you want a pump but are convinced DAFNE will be a waste of your time, you can just think of it as sitting in an empty room for a week in order to earn yourself 2 grand worth of free kit. Or, if you make more than 2 grand a week after tax, just buy yourself the pump of your choice. :-)

Miraculously sent via Diabetes Forum App. Probably on the 4th or 5th try :-/
 
Spiker said:
Ok some answers.

I don't believe you have a right to a particular pump such as the Omnipod. Basically you have to choose from what's on offer and that depends where you live.

I understand the issue about 5 days off work and I delayed DAFNE for nearly 2 years because of this. I have been T1 for twenty years and carb counting most of that time and I found the course incredibly valuable on all kinds of subjects I had never imagined. Even if the instructors had been useless (they weren't) it would have been worth it for the advice and experience from other diabetics on the course. I thought I knew it all, but I was dead wrong. Now I wish I had attended much earlier.

With an hba1c of 7.5 you are borderline eligible for a pump. The reason they insist on DAFNE is because they need to prove that you are doing MDI properly, according to the latest NHS advice, and still not achieving good HBA1C. Those are the NICE criteria, they can't vary those. So they are not being difficult with you and this is not a post code lottery, it is a national policy.

Having said all that, if you want a pump but are convinced DAFNE will be a waste of your time, you can just think of it as sitting in an empty room for a week in order to earn yourself 2 grand worth of free kit. Or, if you make more than 2 grand a week after tax, just buy yourself the pump of your choice. :)

Miraculously sent via Diabetes Forum App. Probably on the 4th or 5th try :-/
Click to expand...
Hi,
thanks for your input and I only wish I did earn 2k a week!! If only!! The only reason I think I would be better off with an Omnipod is for the obvious reason that' I'm a girl. I have to wear dresses and heels everyday for work so clipping the device may be an issue, especially during the summer. That's the only reason. If NICE agree the dispensation of certain types of pumps, but my Health Trust will only issue one or two of them, then it is a postcode lottery. I have really had no help whatsoever with my control from any medical professional in recent years In fact, when I was pregnant a few years back, I told the Consultant that his team were talking complete twaddle and I intended to ignore them for the rest of my pregnancy term and he agreed with me and told me to carry on as I was doing. (The advice I was given was staggeringly wrong)I want to make my sugars better and if the healthcare professionals are unable to help me to do it with advice and assistance then I'm hoping switching to the pump will help me prolong my current, very healthy life.
 
Ah I see. You can wear a tubed pump on your upper arm like an Omnipod or pretty much anywhere you would put a tubeless pump, just use short tubing and loop it and tuck it away. Yes it definitely is a postcode lottery on pump models. You will need to sweet talk your hospital to get an Omnipod. Check the threads here for the arguments made in favour of Omnipod. They are slightly more expensive, hence less commonly offered.



Miraculously sent via Diabetes Forum App. Probably on the 4th or 5th try :-/
 
Spiker said:
Ah I see. You can wear a tubed pump on your upper arm like an Omnipod or pretty much anywhere you would put a tubeless pump, just use short tubing and loop it and tuck it away. Yes it definitely is a postcode lottery on pump models. You will need to sweet talk your hospital to get an Omnipod. Check the threads here for the arguments made in favour of Omnipod. They are slightly more expensive, hence less commonly offered.



Miraculously sent via Diabetes Forum App. Probably on the 4th or 5th try :-/
Click to expand...
great, I really appreciate the advice from all those of who gone before me on the path to pump therapy...really helpful...thank you. I'll keep you all posted on how I get on
 
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