I was diagnosed in 2017 as a type 2, but recently found out I was miss diagnosed, and I am a type 1. I am trying to get a pump as my bloods are all over the place, every time I ask my diabetic team, they change the goal post's of the criteria for one. I feel if I got a pump my bloods would settle down. How do I go about trying a different way off getting a pump?
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Type 1
- Thread starter becca2018
- Start Date
Funding for a pump is difficult to get as some regions just don’t have the money
Is also important to note whilst good a pump is not the be all and end all.. it still takes effort to achieve good control
In the mean time you’ll just have to keep pushing to try and qualify for a pump, either that or move to an area where funding is easier
My area has been good with funding.. but even now that have an 8 month waiting list
Is also important to note whilst good a pump is not the be all and end all.. it still takes effort to achieve good control
In the mean time you’ll just have to keep pushing to try and qualify for a pump, either that or move to an area where funding is easier
My area has been good with funding.. but even now that have an 8 month waiting list
Hi Becca - agree with Searley, some CGM's do not have the money available and then the selection process means that children get them before any of us, so when they hand pumps out they want to ensure that those who benefit the most are getting them, part of this is showing you are trying your best with MDI to manage your glucose levels already. Pumps go not guarantee good control too, they may appear to as pump users in general will talk about good time in range control, but to get to this stage requires vigilance, basal testing and lots of adjusting over time.
I was once in a similar position to you, however I have come to realise now that hormones played their part in my control on MDI and I was banging my head against the wall each month trying to reign in my insulin resistance, so basal rates changed frequently, but I did the DAFNE course which helped with pump access as showed willingness to try my best and also invested in purchasing the Dexcom G6 to help me see what was going on, it took me around a year with one rejection but finally got access.
Keep on top of them - ask them what you need to do to ensure you are prioritised and just keep pushing, if you show you are prepared to put the effort in they will support you.
I was once in a similar position to you, however I have come to realise now that hormones played their part in my control on MDI and I was banging my head against the wall each month trying to reign in my insulin resistance, so basal rates changed frequently, but I did the DAFNE course which helped with pump access as showed willingness to try my best and also invested in purchasing the Dexcom G6 to help me see what was going on, it took me around a year with one rejection but finally got access.
Keep on top of them - ask them what you need to do to ensure you are prioritised and just keep pushing, if you show you are prepared to put the effort in they will support you.
oldgreymare
Well-Known Member
Hi @becca2018,
I concur with the above statements and sadly it may take some time for you to be eligible/allocated a pump. Pragmatically this is not just due to funding constraints (which are significant!), but also due to a lack of enough pump specialist nurses for new user training and ongoing support, with children and pregnant women being top priority.
@Juicyj is spot on that it is essential to demonstrate to your diabetic team why you are a good candidate for a pump. In my opinion the first step is to use a CGM if you aren't already, and use this data to understand as much as you can about what influences your BG levels (diet, exercise, sleep, stress, hormones, medication, etc). Like @Juicyj, I self funded a Dexcom G6, now using the G7, and shared the data with my hospital diabetes team. But if you are not already using one, you should be eligible for a CGM through your GP. These may not have sharing functions so take care to store your records. In my area completing a DAFNE course was a prerequisite before being considered for a pump, but I think doing the BERTIE online or equivalent may also be acceptable (check).
Personally I also think using a CGM is also valuable in providing insight into how well you may cope with a device attached to your body, especially placement to avoid knocks, adhesive issues (falling off, skin reactions), swimming, etc. Pumps whether tubed or tubeless require more, bigger gear attached to you that can take time to adapt to.
In my case, I shared my CGM data for a year before being asked if I wanted to be considered for a pump. I had a reasonable HbAc1, but the CGM data showed that I suffered from persistent night time lows that I couldn't manage with MDI. It was another 12 months before I was actually given a pump.
Please persist!
I concur with the above statements and sadly it may take some time for you to be eligible/allocated a pump. Pragmatically this is not just due to funding constraints (which are significant!), but also due to a lack of enough pump specialist nurses for new user training and ongoing support, with children and pregnant women being top priority.
@Juicyj is spot on that it is essential to demonstrate to your diabetic team why you are a good candidate for a pump. In my opinion the first step is to use a CGM if you aren't already, and use this data to understand as much as you can about what influences your BG levels (diet, exercise, sleep, stress, hormones, medication, etc). Like @Juicyj, I self funded a Dexcom G6, now using the G7, and shared the data with my hospital diabetes team. But if you are not already using one, you should be eligible for a CGM through your GP. These may not have sharing functions so take care to store your records. In my area completing a DAFNE course was a prerequisite before being considered for a pump, but I think doing the BERTIE online or equivalent may also be acceptable (check).
Personally I also think using a CGM is also valuable in providing insight into how well you may cope with a device attached to your body, especially placement to avoid knocks, adhesive issues (falling off, skin reactions), swimming, etc. Pumps whether tubed or tubeless require more, bigger gear attached to you that can take time to adapt to.
In my case, I shared my CGM data for a year before being asked if I wanted to be considered for a pump. I had a reasonable HbAc1, but the CGM data showed that I suffered from persistent night time lows that I couldn't manage with MDI. It was another 12 months before I was actually given a pump.
Please persist!
