using a pump

[ben-92]

im a type 1 diabetic have been for just over a year, hate injecting sooo much! im 18 and work full time as a plumber, when i did the DAFNE course they mentioned pumps briefly. would be nice for peoples opions on lifestyle with a pump or how different it is from injecting?
thanks ben =]

 

[sparkle_87]

Hi Ben

I find pump much better than injecting, one of the many benefits is only having to change needle every 2days whereas when I was injecting I would sometimes be having around 10 injections a day with correction doses etc which left me very bruised and sore. Had pump for 1 month now so new to it still but so far no sore "sites" and so much easier to control, find myself testing a lot more too

I found found different patterns in my BG results tho, but am working with the pump specialist to adjust my basal rate, still trial and error really. But definalty more pros than cons with pump so far

Thanks

 

[JANROU]

Only been on a pump for 4 weeks but it really works for me. have lost the big swings i was having and feel much better. I still have a long way to go before my basal is sorted especially as i need to do one basal rate for each of the shifts i work. Think you are doing the right thing to investigate all your options, good luck

 

[Debloubed]

Hi ya, I'm a newbie too, just over 3 weeks pumping now, but it's a massive control difference even though there is a lot of 'tweaking' to do/be done. it's a HUGE commitment though, I change my infusion set every 3 days and inserting the canula is painless and easy so if it's injections that bother you, what would be a benefit for you. I got mine after doing DAFNE as you need to carb count well to make it work well. Best thing is, like others have said, no more swings. Have had some highs but they have been consistent and not in the teens, and no more major highs swinging down to major lows which is fab!

Good luck with it keep us posted

PS - you have to test loads! and that won't ever change, but if you do that anyway then shouldn't be any different for you

 

[Piper]

I have been type 1 for 7 yrs, i have other auto immune diseases that dont play well with the diabetes.
I have been on two pumps, the first was the medtronic and the second was the animas made by jonhson & johnson.

I was taken off it because i had a hypo during the night, and was still being infused with insulin.
I was in a diabetic coma for 2 weeks -not expected to survive or be severly brain damaged.
Thankfully the brain damage only amounted to a short term memory problem i had getting much worse- it may sound bad but i could have ended up a vegetative state.

I had to fight to get the pump, the 4k for the pumps themselves and the £1700 a year for the infusion sets.
I then had a go of the guardian, continuous blood glucose monitoring system- hated it.
It was too stressful to insert the sensors that had to last for 3 days and cost about £50 a go.
It wasnt comfortable either.


Also, when it says its continuous it is not- it tests the blood every ten minutes and actually missed two of my hypos.

Pumps are not a perfect device by any means, until there is a device that can be placed under the skin something like every three months and no messing around with tubes (all wireless transmitting too) i dont think it is a long term thing for people like me.

I would love to try the omnipod- but they are too expensive and until they come down in price we wont see them in this country.

The next thing on the agenda for me is a possible islet transplant which costs over 100k a time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islet_cell_transplantation

I need assistance to survive several times a week- just the day before yesterday was a close call
If the islet transplants turns out to be all its promising ill be looking forward to it.

Piper UK

 

[sugar2]

Well, I love y pump..it allows me to be more "normal", while still trying to keep a close eye on my blood sugars, and keep good control.

It is not a magic ticket by any means, and as already said, you do have to work at it. As Piper says, I guess there are dangers, but there is with anything. I would be less keen on mine if I was not happily married, with a husband who looks out for me during the night...and also knows that I need to "disconnect" beofre doind any err, night time exercise! having said all that, would hate to give p my pump.