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Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pump?

Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

I'm preferring the pump (ok so I only got mine on 9th dec 13). It's only been day since getting it but have had my first day of normal BG levels, no highs and wondering why it happened. I'll be getting my cgm in jan 14 as I'm gonna hav a month gettin used the pump. It took approx 3mnths to get pump (from deciding to get it, to receiving it). I'd recommend it (I know it's early days) but the problem for many seems to be the hospital grrrr.


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Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

I'm under Havering CCG in Greater London / Essex, from asking to receiving to get the pump was about 3 months.
However, I was very fortunate, someone else who went on the pump at the same time as me, in the same CCG waited 18 months for it. It's a case by case thing.
 
Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

Well done! Definitely a good idea, shame it's so much hassle to get one - taken me 4 years of "mild interest" & 2 years of "concerted effort".
Had mine 6 months now, still look forward to set changes - it proves I've got a pump!
 
Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

SimonClifford said:
RichardJ - what PCT in which town are you looked after for diabetes?
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Sorry for the late replay simmon.
My PCT is certainly Sussex but i think it also deals with Surrey, and/or Kent.
 
Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

Cool thanks - it's just that if folk who're looking for a pump know where to go, they'll not waste 4 years moving around trying to find a diabetic centre who have a clue about pumps (like I did).
 
Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

I think it also depends on your dsn/doctor, i keep reading alot of people struggling with the dsn/doctor.
I know my dsn works between Eastbourne and Hastings hospitals, and she works in a very proactive team trying to get everyone one to do the SADIE course (local version of DAFNE), then if your intrested in the pump they'll take you through all the options and make sure you get the pump you want, even if they don't know much about it, but are willing to learn.
I am very lucky with my dsn and i know alot aren't so lucky, so its still a lottery.
 
Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

Exactly, so your area is "good". Go to the QHB Birmingham & they'll tell you you've got to do DAFNE, you do it, you carb-count & you test >6 times daily. Then the consultant says, "we'd like to give everyone a pump who wants one, but I'm very sorry we have too many type-1s in the area already in pumps".
You go to Rugby & they say, "oh, in this area we find we're so successful on MDI we hardly ever need to consider pumps"
Go to Malvern & they say, "That's quite specialist treatment, I don't think we can offer it in Worcestershire".
Go to Stafford, and they say, "yes, we're very proactive about pumps, we are near the high-end of the recommended quantity. We must be sure that you understand all the implications and can use it intelligently. Let's have a chat"
And that, is how Stafford got me a pump.
 
Re: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pum

I have a feeling it's more to do with the consultants themselves than anything else. Some are "submissive" to "management": others are, "I'm the guy, I know what I'm talking about; everyone else just do your job and support my decisions.".
 
benedict said:
Today's Diabetes Week question is for type 1s: Would you prefer to be on insulin injections or on a pump?

Are you someone who has constantly been asking to go onto a pump?
Are you on a pump and now reaping benefits?
Have you gone onto a pump but are now questioning whether it's best for you?
Or do you prefer to stay on injections?

Let us know which you prefer and why?
Click to expand...
I love to have a pump! I already aply but no have any anwser!
 
Hi iv been diabetic since I was 14 I'm not 20 I inject 5 times a day but struggle to come up with good results of blood sugars, I'm a very active person play a lot of football and I do a lot of boxing too, so would the pump affect my sports?


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I have been asking for the past 10 years since I was 24 then I was told they only give it to young active people I was working full time as a dental nurse and running a home with a young child and wasn't aware I was old at 24. Im now nearly 34 and still have no control over my diabetes they want me to attend carb counting clinics and see the dietitian if I still can't keep them under control after that they are goin to see about finally giving me the pump fingers crossed I may eventually feel like a normal human being again

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Carb counting is absolutely vital for a pump (you enter grams of carb, rather than units directly like you normally think) my AccuChek pump then works out how much insulin you need & takes into account what you've already had. (Yes you have to tinker with all these settings, there's no magic wand & you DSN can only get you started)
I was cynical about carb counting after having never (consciously) used it in the 35 years I've been type-1. I had to fairly rapidly appreciate & embrace a slightly different way of thinking (it DOES work! Honest!)
That'll give you one more of the 3-4 keys you need to get a pump. Now you need to find a consultant who's keen on them. You can also pull tricks like "I get these unexpected & random hypos" (a NICE criteria for a pump) and then finagle those "hypos" by testing a "hypo-in-a-bottle" solution of glucose. It's a bit underhand, but might work if you're clever enough to pull off a heist.
Drop me a private mssg if you'd like a natter about it all!



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I love my pump, but on a holiday in the sun I go back into injections. I find that people only stare at what you're looking at. So I sort myself out, sort the dose etc. then lift up my t-shirt - stare stolidly skywards and in-clickedy-click-out! Nobody seems to bat an eyelid. I walked through the middle of Birmingham's new Bull-Ring on a Sat afty & injected - no worries! :-D


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