Help, am panicking

Hi Everyone,
Last time I was at my Diabetic clinic I was advised that I would now be considered for an insulin pump because my control is awful even though I am doing my best for it not to be.I cant get my HbA1c below 9 and Im fed up and very frustrated not to mention feeling pretty dire. Tomorrow, I have my first meeting about the insulin pump with some consultant who is in charge of such things. I have heard that people are expected to jump through hoops to get a pump, and just wondered what other peoples experiences had been? I am utterly terrified about this meeting. I have wanted a pump for some time, but have never fit the criteria. Now I do, what if they say nope sorry youre not getting one?
Ridiculous I know, but can anyone advise?
Thanks
Angela
Type 1 Diabetic since 1974
Novorapid
Lantus
Freestyle Lite
HbA1c - 9.7

Hello Angela,
I have been using an Insulin Pump since the end of May and think that is absolutely fantastic. Along with the information I gathered from the DAFNE course, I now feel fully engaged with the way I control my diabetes and relish the challenge of getting my BGs on track throughout the day. I was offered a pump after the DAFNE course and doubt that I would have had any chance of using one without doing DAFNE. Of course, using a pump is not for everyone - you can always go back to regular injections if you cannot get on with the pump regime but in my view it is well worth a trial providing you are happy to keep up regular BG measurements and don't have a job or any other daily activity which would preclude you wearing a pump. (It can be removed for up to one hour at a time but to be honest, I only ever remove it when having a shower - I play squash every week with it in my shorts pocket rather than remove it). If you are being offered the chance of trying out an Insulin pump, take it but be prepared to pay to have it on your house insurance - they cost in the order of £3,000 - and to take regular BG measurements as I have said. My health trust made it pretty clear to me that it is MY choice rather than theirs provided I fulfilled their criteria which effectively meant being "switched on" in terms of understanding diabetes control and being prepared to follow the rules. Hope this helps but please come back if you have any questions.

Alan

Hi.....

I was offered a pump but decided to see if i could have anpother rack at controlling myself.......like you my HbA1c is 9ish....I have heard they are great so i might go back soon and get one! Dont panic!!!...... )

Let us know how it goes x

hello pump panicker - I don't have one, and as a new user of this web forum am a bit scared by the fact that quite a lot of people seem to have hb1ac levels lower than mine - never mind. So far so good, no major complicatons after 41 years on insulin, the first 15 years or so with no idea what by blood sugar or hb1ac was at all. Anyway I thought I'd mention that a couple of years ago I met an American swimmer on a swimming holiday who was a pump user. Pumps are much more widely used there. He was aged about 30, on insulin for about 5 years, had been a collegiate swimmer. We did long open water swims, some took 2 hours or more. (We were fed sugary drinks every half hour, has safety boats, etc). He disconnected the pump beforehand and reconnected afterwards. He carried little sachets of glocose everywhere, had them secreted in his speedos. It was great that there were two of us in the group on insulin. I can't put you directly in touch with him but can assure you that he was unconcerned about disconnecting for those periods of time while doing exercise. Made me think. Have discussed it with doc lately, not being particularly encouraged to do it at the moment but I suppose that could change. Good luck
Daphne (yes, really..)