I want an insulin pump

Having had a pump and had to give it back I can relate to this subject, they are very convinent and my levels have gone up since comming off it, but I think the DAFNE course is the key NOT the pump. I have to say there are some down sides to the pump, sleeping with it certanly is not great, they are expensive to the
NHS not that that should be an issue if you really need one.
there is a lot of stuff you need to carry around with you too, canulars, resovoirs,insulin (obviously), Batteries.
So do some research, would I go back on? not sure at the moment.

The downsides of the pump described in the last post surely outweigh the positives......the only positive I an see is the ability to deliver over a longer gradual period......

the amount of insulin used is very well controlled on a pump it has to be said, you don't have to round up or down on your carb's and it does take into account your active inuslin although I found that a bit of a pain at night if I was a bit high it would not give suggested dose so I had to override it, but that is a minor issue. I liked the fact that whilst out and a bout I could just dial up the amount of insulin i needed push button and away you go, very discrete but I also found the canulars would irritate me at times and I did not like inserting them every 2 or three days the little needles in the pens are in my oppinion less uncomfortable.

Are you more worried about the cost to the NHS or the cost of your health? your own health is priceless and you should want the best care possible! You do not need to carry around canulars and resovoirs unless you were going on holiday or something. All you need day to day is your pump and testing kit. Sleeping with it doesnt bother me, I leave it loose and it follows me around the bed. Its not even an issue!

* Pumpers report better quality of life compared to using other devices for administering insulin. The improvement in QOL is reported in type 1 and insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes subjects on pumps.

*The use of rapid-acting insulin for basal needs offers relative freedom from a structured meal and exercise regimen previously needed to control blood sugar with slow-acting insulin. The alternative basal insulins, such as the long lasting insulins injected once a day, often release their insulin at a very unpredictable rate.
Many pumpers feel that bolusing insulin from a pump is more convenient and discreet than injection.

*Insulin pumps make it possible to deliver more precise amounts of insulin than can be injected using a syringe. This supports tighter control over blood sugar and Hemoglobin A1c levels, reducing the chance of long-term complications associated with diabetes. This is predicted to result in a long-term cost savings relative to multiple daily injections.

*Many modern "smart" pumps have a "bolus wizard" that calculates how much bolus insulin you need taking into account your expected carbohydrate intake, blood sugar level, and still-active insulin.

*Insulin pumps can provide an accurate record of insulin usage through their history menus. On many insulin pumps, this history can be uploaded to a computer and graphed for trend analysis.

*Neuropathy is a troublesome complication of diabetes resistant to usual treatment. There are reports of alleviation or even total disappearance of resistant neuropathic pain with the use of insulin pumps.

*Recent studies of use of insulin pumps in Type 2 diabetes have shown profound improvements in HbA1c, sexual performance, and neuropathy pain.

If you did some research or were allowed to try one over a week Novorapidboi26 you would relise they do more than just deliver insulin, You can have a standard bolus, extended bolus, combination bolus and a superbolus. You can increase and reduce the basal rate hourly (Novorapidboi26 this would help you and your dawn phenomenon), You can have a tempory basal rate for exercise, illness, stress etc. I not wasting my time arguing with you, and im not here to make anyone even want one. Im here to make it clear to anyone that DOES want one that they are infact a brilliant step forward and not a negative, scary or in anyway difficult to live with. Maybe if you tried one you would realise, but you just keep worrying about the NHS why dont you....

I mean no offence......all I m saying is everyone can't have one just because they can't be arsed injecting.....patterns can be spotted on paper......dafne educators would agree I say......only if u can control the condition after trying everythin is it suitable........

Edit*

Only if you cant control the condition after trying everything is it suitable..........


We could go on forever weighing up the good and bad........

I think it important to have this debate, i am sure my pump was taken back on purely Financial reasons.

Hey Tony,

Now whats happened to you is shit, you were given an pump, to find it had positive effects, which naturally it will, then taken back off you...

Thats why they should be given to individuals who are always low, or high, or both, through no fault of thier own.

HCPs should have realised that you were able to control your sugars normally.

Its a sad thought but it does all boil down to money and thats the reality.

Anyone saying that money doesnt matter is disillusioned.

Theres cuts left, right and centre in th UK.

Pumps are not pratical in everyday life, surely having one just brings it home even more that you have this crappy condition.

Oh how I love my passionate opinions...


Please join the debate.....

we have to be passionate about our condition i think. The problem is it was a trial but on the day of the end of the trial they gave us hope that we would keep the pumps, only to be told by phone a few days later that we had not met the criteria so read that as you will.

Cupcake
I have no hypo awareness either and this has resulted in my having 3 severe hypos in the last year.
Why some people cant believe this is beyond me.!!
I have been diabetic for 30 years and counting.
I too would like a pump and i would dearly love to get back to work.
You will have to let me know what the pumps like and how it works for you.