Insulin Pumps

I have no direct experience with a pump but I believe it would be good for you seeing as you are so sensitive to insulin...........

The doses that can be delivered are minute........and hopefully as you adjust to getting the dose right you will see a rise in avergae sugar levels ,which might make you feel rough but will give you back your hypo awareness.......

To me is sounds like your only option to really get a hold of it........

I am a member of www.diabetessupport.co.uk....

They have a pumping section in thier forum where many a pumper is there to give advice and support, a few are using the medtronic, hope to see you there..........

Hiya...

Firstly, thanks novorapidboi26 for the referal to diabetessupport.co.uk. I had been a member there myself but it's been so long since I used the site, I can't even remember my username - nevermind the password. Heheh...

Now to Davejg. I can honestly say it's great to see someone post nigh on word for word what I wanted to (I struggle explaining myself sometimes). I've been a type 1 since '79 when I was 5 and tried almost all insulin devices going. Including a pump (2nd gen I think. The 1st were like a phone box.) back in the mid 80s. Although they were a lot simpler then... Turn a dial and leave it for basal, press a button per unit at meals... The end!

I've been pestering at the clinics for ages about the possibility of trying again but with no joy. Now after doing the DAFNE follow up the teachers there say it's probably the best thing I could do. Oddly I'm not sure I fancy it now as the new ones look so bloomin' complicated. But the same teachers have managed to reassure me (a bit at least) that they aren't as bad as they look.

I think the reason I - and possibly yourself - get the jitters is as you say the lack of clear info on the little beggars. And the abundance of 11 year old yanks on the likes of YooHoo Tube who think they're Dr Kildare!

All the best anyway. Would be good to hear how you get on!!!

Hi , ive had my insulin pump 4 weeks now today ....... and i love , if you have the chance id say go for it , by taking it on your not comitted for life you can always change your mind .

Just like to say hello to novorapidboi26 and thunderBolt and grandma Carol i reconise all your names from www.diabetessupport.co.uk its a great site and an extra special thank you to novorapidboi26 for recommendation

Cheers Jenny.

I think I've finally made my mind up that I WILL give it a whirl. Another example of my rubbish timing as it's just too late to ring them and I've got a whole weekend in front of me to bottle it!

Good for you thunderbolt ,

lol at bad timimg im alaways doing things like that and then totally forget to ring when they are open lol

good luck thunderbolt if you get the chance ask about the new omnipod its wireless! emma x

Well Thunderbolt did you do it ..........

Jenny

Its been great to see so many good comments, although still quite nervous about it all am quite looking forward to it now I am going tomorrow to start on the pump with saline for a week to see how I get on.

Hi guys, I have been reading these posts with interest as I have been thinking about going on a pump for a while. If you read most of the posts I am the one with the non healing surgical incision! (Yep, still not healed but I think it is on its way!) Since the surgery I have been doing many more tests and more QA injections and have now settled into a pattern of covering even my commercially bought cappuccinos so it is 7 injections most days.

I went to a pumping information session at the hospital on the weekend and the theme of "it is a process not an event" really hit home when I realized that the first step is a consultation with a CDE (Credentialled Diabetes Educator) scheduled 18 Nov (earliest available). A night in hospital in Jan/Feb and I am presuming we are "pumping" from there on. Basically three months from deciding to pursue pumping.

The system here (Australia) is different we buy the pump ($(AUD)5-8000) and then if you have private health insurance you get some, or, all of it back from the insurer. I rang mine and they were very noncommittal discussing whether or not the degree of cover would impact on my decision to go on a pump. It seems that the degree of cover given is dependent on what the endocrinologist and GP say regarding the benefit to me personally. You get more points if you are a child; committed to managing the diabetes; have "dawn phenomenon" or unrecognized hypos; high HbA1cs. Simply wanting to do it better (lower the HbA1cs) is not enough! I could be wrong but that was my take on the conversation. I am not sure whether the amount of cover would cause me to cancel or at least delay my "process".

I am hoping that as a Dafne Grad and someone who is used to carb. counting and dose adjustments the education phase will be truncated.

Davejg I am a bit like you nervous but I'm wondering if it is a bit like a committed relationship. Requires total commitment and a lot of communication. I am in the three month "engagement" phase!
I am however not known for my patience and tend to want things done yesterday! 3 months...good grief!

Thanks for the range of opinions. Any data on Dafne Grads that move onto pumps? Does this impact on the Dafne data?

Helen

In terms od pumping and the dafne data, I believe you will actually be recording much more than the standard dafne records, this is because you are able to adjust basal doses by the hour as well as give 'dual wave' bolus doses...........so to establish what these doses are, by the hour, you will need to test much more and therefore record much more......the rules are exactly the same with dose adjustment, just more refined..