Hi all
I got an email from a reader this week, with a few questions in it. An outline of the questions as follows:
1. Have you even been in contact with anyone around my age (26) who is using a pump that wouldn’t mind a few questions?
2. How do you start the pump process? Do you contact your diabetes team at the hospital first (as unhelpful they may seem to be for me), or do I contact the pump suppliers first?
3. Also, what happens if I shell out all that money for the pump, and then realise it really isn’t for me?
Given that I’m no expert on things (merely an observer and player much like everyone else out there), I thought I’d throw the questions to the community.
My crack at the answers:
1. I’m nearly 32 so can’t help you there…. maybe Aaron would agree to answer your questions though, but he is a bloke?
2. Interesting question… I have spoken to people who’ve done it all sorts of ways. I have friends who have done pump starts with trial pumps from their DHB, but the pumps they’ve used have been worthy of being put in MOTAT. Then, those of us who started pumping because we were in pre-pregnancy planning were put on loan pumps for the duration of the period where we got our BGs tight and during the pregnancy. Then I have other friends who leapt in and bought an insulin pump outright then got training from the pump rep and their DHB.
3. Re shelling out for the pump and realising it’s not for you…. I would do my utmost to get someone to give you a trial first.
What do the rest of you think? Have you got any advice for this lady? Any 26ish-year-old pumpers who are willing to chat to her? If so, contact me and I’ll hook you up.
Cheers
Nic
Posted in Community, Insulin Pumps
Tagged as insulin pump
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Toni Peagram wrote
Hi
Quest 1. Again, I am in my late 30’s but this is the second time that I have been on a pump the first was in my late 20’s and while I was pregnant (this was a loan pump through the hospital) which I found worked really well. I was put off because of the huge expense involved but finally decided to take the plunge and go ahead as you have to look at the long term goals and for me it is trying to get rid of the hypo’s (hasn’t happened yet – but the swings are a lot less now).
Quest 2. I know before I got the pump a lot of the companies that I spoke to were willing to give you a trial or at least a demo (because they want you to be happy) but also I spoke to the specialist and nurses that I see and they were able to assist where possible.
Quest 3. Don’t know the answer, just remember that a pump is still not a cure it is still a lot of work to get it anything close to right or close to ‘normal’.
Good luck
Toni
Nic wrote
Huge thanks to reader AC, who has contacted me and given me her details.
Nic wrote
Thanks also to the lovely ET, who has also volunteered to help out the lady in question. Way to go BeingDiabetic community x