Diabetes Type 1 Support Group

I am not on a pump but I wish I could try one. In Britain pumps are unavailable on the NHS unless you can prove you would literally drop dead of terror when faced by a needle. From what I have heard, pumps are better in some ways but you still need to have a good awareness of insulin dosage and carb counting and all the other maths involved in managing blood sugars. I would suggest an education course (even if you think you do not need one since you have been diabetic so long, it really helps, believe me) and then try out a pump if you want to, but I believe education is most important, you need to understand your body and your diabetes and pumps are not a magic route to better sugars.

I would like to go on a pump also, but I am in the UK and we cant have one, not as a general rule anyway! Its still not easy though, its still a case of calculating insulin and food, but most people who are on them seem to prefer it.

I cant belive how behind the UK is with its diabetes treatments. Thats horrid. They need to get with the program!

i am on a pump and i can`t put enough emphasis on what it did to help me. i am on my third pump now and i can`t imagine not having one. any moe questions just ask

I guess the thing is about the pumps being unavailable in the UK is the price we pay fro having a free health service.

I get all my prescribed medications free of charge. I don't have to worry about not being able to afford medication or having to decide which I need most.

It's swings and roundabouts!

My 8 year old daughter has been on the pump for 4 years now and it works great! Her numbers were all over the place also before we chose to go with the pump. She loves it compared to the daily shots. She can eat whatever and whenever she wants. She just needs to make sure to enter in her carb count to determine the insulin dose. It is much better changing her site once every three days versus at least three shots a day.

the pump can get you in MUCH better control becasuse it acts like a portable pancreas. it will give you a little bit of insulin all day/night long with out you telling it to, and then you give more for how many carbs you eat. i was able to get in much better control in less than 4 months.

I've met people who like the pump, and people who like shots. I'm a pump girl myself. I think if you take more than one or two shots a day, I'd go for the pump. *Note that I was taking five shots a day.* It really depends on the person, though.

I have been on a insulin pump for 7 years now and I love it. Don't get me wrong it requires work and thinking.

I agree, you have to test and WANT to take care of your self or it's useless. But the pump only uses fast acting insulin...Riiigghhhttt, mininmal peaks like w/long acting, plus changes to basals are immediate. W/ Lantus and other long-actors, you uauslly have to wait a day or two to see the change. Better flexibility, you have patterns to switch on and off from for diff. reasons. Plus you can get as precise as 1/10 of a unit. and stop insulin for workouts, etc. Thats where the difference is to me. You can't really draw a 1/2 unit of insulin from a syringe. Its not a cure...just a very good treatment. I LOVE it!