Any type 1 diabetics on the pump (adults)

[Brisvegasmum]

Hey been on the insulin pump for just over a year but only know of kids using them so wondered if any adults had them and their experiences on the pump x

Me! I was diagnosed type1 whilst pregnant with dc1, was on injections for 3 years. Went on pump whilst pregnant with dc2 6 years ago and have also had dc3 since then, with dc3 I kept it on during labour and controlled levels myself. I love it, would hate to go back on injections now, although I do think it allows me to be a bit lazier...I kind of go in cycles of being really good and then letting control drift before knuckling down again! I've had very few problems with the pump itself, despite being dropped, getting wet etc it has never malfunctioned. I had one infected site a couple of years ago that developed an abscess but that's my only real problem so far.

I've got a medtronic minimed - must be due an upgrade soon!

Hey sounds like you it it sorted. I'm on the animas and so far it doing the job, but like you I say oh well pumps giving me hourly insulin shots I'm no longer diabetic etc etc then I get real sick and dh goes mad and sorts me out again lol. I hated the injections, belly, arms, legs arms I looked like a dislexsic heroine addict, covered in holes. Didn't want the pump at first coz I had visions of it on the same lines as colostomy bag attached to me but hey it's only small. When I first started it I had welts all over belly, tried it at bottom of back, practically needed a blood transfusion I lost that much haha. But yes I'm growing fond of it and makes for an easier life if eating on the hop etc. I still hate changing the needle site every 3 days but hey its keeping me alive. I do ind though that on a night out or something I have to really plan my outfit so that I can hide pump in bra or hang on knickers so needless to say Im a full on practical cotton girl as wouldn't know where to stick it on a lacy no lol. I also have 3 kids so why a lacy pair would come into my head is beyond me. Well nice to hear from a mum on the pump as I don't think there is many of us. Sorry one more q, was your pump expensive in the uk. I'm in Australia and it was very dear but health insurance covered mine. I thought of going home to uk o get it but after flights etc cost me more lol x

Yes, I must admit my stomach is not an attractive site with all the site marks, but then frankly it's not particularly attractive 3 children on in any case!

I know what you mean about finding somewhere to hide it, Especially with dresses. Bra is good sometimes, and I have used the cut-off top band of those stay-up stocking things as an impromptu thigh band to attach it to. I have also given myself a night off and gone pumpless a few times and taken a preloaded insulin pen and done small bolus every couple of hours for a base and kept a close eye on levels.

I'm in France at the moment so not sure what it's like now, but when I got my pump in the UK it was pretty unusual to get one, I only qualified because I was pregnant, and then I just kept saying I was about to have more children so they din't take it off me! They haven't chased me over here to get it back...I return to UK later this year so will see what happens! I'm pretty sure they are a lot more common in Aus than UK.

Since you're in Australia, have you come across www.realitycheck.org.au ? It's designed for "young" adults with T1, but they're not too picky! I found it really helpful when I was first diagnosed, and it's funny! Have you had T1 since childhood or are you a late developer like me?!

I haven't got a pump yet as i'm a bit sceptical and also not sure the NHS will fund it so watching this with interest :)

If you could consider getting pregnant Paddyclamp that would help!

For me it does make life much easier. I can just walk out the door and not worry about all the kit (although I do take back-up if going away overnight etc - never had to use it). I found reasonable control much easier with the pump. I find it really helpful that you can adjust the basal levels for different times of day, temporarily suspend basal if edging a little low rather than having to eat, very easy to do multiple small boluses if need be. It is also much easier when out and about, no-one is bothered by you pressing a few buttons at the table etc.

If any of my children were unfortunate enough to develop T1 I would move heaven and earth to get them on a pump ASAP - that's how good I think they are! I think the NHS are funding them for children now more and more, but still not so much for adults and still huge variation between primary care trusts. This is absolutely down to cost rather that any argument about their effectiveness versus injections, generally it seems to only be those adults who are unable to reasonably control their levels that have a chance of getting one. There is a campaigner in UK who helps T1 people fight for them, his name escapes me..John something...will try and dig it out if you're interested Paddyclamp.

I do think I'm a member of reality check, but in all honesty i am a hopeless diabetic. I have been diabetic for 4 yrs, we emigrated 4 yrs ago I was in country not 6 months when I started losing copious amounts of weight followed by an elephants thirst then I lost my eyesight.

I didn't go drs I went opticians they said I need to get to drs, by time I shifted my sorry ass to drs next thing I knew I was in hospital they said I would have gone into a coma within the next few hrs had the dr not recognized the symptoms. I had Hypnos in the uk and thrush and highs but it didn't get picked up had them for yrs infact, they reckon the stress of moving finally kicked it into place.
So wam bam I went into total denial and hence my blood levels rocked back and forth, have been hospitalized 4 times since because I wanted to be bloody normal and not freaking diabetic so ignored checking my blood and just zapped some insulin in as and when. Well boy I paid for it. Have had both cataracts removed, so I can see clear again and back on to check check check.
I still cannot believe this happened to me as I have always been very fit healthy ate well never smoked don't drink that much whilst my family are all pure heathens they are all fine!
Have wondered what I did wrong in a previous life gutted. I have had all 3 kids checked and although it's not 100% it came back neg for them all, thank god. Don't think I could cope looking after myself and a child. I hate hypos, I actually fear them so will always stay a little high rather than low but it's the high that will finish me not the low. I'm on Crestor for ever as my body can't control the fats and this is on someone who runs daily and works out daily, I have no control since this happened. Which I hate but suppose makes me work harder on myself. My kids are older, 9/15/20 I was 35 when I became ty1 not what I expected lol.
You seem to really know what your talking about I wish I had the confidence and knowledge. Suppose I could if I fully embraced what has happened and move on x oh well enough whining. Lovely to hear from others. Off to work now for my sins. Do you have to pay for insulin and pump consumables then. I do here cost a good bit even government subsidized. Oh and how I miss France, I loved it there x