Hello all! My son is waiting to get a pump from King's College in London. We have a meeting next month to look at the different types available. I am still rather ignorant about pumps and the differences between them all. Which tends to be the most popular? Also, I was wondering if any of you use glucose monitors with pumps and whether they are available on the nhs. The diabetes team have not mentioned them at all. Are they useful? Thanks.
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Pumps and Glucose monitors
- Thread starter ageez
- Start date
- Status
Hi!
My son has a Medtronic Veo and I'm really happy with it. We were lucky to have it from diagnosis and I found it really simple to use even through the shock and sleep deprivation. Our glucose monitors are wirelessly connected to it so you don't need to manually programme in his sugar levels. The pump can be downloaded and you get alot of pretty graphs which really helped me visualise his levels.
Hope this is helpful! 🙂
My son has a Medtronic Veo and I'm really happy with it. We were lucky to have it from diagnosis and I found it really simple to use even through the shock and sleep deprivation. Our glucose monitors are wirelessly connected to it so you don't need to manually programme in his sugar levels. The pump can be downloaded and you get alot of pretty graphs which really helped me visualise his levels.
Hope this is helpful! 🙂
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
A few people do, but NHS funding is really quite difficult to get, the consumables are v expensive and you have to renew the transmitter more often than the pump (which is usually 4 years)
Still, technology moves on all the time so you never know ....
And pumps are very personal. Most people will say 'My Fred Bloggs pump is wonderful' and another that their Joe Soap one is the best ..... and if people change their make, then the new one isn't the same as the old one and they liked that one better .... LOL Someone was saying the other day (not on here) that they coulld only change something by 10%s and their old one went up in 5%s. But there was still a way round it if they used their brain, which someone suggested. But possibly they didn't want to find a way round it because it just wasn't their old one .... see what I mean?
Go by instinct, have a feel of the controls on em, and advice of the HCPs (when the Pump Reps have left!) is the only thing I could advise you to do.
I want to scream sometimes when someone appears to only go for something because it comes in pink, or blue or stripes ...... LOL
Still, technology moves on all the time so you never know ....
And pumps are very personal. Most people will say 'My Fred Bloggs pump is wonderful' and another that their Joe Soap one is the best ..... and if people change their make, then the new one isn't the same as the old one and they liked that one better .... LOL Someone was saying the other day (not on here) that they coulld only change something by 10%s and their old one went up in 5%s. But there was still a way round it if they used their brain, which someone suggested. But possibly they didn't want to find a way round it because it just wasn't their old one .... see what I mean?
Go by instinct, have a feel of the controls on em, and advice of the HCPs (when the Pump Reps have left!) is the only thing I could advise you to do.
I want to scream sometimes when someone appears to only go for something because it comes in pink, or blue or stripes ...... LOL
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Ageez,
even if you have cgm capability for the pump you do still need to do blood tests 🙂
Very few have funding for the sensors as the PCT's do not fund them. Self funding is expensive.
Some will come in saying well we got funding etc... but it doesn't mean you will.
Hanmillmum
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Hi, we have the Medtronic Veo pump which is compatable with CGM. We have loaned the CGM for a week from the team but we wouldn't be funded one full term, which tbh I am fine with.
It was, in my opinion, another device that was attached to my daughter which was temperamental and restrictive. It didn't cut down on the BG testing and for us I didn't see the point unless we were having continuous issues with something. Other parents with CGM will disagree I am sure, but that is my opinion at this time 🙂
Just to add we are very happy with the pump and wouldn't be without it, it allows more flexibility and you can administer tiny amounts of insulin to achieve good control. It comes with more BG testing but worth the effort. How old is your son ?
It was, in my opinion, another device that was attached to my daughter which was temperamental and restrictive. It didn't cut down on the BG testing and for us I didn't see the point unless we were having continuous issues with something. Other parents with CGM will disagree I am sure, but that is my opinion at this time 🙂
Just to add we are very happy with the pump and wouldn't be without it, it allows more flexibility and you can administer tiny amounts of insulin to achieve good control. It comes with more BG testing but worth the effort. How old is your son ?
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Thanks for your reply, everyone has been so helpful! I guess I was hoping that cgms would be really useful and that it would make life easier. If only, eh?! Still, this information is useful in itself. I shan't bother trying to push for cgm at this stage.
My son is nearly 6 and was diagnosed just over a year ago. I have found the whole experience pretty horrendous! I am looking forward to him having a pump. Everyone seems so positive about them. Anything that can make his little life a bit better is very welcome. He has so much to deal with for a little guy. Aren't these diabetic kids heroes?!
Hanmillmum
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Why not see if you can loan the CGM like we did once you are up and away with pump, then you can decide for yourself ? Don't be put off by our experience alone, give it a try. I am certain there are many who get away with it and find it a useful tool. For us it was too much for what little we got from it.
The pump will make a positive difference once you're settled into it. He is very young too, bless - they are very brave our kids ( and us parents too - well in public, lol ; ) )
The pump will make a positive difference once you're settled into it. He is very young too, bless - they are very brave our kids ( and us parents too - well in public, lol ; ) )
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