Greetings all,
I've got a lot to tell, so please bear with me!
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about 20 years ago. I learnt to mix insulins in two daily injections, and manually read blood tests. For the best part of my adult life I did the bare minimum to cope with my diabetes, whilst trying to be a normal young man.
Moving to more recent times, about 3 - 4 years ago I started taking my diabetes more seriously. Some early changes to my retinas brought the effects of not managing my condition to my attention. Since this realisation, I have attended a education course, and worked tirelessly to improve my control. I've tried virtually everything possible with multiple daily injections to try to maintain a reasonable blood sugar, without too many hypos. I haven't had much joy.
Two years ago I met with a couple of pump users at an evening held at my local clinic. I soon discovered what a huge difference these devices can make to managing diabetes. It was around this time that I started enquiring of the possibility of getting a pump. The nurses and dieticians indicated that I would be a good candidate for pump therapy. They recognised that I was extremely motivated (a huge change from my teenage years!), skilled at carb counting, and suffering from many hypos. After a number of months, I finally got to meet with the pump specialist consultant.
Again I was told that I was a good candidate, and it was inferred that I should qualify for funding. My frequent hypos, and resulting anxiety which in turn has a detrimental effect on my quality of life, meant that I should fall within the NICE criteria.
Next, after many more months of waiting, I received a letter stating that the panel was "supportive" of me "working towards getting a pump". Unfortunately, this letter did nothing to explain what work I was to do. I managed to meet with one of the pump specialist nurses / dieticians. They explained that I needed to attempt to tighten my control, whilst monitoring thoroughly. I did as they asked, I worked especially hard to improve my control.
Jump forward some more months, I manage to get my sugars lower, but the only way to achieve this is with many hypos, and increased anxiety. My HBA1c is tested and I made a good improvement (around 7.5, I can't quite remember). At around this same time, my case was to be heard at a second panel. Give it a couple more months for a letter to find it's way out of the hospital (must be easy to get lost in there!), and I have another disappointment. I received a letter stating that I did not qualify because I had made a significant improvement to control and HBA1c. I was furious. The panel had completely failed to recognise the cost at which my improved control came.
I'll skip the next few steps of writing to appeal, fighting for an appointment to see the consultant, and no end of stress and worry. The consultant agreed to write to the PCT to apply for funding outside of the NICE guidelines. Not ideal, but better than nothing. This process was extremely long winded. I went months without hearing anything. Not knowing what was going on only made the process more unbearable.
Finally, a couple of months ago, I received yet another letter from the hospital (prompted by my persistent phone calls, and a supporting letter from my GP). I had been granted funding! I couldn't believe it. It was a strange feeling to hear that I had finally achieved what I had been fighting for over such a long time.
Now I am the proud owner of the Accu-chek Combo pump and remote. In just 21 days I am scheduled to start, with a days training to get me on my way. I've started reading through the training material and manuals. There are so many booklets and pamphlets and manuals. It's a little overwhelming.
To conclude (at long last!), I am thrilled to be starting on an insulin pump. I look forward to having a fighting chance in managing my diabetes. I'm also excited by the prospect of clawing back parts of my life lost to the nonsense of managing this condition. There are many things I would like to do again or more often, such as kayaking, cycling and photography.
That'll do for now. I look forward to joining the discussion.
Haydn.
I've got a lot to tell, so please bear with me!
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about 20 years ago. I learnt to mix insulins in two daily injections, and manually read blood tests. For the best part of my adult life I did the bare minimum to cope with my diabetes, whilst trying to be a normal young man.
Moving to more recent times, about 3 - 4 years ago I started taking my diabetes more seriously. Some early changes to my retinas brought the effects of not managing my condition to my attention. Since this realisation, I have attended a education course, and worked tirelessly to improve my control. I've tried virtually everything possible with multiple daily injections to try to maintain a reasonable blood sugar, without too many hypos. I haven't had much joy.
Two years ago I met with a couple of pump users at an evening held at my local clinic. I soon discovered what a huge difference these devices can make to managing diabetes. It was around this time that I started enquiring of the possibility of getting a pump. The nurses and dieticians indicated that I would be a good candidate for pump therapy. They recognised that I was extremely motivated (a huge change from my teenage years!), skilled at carb counting, and suffering from many hypos. After a number of months, I finally got to meet with the pump specialist consultant.
Again I was told that I was a good candidate, and it was inferred that I should qualify for funding. My frequent hypos, and resulting anxiety which in turn has a detrimental effect on my quality of life, meant that I should fall within the NICE criteria.
Next, after many more months of waiting, I received a letter stating that the panel was "supportive" of me "working towards getting a pump". Unfortunately, this letter did nothing to explain what work I was to do. I managed to meet with one of the pump specialist nurses / dieticians. They explained that I needed to attempt to tighten my control, whilst monitoring thoroughly. I did as they asked, I worked especially hard to improve my control.
Jump forward some more months, I manage to get my sugars lower, but the only way to achieve this is with many hypos, and increased anxiety. My HBA1c is tested and I made a good improvement (around 7.5, I can't quite remember). At around this same time, my case was to be heard at a second panel. Give it a couple more months for a letter to find it's way out of the hospital (must be easy to get lost in there!), and I have another disappointment. I received a letter stating that I did not qualify because I had made a significant improvement to control and HBA1c. I was furious. The panel had completely failed to recognise the cost at which my improved control came.
I'll skip the next few steps of writing to appeal, fighting for an appointment to see the consultant, and no end of stress and worry. The consultant agreed to write to the PCT to apply for funding outside of the NICE guidelines. Not ideal, but better than nothing. This process was extremely long winded. I went months without hearing anything. Not knowing what was going on only made the process more unbearable.
Finally, a couple of months ago, I received yet another letter from the hospital (prompted by my persistent phone calls, and a supporting letter from my GP). I had been granted funding! I couldn't believe it. It was a strange feeling to hear that I had finally achieved what I had been fighting for over such a long time.
Now I am the proud owner of the Accu-chek Combo pump and remote. In just 21 days I am scheduled to start, with a days training to get me on my way. I've started reading through the training material and manuals. There are so many booklets and pamphlets and manuals. It's a little overwhelming.
To conclude (at long last!), I am thrilled to be starting on an insulin pump. I look forward to having a fighting chance in managing my diabetes. I'm also excited by the prospect of clawing back parts of my life lost to the nonsense of managing this condition. There are many things I would like to do again or more often, such as kayaking, cycling and photography.
That'll do for now. I look forward to joining the discussion.
Haydn.
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i too have been given the Accu-Chek spirit combo 3 weeks ago and think it great , i can honestly say in the 30 years i have had diabetes its the best thing i've done , so congratulations and i hope you get on with it and you love it as much as i do 
