Insulin pump MDT

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HWordsy90

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Type 1
Hi

T1 for 17 years, only on MDI. I have been pushing to go on a pump for 10+ years and my diabetes team have finally given me an appointment for an “insulin pump MDT”. I was just wondering what sort of information I need to be giving them? Is there anything in particular that would help my case? They’ve given me limited information- literally a date and a time!
Any info would be greatly appreciated!

thank you
 
Not sure what MDT means, but when I went to ask for a pump I built a case around the fact that I always hypoed at a certain time of day and that there was no way MDI could cater for that. In fact I tested so much that I proved that I needed different basal rates for different times of day that couldn't be catered for by 2 injections per day. You may have different reasons for wanting a pump, whatever they are be prepared to set them out logically and clearly. Doing a lot of testing helps too.

I am sure others will be along shortly with better advice.
 
Welcome to the forum @HWordsy90

Good to hear that your team are now responding positively to your request to go on a pump, at least to arrange a meeting. Did they give you reasons previously for their not recommending it previously? If they did gathering evidence to address any issues that they identified would be good.

I was refused one first time round, I asked why and then gathered evidence.
The key reasons for my getting one were

I needed small doses of insulin and a pump enabled me to do much finer adjustments to these

I was having regular hypos in spite of many adjustments to basal insulin.
The pump enables me to programme my basal insulin (which is a drip drip of quick acting insulin delivered throughout the 24 hours) more accurately to match my needs, and so reduced overnight hypos.

I was struggling with exercise adjustments in MDI, and lost the confidence to do some of the activities I had previously done. With the pump I was able to temporarily turn down my basal insulin

It was difficult to adjust bolus injections to match different foods especially fatty meals
The pump allows me to deliver my insulin in different ways, such as an extended bolus over a period of time, or a split with an upfront bolus, and the rest extended.

I hope that that helps you
 
HWordsy90 said:
Hi

T1 for 17 years, only on MDI. I have been pushing to go on a pump for 10+ years and my diabetes team have finally given me an appointment for an “insulin pump MDT”. I was just wondering what sort of information I need to be giving them? Is there anything in particular that would help my case? They’ve given me limited information- literally a date and a time!
Any info would be greatly appreciated!

thank you
Click to expand...

Look at the pump criteria and see how they fit you. Give specific examples of where and why a pump would benefit you eg if you’re having nocturnal hypos or if you’re struggling with Dawn Phenomenon. I think you have to approach it like proving something, and you have to give real, detailed examples not vague statements.

Also, be ready to detail things you’ve tried to solve these problems and why they haven’t worked. Be confident about your carb-counting ability and make sure you can talk about your ratios, correction dose, etc.

Good luck 🙂
 
MDT means multidisciplinary team. It means a variety of different specialists all meeting together to discuss the best way to solve whatever problem is at hand. So in this case whatever the blood sugar problems you are struggling to solve on MDI and think a pump might help with. A pump is potentially one option but there may be other options depending on what your problems are.
 
Thank you all so much for your replies, they are all very helpful - I feel more prepared now and I’ll take the time to write everything down and gove examples etc.
thank you!
 
Best thing to do is keep diary of bloods, food eaten carb ratio what you have done to correct any problems.
Even do a basal test if that proves your basal is not suitable for your own basal needs that's half your battle.
Also explain how you think a pump will help you and what you hope to achieve by having a pump.
What ever you do, do not tell them how a pump works as it's a bit like teaching Grandma to suck eggs. Good luck.
 
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