MDI or Pump - Poll

[mum2westiesGill]

So purely just for interest for myself & other forum members I'm doing a poll for if you are on MDI or Pump. In the comments please can you say why you are on MDI or Pump?

 

[Radders]

Hi Gill. There will be lots of people who aren't on either!

I think I have explained on another of your threads the reasons why I went on the pump after 17 years on MDI, but in a nutshell it was to give me less hassle with hypos and allow me to be flexible around exercise and combat the dawn phenomenon.

 

[SB2015]

As above I have explained why before in an earlier post to you. To summarise I find it more flexible and I have achieved better control.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

MDI because I get covered needles, which means I can inject myself without passing out. Would love a pump, but don't think they are suitable for the needle-phobic!

 

[KookyCat]

MDI for me but there wasn't actually a choice. They don't fund pumps for adults here, although the CQC are making a fuss about that now so it might change....they even mentioned a pump briefly last time. I'd prefer a pump to be honest, I'm insulin sensitive so the more control the better for me, plus I really struggle to eat enough food to maintain my weight if sticking with set meal times (I don't like to eat loads of food at once) but I can't really snack on MDI because insulin stacking is a no no when you're so sensitive to insulin. Also I suffer from nocturnal hypoglycaemia so being able to suspend insulin overnight would make my life considerably easier!

 

[Northerner]

MDI - since I stopped needing basal insulin 4 years ago, at least half the advantages of having a pump (hourly, adjustable basals) would be lost on me and they'd never give me one anyway. Plus, I'd rather just jab three times a day than mess about with something attached to me 24/7.

 

[Robin]

MDI. I'd never qualify for a pump anyway. I'd rather be funded for a Libre, if the NHS was going to spend more money on me. That way I'd get the maximum info for adjusting doses without all the extra work of sorting a pump out.

 

[khskel]

Same boat as Northie no basal so not much to gain from a pump.

 

[Radders]

MDI because I get covered needles, which means I can inject myself without passing out. Would love a pump, but don't think they are suitable for the needle-phobic!

I think you can get an introducer for the cannula which covers the needle?

 

[pottersusan]

Much better than injecting 10/12 daily😱 and more flexible

 

[novorapidboi26]

PUMP - Coming up for 4 years now.....

Its helped me greatly on two fronts; Dawn Phenomenon and reducing mt total daily doses.....

 

[SB2015]

Just a though about the results. The numbers will not show you preferences for each, as for many pumps are still not available.

 

[trophywench]

Pump for 6 years now - better control and therefore less hypos too.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I think you can get an introducer for the cannula which covers the needle?

Ooh, that's interesting, Radders, will have to investigate, thanks. Various medical professionals have made tentative queries about whether a pump might be better for me, so hopefully they would support my getting one if I could find something which would mean I didn't have to see the needle going in.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

MDI for me but there wasn't actually a choice. They don't fund pumps for adults here, although the CQC are making a fuss about that now so it might change....they even mentioned a pump briefly last time. I'd prefer a pump to be honest, I'm insulin sensitive so the more control the better for me, plus I really struggle to eat enough food to maintain my weight if sticking with set meal times (I don't like to eat loads of food at once) but I can't really snack on MDI because insulin stacking is a no no when you're so sensitive to insulin. Also I suffer from nocturnal hypoglycaemia so being able to suspend insulin overnight would make my life considerably easier!

I snack quite a lot without stacking, Kooky - if I don't snack I tend to hypo anyway, so I just have to try to time it for when my bgl's starting to go down. What I snack on depends on what I think my bgl's doing too - dried fruit if I think it's going down too fast; Hobnobs if I'm gardening; crackers and cheese or chocolate and nuts if it's behaving sensibly and I want something lower carb. I rarely inject extra for a snack, and never if I've already got Novorapid on board.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

MDI mainly cos I've only been on insulin 2 months! I would possibly like a pump in the future if my basal requirement keeps being as annoying as it is now although that may become easier once my pancreatic function stops completely

 

[Amberzak]

Fought for the pump for 10 years. Finally got it last year. @TheClockworkDodo you can get a device that covers the needle for the pump. I'm a little scared of needles. Was a needlephobe before diagnosis. 🙂

 

[m1dnc]

On my second pump now. Nothing would persuade me to go back to MDI.

I now use the pump with CGM and Medtronic's SmartGuard tech has cut my hypos substantially. A Medtronic rep told me last week that their next generation pump will have the ability to automatically correct if going too high. Should be available by the time of my next pump replacement.

 

[Ref]

Currently on MDI, but about to ask to go onto a pump

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

@TheClockworkDodo you can get a device that covers the needle for the pump. I'm a little scared of needles. Was a needlephobe before diagnosis. 🙂

Thank you, Amber - I'll tell my diabetes nurse next time I see her 🙂