I am a journalism student from Southland in New Zealand and also a type 1 diabetic.
I have been doing a bit of research on the funding of insulin pumps in NZ for a possible article outlining the need for/lack of government funding.
I’ve heard that the pumps are funded in other countries? I would love to hear more details about funding around the world and just any general opinion on funding!
Would also really appreciate feedback from people who have gone from injections to pumps and what sort of impact the pump has had on your life?
Not sure I totally agree with this. 90% of the plans in my area offer at least some coverage for an insulin pump. My States Medicaid system pays for an insulin pump. Medicare offers funding for insulin pumps if you meet their guidelines. Most of the private companies also offer coverage. So although there is not universal coverage, in my area at least, they are for the most part covered (this coverage varies from plan to plan) after deductibles and all that good stuff.
Here in NZ pump funding is done from the diabetes allocation that you DHB gets. Some DHB’s will fund the pump for qualifying patients (I got mine through CCDHB, but it was because of monthly seizures, still not being able to get a stable bg when adjusting both lantus and rapid by 1/2u amounts, and generally getting to the point where I didn’t have a life. I have to pay the $2k or so of consumables costs myself.
There is this facebook group http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Seeking-Govenment-Funding-for-Insulin-Pumps-for-all-type-1-Diabetics-in-NZ/115271811973?sk=wall
I think the lowest cost pump is the Dana, from www.managingdiabetes.co.nz
How have I found the pump - it’s worth the loss of my shoe and clothes budget!! Well, i still get new shoes and clothes as I need, but I’ve gotta be much more selective! I don’t have the seizures (which is good, it was getting to the point where it was effecting my ability to do my job), I no longer feel ok walking around at a 1.8mmol/l - I don’t get that low as i have hypo symptoms back again,. It’s easier to go tramping for a day or a half day - I just dial back the basal and go, if I haven’t set it low enough, I just turn it down some more and it’s sorted in 3 1/2 hours rather than having to stuff around eating food all day to counter at the lantud from 3 days ago!
There is a submission before pharmac at present regarding the funding of pumps - myself and many others made submissions supporting the funding of either pumps and consumables, pump only or consumables only. Personally I’d like both pumps and pump consumables to be funded, but I’d take getting the consumables funded (and my wardrobe would love it!).
The down side is that you are attached to something pretty much ALL the time, you find yourself selcting clothes for what looks good and doesn’t have weird ‘pump bulges’ showing, you have to test a fair bit, and keep on top of things, it’s pretty intensive training at the start, and it does take a bit of working out to get the basals sorted, then to keep them adjusted. I’m not sure that everyone will find the pump beneficial, but I know I did once I got it set up right and wasn’t wanting to throw the thing out the window because it was getting in the way and i couldn’t get the basal right!
I agree with a lot of what Dee is saying.
As a woman I think it is harder to adjust to wearing/using a pump.
I can only speak for myself, but since starting on mine about a year ago I’ve shed a lot of tears, and have wished many a time that I could go back to injections.
However having said that, the difference in my health has been amazing.
I wasn’t having too many problems to begin with, with an HBA1C of between 7 and 7.5% every 6 months, but since starting on the pump my HBA1C hasn’t been above 6.5%.
The downside for me is being attached to it 24/7.
The frustration in not being able to wear what I want to wear because I don’t want my pump to show.
The fact that I just don’t feel sexy anymore…it all adds up when you have small twinges of these feelings every day.
I have been thinking lately that once I would like to take a break from it.
One of the reasons for starting on the pump were to make a 3 month European traveling stint so much easier (time zones, sitting on a plane for 24 hours etc etc), and this was certainly the case.
Another main reason was to get in tip top shape before we start a family.
Due to the hard work and long hours we both put in when I started on the pump (and I can honestly say that it was hard work for both of us), we can pretty much cruise for the 6 months while getting ready to start trying to conceive.
I didn’t have my pump funded by my DHB, so instead covered the $7500 myself, and have spent on average $250 per month on consumables. It is only due to being in the financial position to allow this that I haven’t had any issues with the cost. I can image though that a lot of people/families would find this unachievable.
Funding of either the pumps or consumables would make a huge difference to NZders. I just don’t understand why it is should be so hard for us to use our own motivation and determination to make a difference in our health…surely we are saving the government millions in future complication related health care?
If you do have any specific questions Rebecca just yell out as I’m sure we can help you (perhaps without such a novel from me next time!)
