have type 1 diabetes and i'm tired of using the pen its not convent at all well some times , but i want to know how to get the pump can anyone help ?
Usually, you would tell your doctor and they'd arrange it through their office? I was taking a medieval R/ NPH regimen so the doc had recommended a pump for years. Come to think of it, he was a GP and was like "well, if you want a pump, you need an endo" so perhaps that was an alterior motive? Anyway, it pretty much depends what sort of insurance you have and what they'll cover. The place I got mine from was like "we work with MiniMed, is that ok..." and I was sort of clueless and was like "Sure, whatever, let's get ''er done...". The pump people were pretty gung ho like "you'll get one, you just have to do some stuff for insurance" which was **horrible**, logging everything for a month, submitting the logs to the doc and waiting, not too long. I think that it was like a 4-6 weeks from when I said "maybe I want a pump..." to having one.
Have you discussed this with your endo? That would be the first step, second research what ones you are interested in, your endo may have a preference but this is something that you are going to have to be comfortable with. I personally contacted Medtronic myself, my doctor was supportive of the idea, BUT I had already met my deductible so I didnt want to wait until after the first of the year. But they were very good about contacting my insurance and getting it all going. From start to finish it took about 3 days to get it. Took longer to get pump training set up, lol.
LOL of course it helps I work in health care so I kinda already knew what they'd want when I contracted Medtronic. Haha god Im the patient from hell.
That's what i wanted to know about the log i don't even have one , but thanks on your help ill start my log soon so ill get the pump faster thanks .
okay i did not know i would have to contact the company , its no problem I'm just glad i found out . thanks for you replay that was very helpful
Sometimes digging around online you can find the exact requirements your insurance company require in order to get your pump. Also some of them require you be on MDI for a certain amount of time too, and require that you test your BG at least four times daily too.
you might not have to yourself lol that's just how I did it, was tired of waiting on my endo to do it. Like I said If I had waited till after the first of the year at my next endo appointment I'd be starting over on a new deductible. The endo was for it, just poking around.
Much like the other replies I would suggest letting your doctor know and then contacting a few pump makers on your own. Omni pod being tubless is a popular one and they will give you a non-operational pod to wear. My daugher (being all of 7 years old :) ) decided right away she wanted the Animas Ping. The Animas rep gave us a pump to wear and even let us try a few of the infusion sets. If your into cutting edge technology Tandem Diabetes Care just announced approval to sell the t:slim insulin pump might be cool but might be scary because it is new.
I did my logging in a day planner, I was all over the place at the time as I had a job, kid and had enrolled in a strenuous Tae Kwon Do program, like 5-6 days/ week working out very hard. I was also trying to cut back on food, as I had peaked at 275 lbs in 2006, I had been successful at that, dropping to 225, 230 by 2008 but still had room to drop some more. And my A1Cs had risen while I was losing weight. The scribbling on the paper was nutso. I wish I had saved it because I think people would find it very amusing but I chucked it when I moved a year or so later. You don't need "a log", you just need to be prepared to log. Once I got a pump, it pretty much makes me log but keeps track of stuff a lot better.
We also had to take a test, they gave us the 10 page what if scenerio to see if we were ready.
I never had to do any of the logging I have no idea what dr actually put me on the pump geez you would think I would remember these kinds of things! It was like 6yrs ago and I just remember having 2 reps on my back one from mini med and another from animas I ended up going with animas.. Anyway at my Dr's office they have all sorts of pamphlets from different pumps and you just chose which ever one you think you will feel more comfortable with... I have been on Omnipod for a little over 2yrs and I love it before that it was animas and I really liked it too.. the one I did not like much was mini med but thats just me good luck hope you find a pump you like :)
It really depends on your insurance company. Some require that you turn in logs and a c-peptide test (to show that you're type 1), but I think some aren't even requiring that now. I would first do your research and determine which pump you want. I have the Revel and have been very happy with it.
Once you have the kind of pump picked out, I would recommend simultaneously working with both your doctor's office and the pump company. Medtronic is GREAT with helping people through all the insurance crap. They will work with your endo's office to get all the paperwork completed and everything processed. I recently went back on the pump and after my endo's office filled everything out and submitted it, it just took another 2 weeks for my insurance to approve the request and to receive my pump. Then, once you receive it, there's training and all that.
I would really think about why you want the pump. The pump does not make things easier for EVERYONE. There are pros and cons to pumping. Here are some of the pros I've found with pumping:
- Easier to bolus when I'm out having dinner.
- Able to really fine-tune my insulin needs to my lifestyle (i.e., exercise, travel, changing work schedules, etc)
- Forces me to log information (the pump stores all your data and then you can upload it to Carelink, which has made me more consistent with logging than I have EVER been).
- I am very insulin sensitive, so the pump allows me to SAFELY correct highs, something I can't really do on MDI.
- I can be more sporadic with my exercise schedule, something that is important to me. On MDI, I had to plan practically a day in advance to go for a run. With my pump, I just turn down my basal rate an hour or two beforehand, and I'm usually good.
There are cons to pumping too.
- You have to REALLY stay on top of things. Without basal insulin in your system, you can go into DKA FAST.
- Some find the tubing annoying.
- You have to change your site regularly or you risk getting an infection. Sites can fail and that can be frustrating for some people.
- You've gotta carry more back-up supplies around with you (extra infusion sets, back-up pens, etc).
- The pump is an electronic device and it CAN fail. You always need to have a back-up plan, especially when you travel.
- Pumping is not cheap. Depending on your insurance, you may have to shell out as much as $1,000 for the pump initially, and monthly supplies can be pricey.
- There's an adjustment period. It took me close to 5 months to get all my basal rates worked out, and I had some really frustrating highs and lows during that time.
All said, I LOVE my pump and would not trade it for anything. Just start pumping with an open mind and be sure to educate yourself as much as you can about the benefits and drawbacks of pumping.
I had to do a pump class at my endo's - I had already done my own research and decided on Aniimas. It was useful in that we were shown the 3 pumps available (then), got some hands-on, and heard a rundown of their features. The ins co required logs showing some hypos under 50, which I was able to 'produce'. The endo also required an 'advanced carb counting' session. Not a total waste of time as I met the only nutriitonist (also a CDE) I've ever met who didn't slam my LC way of eating. It was just me, so we had an interesting 1/2 hour conversation.
I agree that calling the pump company directly will be faster once you've decided which you want. They will deal with the ins co and probably the endo as well.
acidrock is right. My GP was treating me but ended up sending me to my Endo three years ago and two years ago I went on the pump.
Hi MBP~
I really appreciated your thoughtfully written pros and cons. In fact you have done me a real service in being so informative. My grown son Mark (Type 1 over 20 yrs MDI) is considering the pump since I broke the ice by starting to pump last summer. I was formulating in my mind how to share with him the truth about the pumping experience, when I read your perfect description. I'm new to Tudiabetes and wonder if there's a way you could send me an email copy that I could forward to Mark. Please let me know; I don't have a scanner.
I think you need a reason to pump. My reason was that Lantus never gave me a realiable basal level, and my dawn phenoms were veritable yo yos between highs and lows. So my reason is to have a basal insulin close to non-diabetic. I am NOT disappointed. I LOVE my Paradigm! But what you're saying is the truth. If someone thinks pumping is easy, they've got another think coming! It's just that the results are so much more like a non-diabetic. You said it perfectly. Thanks
Cindy
Cindy, just a side note, can you copy and paste MBP's comment into a Word document? Better yet, email your son the link to this site! I get more help from the online diabetes community than anywhere else.
I did lots of research because I wanted my son to be comfortable with our choice. TuD helped alot. Then there was a diabetes expo in our area and we got to see them all, hold them, get their brochures. I already knew our endo was used to dealing with Meditronic but that didn't stop us from getting her to fill out the paperwork for one they weren't as familiar with. We chose Omnipod because of its special features and we have been very happy with it.
Hi carlos cruz,
one thing I didn't see anyone mentioning but you need to know is that a pump requires a prescription, as do the durables. Often the pump company will help you process the requirements if you contact them, but they will need your doctor to prescribe the device. And the pump and supplies are expensive, so insurance is good to have and the coverage for pumping (in the USofA anyway). I wear a Medtronic 523 pump and recommend them. I think you can still get an OmniPod demo by contacting them.
Is that the one that don't use a tube , tubeless .
You really help thanks a- lot .