Have finally managed to get a referral to a pump clinic here in the UK, I’ve have done all the courses, read pumping insulin by John Walsh and have been badgering the sales reps for months,.
Looks like the Animas Vibe is now available for free in my area, so cannot wait to get going! Just got to try and get the new generation of dexcomm sensors that work with the vibe added to my prescription now, which I think will take a good few months ha, as they are bloody expensive and Primary Care Trusts in the UK are very reluctant to support CGM, self funding for the sensors for a one month supply works out at around $400 and I just cannot afford to do that.
Congratulations, Buckley! Sounds like you are doing all the right things. I’m always surprised when I hear people have been “badgering the sales reps for months”. Here my sales rep got right on it, went to my doctor’s office to get him to sign the papers, contacted me in a few days to tell me I had insurance approval, etc. I would assume they would be anxious to get all your business between the cost of the pump and the supplies!
Sounds like they give you a lot of training courses! I just got two visits from a trainer - one to teach me about the pump and how to insert sets and put me on saline, the second to switch me to insulin. The only other things I would recommend is when you get the pump to read through the manual and get used to all the settings, even if you have to wait to actually start. And also to be patient and realize it’s a learning process and it takes awhile before everything smooths out. Oh yes, and to request a variety of infusion sets so you can see which suit you best. Good luck!
Yes there are lots of hoops to jump through to get onto a pump in the UK, I believe only around 3% of type 1s in the UK are on pumps.
As the National Health Service is free at the point of entry over here and insurance doesn’t really come into play, you have to prove that you meet the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidance of pumps…
E.g. "Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or “insulin pump” therapy is recommended as a possible treatment for adults and children 12 years and over with type 1 diabetes mellitus if:
attempts to reach target haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels with multiple daily injections (MDI) result in the person having “disabling hypoglycaemia”. For the purpose of this guidance, disabling hypoglycaemia is defined as the repeated and unpredictable occurrence of hypoglycaemia that results in persistent anxiety about recurrence and is associated with a significant adverse effect on quality of life.
OR
HbA1c levels have remained high (8.5% or above) with multiple daily injections (including using long-acting insulin analogues if appropriate) despite the person and/or their carer carefully trying to manage their diabetes."
You then have to convince your GP, consultant, and specialist nurse that you are can carb count, adjust your own basal/bolus and are psychologically able to deal with the regimine. Then attend a DAFNE type course, pump training etc etc.
While this sounds straight forward, the waiting lists for courses are extensive, getting an appointment with an endo can take several months, then they have to apply to primary care trusts with a supporting case for you, so it can take a while
It is frustrating, but I do believe I will get one in the end and I do love and respect the national health service in that I never have to worry about insurance or paying for medication and the guys and girls working for the NHS do a fantastic job, one of the things that makes me proud to be British. So it is swings and roundabouts as they say!
If I get my pump before Christmas I will be a happy boy ha. Although starting pumping over Christmas might not be the best idea, what with all the food and temptations
Definitely sounds like a lot of hoops to jump through. Would I be willing to jump through hoops to get free (and decent!) medical care? Oh yeah. Hey living in the U.S. involves daily hoop jumping for next to no return. Part of me misses the two years I lived in a developing country. No hoops at all. Go to pharmacy - buy whatever - no need for prescriptions. Go to lab, ask for whatever test…no need for doctor slip…return two days later and get results (no need to beg doctor for copy). The other day I went to the drug store to get a pain med and they told me the doctor had not put the dose for the tylenol that was a part of the compound. tylenol? I could buy it at any dose over the counter. Just give me the lowest dose, I don’t care. Nope. Needed to contact the doctor. I tell them in Guatemala I could buy any medication in any dose “over the counter” - their fingers hover over the “dangerous crazy person in store” button.
