Furness Area's Insulin Pump Support Meeting!

I've been trying to find some kind of support group that is local to me for some time now and the other day, I recieved a letter from the NHS inviting me to Furness 1st Patient support meeting for Insulin Pump users; its like they've heard me!

I actually don't know anyone in the area that has an Insulin Pump so I am secretly looking forward to going to thsi meeting, if only it is too hear other peoples experience with the pump and see if they go through some of the same things that I do with it. It is in my home town which makes things a lot easier for me so I dont see any reason why I shouldnt go along. 

It also states on the letter than anyone can attend, even if they are just thinking about getting an Insulin pump. This to me, sounds like Insulin Pumps are a bit more accessable now a days as when I was started with the process this time last year there was a lot of criteria that you had to met before being able to be funded for one! I think that it is great that more people are able to get them for whatever reason; they obviously don't work for everyone but I'd be lost without mine now!

I'll blog about the meeting when I've been. It's in July so a little while off yet, and Ive got to book my place so hopefully I havent missed out; its on my to-do list for tomorrow!

To pump, or not to pump?

Extremely excited to be going on holiday again this year! Turkey in Spetember with my older sister and a friend is certainly needed and I cannot wait until it finally gets here! Sun Sea Sand, what more could I want? Now the only problem being, do I take my insulin pump with me, or leave it at home and have a "week off" (sounds like heaven right about now but thats a different blog!)

Obviously there are advantages and disadvantages of taking it with me and not taking it with me, but seeing as though ive only ever been abroad and injected insulin I think I know which I would rather do, however, lets look at the pro's and con's in my eyes.

Pro's to using the pump when abroad 

Im used to using the pump now, and it is really second nature. I am sure that it would feel completely strange to not be using the pump for a whole week. 

I have much better control on the insulin pump than on injections. My blood sugars are much more e stable and I very rarely have hypo's now. Having hypo's abroad for me are always worse because the sun does funny things to my blood levels!

There would be no hassle in having to sort out correct doses to have with my injections! It would take sometime to make sure that I was taking the right doses which could take time into my holiday to sort out!

Con's to using the pump when abroad     

Having something attached to me whilst im wearing a swim suit or sunbathing isnt something that appeals to me. That may sound shallow and im fully aware of that but I am a young girl and appearance matters.

I would be constantly be worrying about whether my insulin was getting to hot in the pump. This is something that I am normally paranoid about with injections abroad. I can imagine that it would be quite difficult to keep the insulin at the right temperature when the insulin pump will be in the sun at all times.

I dont know how much infomation there is about insulin pumps abroad and if anything went wrong with it whilst i was out there it would freak right out!


I'm still so unsure, and I know that it is a long time away but I need to get sorted long before in order for me to feel okay about it!  Any advice welcome!  

Finally, after trying for what seems like a long life time now, I have finally got somewhere with regards to my hideous Lypohypotrophy and I am beyond happy right now! 

After having it out with my consultant after a clinic meet up one day he said that he would refer me to someone at Royal Preston Hospital to have a better look at my stomach and someone who had more knowledge in the area. I was so nervous before this appointment it was unreal!

The outcome of the appointment was that I do have a severe case of Hypotrophy and because my consultant has referred me to a plastic surgeon within the NHS I do get it fully funded! The only problem is that I have to lose 2 and a half stone before I can have the surgery, which is going to be difficult but I will do it! I am so happy; some people will see it as me being vain but this is something that I would not have had to have put up with if I wasnt Diabetic and hadnt had to inject large amounts of insulin 4 times a day for 9 years.

So by December I need to be able to show the surgeon that I have lost the majority of the weight and that I can keep it off. All being well, I should be having a tummy tuck in 2013.

Pump Update

Seriously having problems with the whole pump issue and I am contemplating having it removed and going back to injections. 

I have been in hosptial more times in the past 8months of having the insulin pump than I have in the past 9 years of injecting, and all because of silly little things like it disconnecting from my skin during the night and me not realising it until the morning when Im throwing liquids up and my keytones are throw the roof! I don't know if it is worth it really; it seems to be happening every couple of months and the whole hospital routine where I live is terrible for any Diabetic, especially a diabetic with an Insulin Pump!

I have clinic at the end of May so going to discuss my options and see what they say.