I moved onto an insulin pump from MDI around 8 months after diagnosis. I had read about them online, after reading online forums about how good they were and the benefits of them, I decided to find out more. At my next clinic appointment, I asked my team if I would be eligible for it, and they said I was, because I was young (age 15), I did sports and I was struggling a bit with food. 2 months later I started my training on how to operate the pump, and a month later everything was up and running.
Having an insulin pump meant I could go out for a coffee with my friends and have something other than water or diet coke, because before I didn't want to have to take another injection. It meant I could control my blood sugar during exercise. I used to do rowing, and having the insulin pump meant I could use temporary basals (changing the background rate of insulin) so that my blood sugar was more stable. It also allowed me to have the occasional sleep in, because I didn't have to have my meals at as regular a time as when I was on MDI.
![]() |
My insulin pump with a graph of the data my CGM provided |
My diabetes clinic sent a business case to the hospital to request funding for a CGM. Not many people get funded from the NHS for a CGM because it is so expensive, but because of my special circumstances, I was funded for full time use. After a meeting with my nurse, I got my CGM and it made my quality of life so much better. Before, I struggled so much with walking to school by myself or taking the bus by myself, just in case something happened and there wasnt anyone around to help. When I had the CGM, which linked to my insulin pump, alarming if my blood sugar was dropping so I could prevent my blood sugar going low, and in the case of my blood sugar actually going low, my insulin pump would suspend the flow of insulin to bring my blood sugar up. It helped my anxiety about doing things myself, made me less apprehensive about having blood sugar that was in range but towards the lower spectrum of things.
Diabetes technology has made my life with diabetes better. I can control exercise better, by lowering my insulin beforehand rather than having to consume extra sugar. I can eat as much or as little as I please (within reason of course) without having to give extra injections all the time. I can handle stress slightly better (although this is still a tricky topic!). Most of all, diabetes technology, specifically my CGM, has helped me with anxiety about doing things myself. I do everything everyone else can do, such as having a job, going to University, having alcohol, doing sports and generally being a student.
I don't feel I would be able to do all this to the extent I do, because I have the reassurance of the CGM. Diabetes Technology has made a positive impact on my Type 1 Diabetes and on my life.
Until Next Time,
Alyssa x
No comments:
Post a comment
My name is Alyssa Faulkner. I am a Type 1 Diabetic Teen living in Scotland. I currently use a Medtronic insulin pump and an Enlite CGM, and am a volunteer for Diabetes Scotland.