I Am a Diabetic On An Insulin Pump
I think I may be the only person in this group. Basically my pancreas doesn't work and it hasn't since I was little. I used to have to inject myself with insulin four times a day. Which is quite hard when you're five. But you just get on with it. When I was twelve they gave me an insulin pump. I wear it in a soft Lycra case which clips to the side of my bra. It connects to me through a 30cm plastic line which clips into a cannula which I have to inject into my tummy every two days. The specialist nurses set up the pump. It sends a basal rate which is a very small amount of insulin every three minutes. Plus it delivers a bolus. I have to test my blood glucose using a handset. Then I have to type in how many grams of carbs I am going to eat. And I have to tell the pump if I am going to do exercise. I have two settings, one for swimming and one for cycling or hill walking. I can also tell it if I am ill, stressed or premenstrual. It then calculates how much insulin I need, tells the pump by blu tooth and the pump pumps it in. The system is great. My eyes had been deteriorating because of retinopathy but since the pump my eyes have just got better and better. I have had the pump for four years and they are going to replace it now. The new one is touch screen and does quite a lot more. I don't know how much more yet. You will have to continue reading these exciting posts! Or not!