[laurabisme]

My doctor just told me I need to switch to a pump but I've had to put it off for a while as I currently travel and live in different countries with my job. I'm interested to know how much time and supervision the actual process of switching and learning and monitoring the changes takes? Is it a week and then you're solo or do you need longer for follow up etc. when I start I'll need to be back in the UK but wondering with work how long before I can be living overseas again? When I do switch I want to get it right!!

[klaw99]

Im not fully sure of the whole process since I am also starting the pump.. but so far its been alot.. I had to get a new nutritionist since mine left and this one believes I need to better about carb counting.. shes talking weighing and measuring for everything I eat. I know some of you can do that, but I jsut dont see that being realistic for me long term. so now Im in the process again of getting all the logs for the next 2 weeks to show her .. Then I have to go back to endo to show him.. this is just the approval process.. for me I think this is going to be awhile and a lot!!!!
Kristen

[laurabisme]

Hi kristen thanks so much for sharing about your experience so far. I'm getting the sense that this is not going to be a quick or simple process but hoping it will be worth it. Got some big decisions to make about moving back to UK and staying around for a while to make it happen. My doctor here in HK where I live at the moment says I need to go on it but it can only be done privately here. Hope the rest of your switch goes well, keep me posted! Laura x

[klaw99]

Geez.. Im already getting frustrated with this .. My doc wants my #'s to be the best they can be before going to the pump.. So now he's switching everything around again.. Changing my Lantus dose and now I'm higher in between meals.. UGH.. and everything is going to change again on the pump... Lets see so Im 2 weeks into this.. and I have 2 appts for the following the 2 weeks... Calls with the insurance company to authorize the pump.... Im hoping the in the end life will be easier and my A1C will end up below 7.. thats my goal..
Kristen

[laurabisme]

Hey Kirsten hope the lantus changes are settling down a bit. Sounds like a lot of work before you've even got to the pump but guess it all has to be thorough. luckily in UK I'll get everything for free so at least I won't have calls to insurance companies. How long til you actually get to try the pump do you think? Laura

[klaw99]

I dont know how long before I actually even get the pump.. whats disconcerting is that I wont even be using Lantus on the pump and the pump people tell me they usually just throw everything out and start all over...But whatever.. I have to call my insurance company today and then next week another nutrition appt. To prove I can carb count...
Maybe next week I'l know more..

[klaw99]

So I am going on the omnipod and the pods are now in the mail.. YIKES... then a trainer has to contact me, I think for classes and instruction... Still have the endo and nutritionist to go too.. I have to switch the humalog from pens to vials and get new teststips.. Im thinking I should keep some humalog pens as a backup.. but once Im off the lantus.. that will be done.. It probably different in the UK.. but the sales people from omnipod told me i have 45 days to find out if its right for me or not.. if not then I can return everything.. if I wait longer than that then I cant get on any pump for the next 4 years?
Im not sure Ill have to find out about that ,,, but I imagine I would know in 45 days if this is going to be for me or not
Kristen

[klaw99]

So this is my 2nd full week on the omnipod pump.. the first week I was getting a little discouraged.. I had a couple pod failures.. alarming on me.. and getting used to keeping the pod on.. I wasn't sure it was delivering correctly or not... But I think I have the hang of it now and its awesome!!
I had to go away for work last week and it was the best thing ever to just punch in the carbs I was eating and have it deliver my insulin dose, rather than figuring it out getting the needle out and having to give myself a dose under the table or something like that..
Kristen

[andersgeorgsson]

KLAW99...

I am currently taking lantus once a day, and then novolog before meals - after doing the carb counting and bolus calculations. I am able to maintain good control EXCEPT for in the morning when I tend to go high (working on that one ) and dropping low at night... I recently started taking my lantus in the morning instead of at night - and that seems to help with my nightly lows..

Please let us know if you're stuck on your pod (or the other way around )

[goodwillhunting]

It has been five years that I have been on the pump, but I will tell you my experience.
The doctor had to submit some evidence to the insurance company (I think it involved proof that I was type 1, history of Ac1's, and blood glucose records I had kept for some period of time). Once approved the pump was ordered.
Meanwhile I had to go (again) to carb counting coaching and work with trainer on what my basal settings should be.
When pump arrived it was back and forth with trainer to set up basal settings that worked for me (including getting up everynight in two hour intravals to check Blood Sugar). Then I was off on my own.
I found the process pretty easy although no question it was a bit of a hassle.