Pumping for beginners

By | 28 April, 2009
An ancient stock photo of a pump I found on the Interwebs

An ancient stock photo of a pump I found on the Interwebs

I’ve used a Medtronic Paradigm insulin pump for the past 2 years. Pumps are getting more and more popular in the UK and I get asked a lot of questions. Inspired by Shelley of circleD fame here are the top 11 questions I get asked about using a pump (sorry, I tried for a nice round 10 but couldn’t quite manage it).

How does it work?

The pump is about the size of a mobile phone and contains a cartridge of short acting insulin that drips into your body 24/7 via a tube attached to your body via an infusion set.  It works like a pancreas giving you a ;

Category: Kit & equipment Tags: ,

About Alison

Diagnosed with Type One in 1983 at the age of four, Alison's been at this for a while now. She uses Humalog in a combined insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring system and any blood glucose meter as long as it takes five seconds or less.

12 thoughts on “Pumping for beginners

  1. Sam

    As i am going on the pump in the next few weeks this is a great encouragement!

    p.s. Isnt Shelley a star!

    Reply
    1. Alison

      Good luck Sam, it was quite a change when I first started on the pump but it was definitely worth it. Let us know how you get on. And yes, Shelley is a complete star!

      Reply
      1. steven richardson

        your articles are great and humourous, i hopefully should get a pump in next few weeks, i have had diabetes 42 years, since 1968 im now 51, type 1 since then when diabetes was rare have recently gone onto human insulin coz was taken into hospital for 3 weeks to level out which they still couldnt do and now on 5 injections while b 4 was on 2!!!!! hope to get onto omnipod, now have complications neuropaphy of feet and hands so hopefully will stop this getting worse

        Reply
    1. Alison

      @Tim Shelley is the godess of diabetes support in the UK – she runs Circle D, a networking/support group for 18-30’s in Kent and is a legend in her own insulin kit bag. Shelley – please say hello.

      Reply
  2. Shelley

    Hi Guys…

    I’m Shelley (as above hehe) thanks loads for the compliments, am blushing!!! Any 18-30’s out there please see http://www.circledrocks.co.uk we offer support and loads of fun stuff too….our motto is circle d rocks!!! hehehe Circle D has changed my life 🙂

    May I just say that I love love love this website, Alison and Tim you guys rock tooo!!!!

    Sheley xxx

    Reply
  3. Shelley

    Aww sorry Tim 🙁 Although I do sometimes wonder what will happen when I hit 31, hehe will have to change it to 30-50 haha!! x

    Reply

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