Pump update

No, not that type of pump!

People who read this blog for a long time (you poor souls) may dimly recall that in September 2009 I wrote an article where I mentioned I would be getting a pump (it’s here, if you don’t remember it).

You may also dimly recall that I was a bit eggy about having to wait eighteen months (or 2.8% of my lifetime, I cleverly calculated at the time) to get the damned thing. I swore blue murder and mentioned that I would write to all concerned to remedy this crappy state of affairs.

Well, months passed, and I did indeed write to my MSP (health is a devolved matter and so is handled by the Scottish Parliament rather than Westminster) and the chief big cheese of my health board. I’m pleased to report that I achieved absolutely nothing and, in fact, I hear ugly rumours that since writing my original article the waiting list for pump therapy in the Lothians has now increased from 18 months to three years. Very not so good.

Anyway, time has now elapsed and I’ve been given an approximate start date for my lovely new pump – sometime in November. So that’s something to look forward to, an early Christmas present of sorts.

I’ve also been given a choice of pump. The decision of which pump to go for was, in the end, a pretty easy one as I was given a choice of *drum roll please* one. The Medtronic Veo or the Medtronic Veo. Fortunately I hear it’s not actually a bad pump and I suppose it does cut down on training costs – apparently the reason for the long waiting list. The probable fact that apparent difficulties relating to training is an excuse for rationing and limiting the supply of expensive pumps is, of course, neither here nor there.

As we all know, pumps aren’t a magic wand for good diabetes care. I’m not expecting it to magic my diabetical problems away in an instant (and anyone that does is somewhat deranged). However, I do think pumps are a more subtle and versatile tool for trying to manually replicate what your pancreas does automatically (well, it would if it worked!) which is, after all, what we diabetics are trying to do day in day out.

So there we have it – the end of the pump saga is gradually hoving into sight. No doubt I’ll keep you all updated with further developments as and when they eventually happen.