[Gary_W]

It's a bit like saying that we should never allow a teenager to have toast because a breadknife is dangerous if mis-used. I agree fully with others that teenager related problems can occur with MDI or pumps.

I'm fortunate in that my diabetes had the decency to stay away until my teenage years were long gone. I'm glad I didn't have to go through that wonderful time again with the added bonus of BG control. With that in mind, I'm not fully equiped to comment as I haven't 'been there'.

What I do think is that pumping is not a magic bullet and that if a person (be they child, teenager or adult) does not get their head around how to use it and look after it, it will be a pretty expensive box of tricks that offers few benefits above MDI. For those that take the time, the benefits can be huge (depending on the individual and how well MDI suited them anyway...). Eddie's point about teenagers not wanting to inject in public is a good one. I must say that going out for a meal with work a week back and not having to say 'excuse me, just got to shoot up' was great, and I don't have confidence issues. Just the opposite for the most part

I do love reports like this one... 'Some people get hurt when self-administering a drug which can easily cause unconciousness (or worse) if you get it wrong'. Frankly with the level of education dished out at the same time as insulin I'm constantly amazed that more people don't shuffle off this mortal coil due to insulin misuse. At least MOST people given pumps are educated on their use / carb counting. If they had a report on how many people die from insulin misuse due to ignorance then I'd be interested. This report? Stating the obvious really.

Gary