insulin pumps and Doc's, WHY?

[98cobra]

I have a question about insulin pumps, I have been trying to get on a insulin pump for sometime now and why is it that the only people that they allow on pumps are people that dont have any problems with keeping there blood sugar at a normal level. Every endo. and doctor I have seen always tell me I can not go on the pump because my blood sugars are so high and low. I mostly have a problem with my blood sugar going to low, now before I get a reaction my blood sugar has to be in the lower 20's. I can not tell when I am going low anymore becuse I have low sugars around 6 times a week. My doctors have tried everything and the only thing I can think of is get a pump. I have talked to the people that sells the pumps and they said it will increase my control up to 500%. My doctor wanted me on the pump 4 years ago when i did not have a problem with my sugars but back then I was drinking 12-18 beers a night and I told the doctor that I am fine with the shots, if it is not broke dont fix it, and now since I quit drinking 2 years ago my sugars have been all over the place and my doctor is clueless and where I live there is no endo's to help me out with this. What has to happen so I can get better control? My wife has to call 911 around twice a month and I have been in 6 coma's already and even switched doctors 3 times already and they all tell me the same thing, your sugar level have to be perfect before you will be put on a pump. Looks like before they take me serious I will have to die or something. 6 coma's, 911 calls are twice a month for the last 2 years. I am getting sick of it and maybe I should go back to drinking 12-18 beers a night so my level will be back on track. BTW I am a type 1 diabetic and on humulin N in the morning and take humulog at each meal and humulin U at night so that is for me 5 shots a day.

[Tony]

Glad to see you made it.:D

Before I could go on the pump. They change my insulin around a little bit. They put me on N and humalog about 4 to 5 shots a day. Once my number was close and had the carb to insulin ratio then I was ready for the pump. But I never had my bgs at a normal level. They were up and down.

If your bg's are mainly low then I would think they would let you go on the pump. I guess they want you in good control before going on the pump. You would think if you have good control then they wouldn't let you go on the pump.

You are taking two long acting insulins, how come?
Are you carb counting?
Are you writting down your bgs? Do you go low at the same time every day?

Knowing that you can't find a dr. that will put you on the pump. This is what I would do.

First off I wouldn't be thinking about drinking again. It is not fair to you and your wife. You don't want to put her thru that do you?

I would call my dr. And see if he is willing to put you on lantus and you will still take your humalog at meals.

Lantus is the next best thing to the pump. It has no peaks. N has peaks. You will have better luck with Lantus. Then you should be good to go. Ask your dr.

[98cobra]

Thanks Tony I am glad I made it also. Well the doctor has changed my insulin so much that now I take N for the night because I have high levels in the morning and U for the day to try to keep my level normal.
Yes I am carb counting
and Igo low in the early morning and in the evening.
No I do not want to go back to drinking I would hate to spend 30 days away from my wife and 3 year old daughter again. To me that is my last option to get my diabetes under control again.

I am trying to keep tight control of my sugars and nothing is working right now. If the pump is so good and increases your control so much why dont they let someone like me try it. Why do they let the people who dont have problems us it, this just does not make sense to me at all.

Jason

[Tony]

You are on n at night or in the morning?

What is your a1c?

[Patriots1]

I was wondering the same thing. My bg's have been great last 2 weeks. Haven't been higher than 180. They still want me on the pump, which I'm happy about. Looking forward to more freedom.

I think people who are struggling more should get the pump before me.

[98cobra]

I am on N at night and humulin U in the morning and my A1c was 6.75 and my doc says my a1c is to high.

[Tony]

Originally posted by 98cobra
A1c was 6.75 and my doc says my a1c is to high. OMG Anything under 7 is good. They want you at 6?

Maybe you need to call the pump rep and have them refer you a dr. You should be able to go on the pump, thats crazy.

[98cobra]

The thing that just makes me so mad is that all the doctors around here will give anything to a diabetic with no problems at all and the diabetics that have high and low blood sugars they dont want to help at all. I have been from doctor to doctor to doctor in the last 2 years. I here the same thing from all of them no pump for u even though I say that the reps that I talk to say the pump will help you with control of your sugar levels, the doctors say nothing and tell me again you sugar level has to be between 80-120 for a year before the will consider getting me on the pump. It really sucks that my wife has to call 911 at least 2 times a month and my 3 year old daughter wakes up from all the noise in the house and see all the ambulance men in my room and she starts crying saying"Please dont take my Dady" man that just rips you apart. This is it 2 years and 4 doctors and 1 endochronoligyst and the same thing. I am sick of trying there is no use for it. I ask for help from the doctors and get the same line- try this insulin it MIGHT work. I am done counting carbs and trying to keep my level normal all this in the last 2 years just has worn me down. I will not do it anymore. I am done

[dragonfly1113]

Cobra,
The reason they put me on the pump was because my sugars were all over the place. One of my insurance qualifications was sugars that are up and down. Also severe low blood sugars. I have a hard time knowing I am low. Sometimes I know in the 40's, sometimes in the 30's. Have been in the 20's one time and it woke me up. Last month I walked around in the 40's and didnt know it. Would check my bg and there it would be. The problem with some doctors are that they are older and with new things they tend to put it off. I asked my Dr. a year ago about the pump and he said no. After a year of ups and downs he suggested the pump to me and sent me to Vanderbilt to see an Endo. The ball started rolling that day. Two months later I have one. NEVER give up. I think someone suggested you call a pump company and have them suggest an Endo. These pump companies work with Doctors and that will be your biggest help. They will be able to tell you a good Endo. Try that, I am sure it will work for you.
Wishing you luck and a pump.
Susie

[Gina]

if you dont like what your doctor says you should change thats what i did ....just because they are doctors doesnt mean they are good ones and know what they are talking about....i had a doctor in the begining that said i would hate the pump, and i couldnt live without it now