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Our Ambassadors

If you are considering insulin pump therapy, your Endocrinologist or Diabetes Educator will be your main source of information about this therapy. However, current pump users suggest that it can help to talk to someone who has undergone a similar experience.

Our Ambassadors have agreed to share their personal stories with you - including their reasons for choosing a Medtronic Paradigm insulin pump and how it has affected their lives. Our Ambassadors are also happy for you to contact them with any questions you may have about their experiences.

We hope their contributions will help you to make a confident, informed decision on whether a Medtronic Paradigm insulin pump is the right therapy option for you.

The following articles recount the experiences of people who are using Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm Insulin Pump therapy. Medtronic invited these people to share their stories candidly, therefore, the experiences are specific to these particular people. For advice on medical issues and/or your suitability for insulin pump therapy, you should contact your medical practitioner for specific recommendations.

Ambassador: Susan Payne When I was first asked if I would be interested in going onto an insulin pump, my reply was “No, I don’t want to wear one”. Eighteen months later, I commenced pump therapy. I hadn’t been able to achieve the control which I wanted to with multiple pen injections, and I also wanted to get good control in the hope that I may one day become pregnant. More about Ambassador Contact Ambassador

	Ambassador: Catherine Stephensen Within a few months of getting my insulin pump last year, I was off on the 9 day Great Victorian Bike Ride, which was one of the hottest & dustiest on record. I did my set changes in the tent, sitting on my sleeping bag with the gear spread out on it between my outstretched legs. (I did use the alcohol swabs). More about Ambassador Contact Ambassador

	Ambassador: Fiona Scott In October 1988 at the age of 15 years I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Up until 2006 I was using an insulin pen 4 times a day. Then in March 2006 I began using an insulin pump and wow what a difference it has made to my life. More about Ambassador Contact Ambassador

	Ambassador: Lisa Pole Over the years I have keenly observed the development of pump therapy and after frustrating HbA1Cs despite reasonable BGLs I decided last year that I was ready for a new challenge. All the stories I had been hearing were that most people on the pump were experiencing lower HbA1Cs. This was a good enough reason for me to have a go. More about Ambassador Contact Ambassador

	Ambassador: Valma Datson I am using my second Medtronic insulin pump, so have been pumping for about 5 years. This time I also purchased a continuous glucose sensor that communicates with the pump. I think they are terrific and my HbA1c’s are always between 6 & 7 now. The pump gives me such flexibility in a busy working & personal life. More about Ambassador Contact Ambassador

	Ambassador: Jenny Dalton I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 45years, being diagnosed at age 18. In those days diabetics on insulin had to use glass syringes which had to be boiled for sterilisation and testing was done, not with blood, but with urine tests. More about Ambassador Contact Ambassador
	Ambassador: Melissa Bennett I was diagnosed with type one diabetes August 2004. I remember that date so well, not only had my life been turned up side down, but it was also Friday the 13th. I couldn’t believe it when my doctor told me that I had diabetes. I hadn’t heard anything about it and blamed myself because I had always eaten so much chocolate. I had all the classic signs of diabetes, thirsty, going to the toilet heaps and tired. More about Ambassador Contact Ambassador