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. My Insulin pump is by no means a cure for my diabetes but it has given me more freedom and flexibility in my diabetes management thus better glucose control. Prior to commencing on the pump I went online and did pump school through the Medtronic website. This helped in my transition to pump therapy. Since having the pump I have found it much easier to control my blood sugars during exercise, illness and times of stress. The pump has also made it a lot easier for me at work. As a midwife we are often busy at meal times and having the pump has given me the flexibility to delay my meals if necessary and not put myself at risk of a hypo. I can also decrease how much insulin I’m having for a short amount of time and then go back to my normal amount which I have preset.
Recently my husband and I holidayed in America. I found it much easier travelling with the pump compared to previous trips and I had no problems with time change except of course a bit of jet lag. Customs was as fun as always but with my doctors letters we had no problems. On our trip we did everything you could imagine including sightseeing, shopping, swimming, water parks and Disney theme parks. I was a bit anxious about the pump on the roller coasters but it went great no problems. If anything it was easier to maintain my blood sugars. We had an awesome trip and the pump was a great asset. Medtronic loaned a pump to me for the length of the trip. Having a spare pump gave us peace of mind though we never needed to use it. I love my pump but don’t get me wrong an insulin pump can be frustrating at times just like other insulin regimes. An insulin pump is not an easy fix, having a pump takes time and dedication but the rewards are endless. Insulin pumps are not for everyone but for me it has been life changing and I can’t believe how my life has changed for the better.
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