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 Ambassador : Lisa Poole My name is Lisa and I am 37. My journey with type 1 diabetes began 20 years ago. I remember feeling so relieved when they finally found out what was wrong with me and that we could deal with it and get on with life. Being young and very active I found the adjustment to living with diabetes quite easy but “having to eat” between meals plus 3 regular meals a day was very inconvenient to say the least; especially when I was unwell. I did think juggling diabetes during pregnancy was my biggest challenge until I developed endometrial cancer 3 years ago. This required a radical extended hysterectomy with a complicated recovery. 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. I was very excited after attending 2 conferences relating to pump therapy and couldn’t wait to go on. It wasn’t easy at first. Inserting a cannula and filling the vials was tricky after penfills. We had some trials to get my pump settings right hampered by the allergy I had to the new type of insulin. However once onto Humalog and thanks to the wonderful Cheryle Steele (Diabetes Educator and pump genius at the Western Hospital), we were able to fine tune it. Wearing it is the easy part as it sits nice and secure in your bras best of all! I hear a lot of people talk about having to do “extra BSL readings” but I always did 3 or 4 a day anyway so this is not an issue for me. I do not find the pump a burden in anyway. It has given me back so much freedom I have a new lease of life! I can eat when I WANT to eat and if I don’t feel like eating I don’t. I can sleep in for the first time in 20 years – life’s simple pleasures! However, I have not enjoyed wearing the transmitter at all. It was too big and another thing to put in my tummy! But I LOVED what it could do. After wearing sensors for almost 2 months continually I was able to bring my HbA1C down dramatically. At this time of writing, the newer, smaller version of transmitter is waiting for my collection. I can’t wait! I believe continuous blood glucose monitoring is the next best thing to a cure. I encourage any fellow diabetics to give it a go. It is just great. I must emphasis, in brief, the many features of the pump that help in so many ways inevitably to gain better control of our BSLs. - The software that comes with it allows you to download your BSLs. After continuous monitoring for 2 months (wearing the transmitter) I discovered my BSLs were peaking overnight, twice, and then falling by breakfast; something I would never have picked up because they were always OK in the mornings! - It has an alarm system if you haven’t “touched it” for a certain time or if the battery or insulin is getting low, which is great. - There are too many other features to mention but they all help give us better control. As I live in North Central Victoria where our nearest rural city does not offer a pumping clinic and therefore no support to the REGION we need to support each other and I welcome any enquiries. Cheryle Steele from Western Hospital in Melbourne should have wings she is such an angel!! Her support is only a phone call away 24/7. In relation to the pump and its bits and pieces, Catriona Sims (Southern Regional Sales Manager for Medtronic) is so helpful, friendly and pleasant to speak with. My whole experience couldn’t have been better. If you are feeling isolated by miles, don’t be, there is a lot of support available and hopefully the more of us that get pumping the more support will have to be developed! Pump technology is here for everyone. All the best, I look forward to hearing from any fellow diabetics out there.
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