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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.

I was in hospital for a few days. There was so much info to take in. I was lucky though, mum was with me the whole time, so we both got brain drain at the same time.

A year after I was diagnosed with diabetes a family friend told me about the insulin pump. I kept saying “there is no way I’m having something connected to me all the time. It would drive me mad”!!! Six month later I started doing some research. I began looking on websites, reading about the benefits of the pump. I decided to see my endo and told him that I had done a bit of research on the pump and had decided that I would really like one. He said that I would be a great candidate for a pump and told me to go home and research more to find out what pump I would like.

I began emailing pump companies and asked them to send out an info pack on what they had to offer, as well as asking some general questions. I narrowed it down to two pump companies, so I decided to ring up the help lines and see how they treated me, if they were quick to answer etc. I didn’t want to go with a pump company if they were not going to help me out when I most needed them, so I thought this was the only way to make my decision. I decided on Medtronic.

Back I went to see my endo, who then sent me to see a diabetes educator. She was impressed with the research I had done. When I got the date to be “connected” to the pump, I was so excited.

I admit that there is a lot to learn about the working of a pump, but every single bit is worth it. When I was on injections four times a day, everything revolved around when I had to have my next injection and eat. I often found it hard to live a normal life while trying to manage my diabetes at the same time. Now that I’m on the pump I find that I am living a more normal and healthy life. I can sleep in, where as with injections I couldn’t. If my friends invite me out, I can go, instead of having to make sure it won’t interrupt my next injection.

The day I was connected to the pump was exciting, but at the same time I was nervous. There was so much to remember. The next day when I was out, I felt so proud that I had made such a great decision. I’ve been on the pump for just a little more than two months now. When I eat, I just love that fact that all I have to do is push a few buttons and I have had my insulin dose, instead of wondering if someone is watching me doing my needle.

Being on the pump you do have to test your BGL a lot more, be more precise with the food and insulin intake, but every single bit is worth it. Now that I am on a pump, I will never go back to injections.