It all sounded a bit scary to me

"It all sounded a bit scary to me, even though I had heard stories from many others who use and love insulin pumps."

Many may think my uptake of diabetes tech was rather slow given I work in the industry, but multiple daily injections and finger pricks worked well, my A1c was stable in the 7s and I figured, ‘why fix what’s not broken?’

I did the OzDAFNE program in 2008 which was wonderful to help learn about carb counting and insulin dose adjustment with confidence and accuracy.

I knew about insulin pumps and CGM but didn’t feel it was the right fit for me until I heard about a new type of glucose sensor (Freestyle Libre) at a diabetes conference in 2015.

When it became TGA approved and available in Australia in 2016 I was keen to try it out. My fingers were very thankful for fewer finger pricks!

I was very fortunate that I was able to afford sensors and it was such a great first step into diabetes tech for me. The system travelled the world with me and gave me confidence to live life with greater freedoms than before.

When I hit the ‘35 years living with type 1 diabetes’ mark, my endo started talking about how insulin pump therapy might be a helpful way to fine-tune my diabetes control. She wasn’t pushy, but each time I spoke with her she’d gently ask how I felt about a possible change.

It all sounded a bit scary to me, even though I had heard stories from many others who use and love insulin pumps.

As Hybrid Closed Loop systems became more available, I became more interested but not enough to change just yet.

When news about CGM subsidy for people with T1 through NDSS became a reality in 2021, that was the catalyst for me to think more seriously about the possibilities of insulin pump therapy.

I checked out my private health insurance, spoke to my diabetes educator and put the wheels in motion.

I changed CGM device type and went straight to using HCL in August 2021. By then, I had been living with type 1 diabetes for nearly 40 years.

The principles of carb counting I learned in OzDAFNE and have applied since were a very important foundation for moving to insulin pump therapy.

Do I wish I’d changed sooner? No, I wasn’t ready for the change. The choice and timing was mine and mine alone. The time must be right!

Shifting from the hands-on control of giving insulin via injections to a pump system was a big step of trust at the start, but it didn’t take too long to get used to the system. The help and support of my DNE was essential in the early days and weeks of transition to an insulin pump. Even though I am a DNE, it’s different when it’s you!

Diabetes management changes can be hard for many. I remember being scared to change the type of insulin I was injecting when I moved from Monotard to Protaphane in the late 1980s, and from Actrapid to Humalog in the mid 1990s. You need to be brave!

Initially I was worried about the device attachment part of pump therapy, but it wasn’t at all as bad as I thought it might have been. Having become comfortable with CGM sensors being attached to me, the addition of pump cannula attachment and lines didn’t take too much getting used to. There are lots of accessories around to help make it easier too.

My HbA1c has improved and so has my TIR – all helpful things to reduce risks for complications as the years living with type 1 add up.

My overnight glucose levels are amazingly flat line and in target 99% of the time which is so encouraging – the HCL system is working well. I generally feel more confident managing food.

I do think CGM is a very helpful tool for people with type 1 especially. I recommend thinking about it and talking to your diabetes educator if you aren’t already using it.

Like most tech, it’s not for everyone, but being brave and talking about it or even trying it for a short time may be worth it.

Insulin pumps are very helpful management tools, but they’re not set-and-forget and it’s not for everyone.

If more people had access to technology, people with all types of diabetes could be empowered to manage their diabetes better and live longer, healthier lives. They would have less risk of complications and the hospitalisations that can occur as a result.