As those of you who’ve been reading this blog a while know, I was extremely fortunate to be given a ‘permanent loan’ of an insulin pump from Waitemata DHB, late last year. When I was waiting to hear if I was going to be one of the lucky ones to be issued with the pump, I spoke to various people at the hospital to keep up to date. One conversation didn’t go so well because the person on the other end was telling me the committee responsible for allocating the pumps had been strongly in favour of only loaning them out to people under the age of 25 (at that point I was six years past my use-by date in terms of that criteria).
Luckily though, they obviously changed their minds because both myself and another reader of this blog who was 29 at the time were lucky enough to be issued with a pump.
Now I see that our Aussie counterparts have also set up a scheme which shuts out “non-juveniles” in terms of support for purchasing a pump. They have cut off anyone over the age of 18! Basically this scheme is fantastic – it allows anyone in the community to apply for between 10-80% subsidy of an insulin pump (it’s means tested). But – if you’re 19 years or above – bad luck!
Does anyone else think that this sort of ‘ageism’ is a bit outdated in terms of how people view type 1 diabetes? Should we go back to the days of calling it ‘juvenile diabetes’? I personally know around 15-20 people who got T1 after they turned 19. Why are we not acknowledging this?
Posted in Community, Funding, Insulin Pumps
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SMT wrote
My 2 year old is on an insulin pump a ‘loaner’ from the pump company for 12 months until her medical insurance kicks in and she can get her own, (yep we’re kiwi’s in Oz) I’m not too sure how it works in NZ but I’m guessing ‘they’ figure that an adult is pulling in a wage therefore they will have to save their hard earned coin for a pump where as a child doesn’t really have that option? I’m glad they changed their minds Good Luck
John wrote
I am still waiting to have a pump start.. i have the money and the budget to purchase a pump and am not asking for it to be given to me.. but still i am waiting..
Bridie wrote
I am 30 years old and have a 3 month loan pump, which the ‘loan’ time runs out end of this month. I have had T1 since the age of 4yrs, and the pump is definatley something I’d wished was around in my younger, in particular teenage years. I think it is great it is subsidised for under 25’s.
Niki wrote
My 8 year old daughter has been pumping for 3 years now, we originally acquired full funding through our local Rotary Club. Rotary (and other organisations) often have special funds that are available for application. Unsure if its just for kids though, might be worth an enquiry…
NB wrote
I hear you John.
I had the funds to buy my own pump at the beginning of the year. It took me years to make the decision to pump, so when I finally did it was hard to hear that I had to wait 4 months for a pump start as the hospital will only do them in groups and at certain times of the year.
There were tears shed a number of times while the frustration levels were high.
I turned down a 12 month loan pump from the hospital – I would rather someone that doesnt have the budget to buy their own make use of the loan option.
Hang in there – when it does happen it is definately worth the wait.
Zoe wrote
I would assume the thinking behind it is that children and teenagers generally find it harder to achieve good blood sugar control than adults do.
SMR wrote
I have only recently been diagnosed with T1 at age 32 (a year ago) and have definitely been given the impression that insulin pump funding is only for under 18s. So far, I haven’t even been provided with any information on how they work or whether it would be an option for me.
Chris wrote
In Canterbury we had a limited one year contract that provided pumps for up to age 25. At that time, my daughter didn’t really want one – and lots of teens don’t seem interested. Or they try them and hand them back after a few weeks. Now she’s 19 and control all over the place, she did wonder about getting a pump. But at her age and not earning huge amounts, its a big outlay ( and one we can’t help her with in our current circumstances). I suspect that if she decided to pump, it would have to happen RIGHT NOW rather than wait several months for a pump start.
Personally I think we should have equal opportunity pump funding and not have an 18 or 25 cut off ( tho also think that they are a MUST HAVE for under 5’s. Oh how our lives would have been different if they’d been available to us 18 years ago).
I understand around half of Type 1’s are diagnosed after age 20.
Ryan wrote
That is sooooo WRONG – I got T1 when I was 18. Got told at the time it was early onset type 1 or juvenile diabetes mellitus. There was another guy who got Type 1 at the same time as me he was 40. Its now acknowledged globally there are T1 and T2 (and gestational) they can strike at any age especially T1 but T2 typically is late onset. I suspect the ‘policy’ to to deter badly managed T2’s who end up T1? That and the lack of DHB funding for what is becoming an epidemic. Which means placing a the minimal$ where they get the most bang for buck with young people who have fewer complications to prevent them developing them later? Why else would you have something so draconian in place?
Velocette wrote
If I had gotten full information on Insulin pumps before now I SOOOO would have gotten one, I am 22 now and got T1 when I was 6 and my control has never been good. Also became resistant to Penmix and Actrapid at the onset of puberty, and I never once got offered a pump. Would have been brilliant to break the resistance and then I would never have gotten into the catch 22 that I am in now.
Now all I need is to know if I can get funding to help me get the best possible pump (and consumables) for me.
Been doing some research and love the looks of the Accu-Check Combo but thats like $7000 and I only just get enough a week to pay bills.
Will have to ask my specialist if I can get one.