IT IS no larger than an iPod or mobile phone, but the insulin pump is making some big differences in the lives of local kids.
Children across the area are gaining some much needed freedom as specialists visit to discuss the pros and cons of some updated technologies in juvenile diabetes management.
Two paediatric endocrinologists visited the Armidale Community Health Centre to talk about insulin pumps, small pumps that can be fitted to children and teens to help them manage diabetes with minimal fuss and inconvenience.
The pumps can be connected to a small cannula placed anywhere on the abdomen and can be kept in a nearby pocket. As opposed to frequent injections throughout the day, the pump will release as required.
Glenn Baker, a Year 12 student from Tingha has had his pump since March and believes the change since having his pump fitted is ‘huge’.
Community educator, Michelle Neylan, said the pumps had been available since the 80’s, but had once been as large as backpacks.
The new and much smaller versions, however, she believes are ideal for children.
“There’s freedom in your diet and you can have snacks,” she said.
“Traditional insulin would be administered before a meal and meant that even if a child wasn’t hungry they would be forced to eat their food.
“The pump, however, can be administered while the child eats and, for very young children in particular, can be controlled by remote to avoid hassle.”
The convenience of the pump stretches beyond the ability to choose when and how much the kids eat.
“The pumps have led to a decreased admission rate to hospital,” Ms Neylan said.
“All our kids still play sport. Our youngest one is 11 months and the oldest is 18.
“The pumps disconnect and whenever they have a shower, go swimming or play a contact sport they can just unhook it.
“They can come off for two hours at a time and it gives them more freedom.”
One little girl enjoying the freedom is two-year-old Ainsley Ratliff.
“It’s made such a big difference,” said her mum, Audrey.
“We don’t have to wake her to inject her at night because the pump goes 24/7 and it has made her a lot happier.
“We don’t have to stop her eating either.”
Before her diagnosis Ainsley had enjoyed ‘granny days’, visits to her grandmother, but when Ainsley required frequent insulin injections her grandmother felt unable to care for her. Since being fitted with a pump Ainsley has gone back to having her ‘granny days’ twice a week.
This freedom, however, doesn’t come cheap with pumps reaching between $4000 and $8000 with additional monthly costs. While they are currently covered by healthcare funds there will be a review in early 2009 and the cover may be lost.
“Over 200 of our kids are on pumps and for those who aren’t on health funds, we’ve been lucky enough to get donations from organisations like Lions and Rotary and different charities,” Ms Neylan said.
But she said if the pumps are removed from the list it will be a ‘big step backwards’.