Diabetes care a "postcode lottery", says Seaford mum
Samantha waited three years for access to vital equipment - before being told she had to want more children to have it
Last updated 10th Feb 2025
A Seaford mum who was told she could only access vital equipment for her diabetes if she wanted another child says she's facing a "postcode lottery" for care.
It comes just days after Diabetes UK reported record numbers of people living with the chronic disease in the UK.
38-year-old Samantha faced a three year wait - during which she was advised to travel out of the area - for a sensor needed for her to be able to use her new insulin pump.
She explained that the sensor "works with the pump", telling it what her blood sugar levels are so it can "automatically adjust".
Months ago she was finally invited in for an appointment to access the monitor - only to be told that she needed to be under a certain age, wanting more children or pregnant to be eligible for it.
She said the experience left her "in tears" - having already struggled to get another monitor in the past:
"I was really upset. Even if I said, maybe I will have another child - then what? They're going to take it off me once I have a baby?"
She explained that having access would "greatly improve" her life:
"At the moment my levels are all over the place and extremely difficult to control.
"Many things, like my other health conditions, affect the levels.
"The new sensor will also help control my levels when I'm asleep - at the moment, I wake up constantly in the night to check and give myself extra insulin or sugar.
"I'm still out of control."
A spokesperson for NHS Sussex said:
""The NHS is rolling out Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) systems for eligible people with type 1 diabetes, following guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
"This will happen over the next five years for adults, and three years for children and young people.
“This roll out is being led by specialist clinicians, who are making sure this is completed fairly, and based on clinical need, with clear pathways in place for those who are clinically vulnerable or have severe complications.
"As the technology is rolled out, the clinicians will continue to review eligibility criteria to keep making sure access is fair and prioritised based on need.
“In line with the national recommendations, we are prioritising children, young people, pregnant women, and those with an expired pump warranty in the first phase.
“With over 8,500 adults in Sussex living with type 1 diabetes, this phased approach ensures that those who need it most can benefit first, in line with NICE guidance.”