DEVOTED dad Martin Carr is teaming up with his diabetic son to walk the West Highland Way in a bid to raise awareness of treatment alternatives. Student Martyn, 21, was one of the first young patients at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital to be given insulin pump therapy. This gadget replaces the traditional insulin injections and Martyn, who is studying an Introduction to Healthcare and hopes to become a specialist diabetes nurse, said it changed his life. Now he wants more people with diabetes to at least be given the chance to try out the pump – which reduces the chance of health complications later in life – to see if it could turn their lives around. Young Martyn, who is a student at Cardonald College told the Paisley Daily Express: “I was five-years-old when I was diagnosed. Since I was given the pump I have had a better quality of life. “I have better control of my health, and there is less risk of complications later in life. “I can also get a long lie in the morning because I don’t need to eat at a specific time, as I did with the injections, and I can eat when I want! “I believe that everybody should have the opportunity to try the pump. It’s a bit like a small mobile phone that is attached to me thorugh a tube, like a drip tube only smaller. And I press buttons when I need to take insulin.” The gizmo also controls Martyn’s basal rate, which means a low and continuous insulin supply maintains his insulin and blood sugar level. Diabetes is a condition where the level of glucose in the blood is too high as the body cannot use it properly. Insulin is vital for life – it is a hormone produced by the pancreas and helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel for energy so we can work, play and generally live our lives. Type 1 diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40 and it cannot be prevented. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly. In most cases, this is linked to being overweight, and it usually appears in people over the age of 40. The actual pump costs £2,500 and it is around £1,000 a year for the accessories involved, while insulin is free on the NHS. Martyn, from Barrhead, added: “I was one of the first at the RAH to get the pump, which I got when I was 16. “People should at least be able to try it to see if it is for them, and I think the government should put more money into pushing this forward. “It might seem expensive now, but the government will save money because, later in life, people using the pump are less likely to have problems with their feet, eyes, and so on.” The father and son will walk the famous West Highland Way to raise cash – and awareness – for the Insulin Pump Awareness Group. Dad Martin, left, who runs the pie stands at St Mirren’s ground with his wife Rosalind, said the pump has been better at maintaining his son’s blood sugar. IPAG is a new group made up of people who are either pump users or potential pump users. They have formed the group to try to raise awareness of pump therapy and to highlight the lack of availability of pumps in Scotland. Martin said: “It is difficult to access a treatment which can transform lives. Patients have to fight hard battles to obtain the treatment when they are ill which is not right, and waiting times are far too long. “The pump reduces complications such as kidney disease, blindness, and other vascular problems which can kill and it can extend lives” “Young people experience particular benefits as poor diabetes control interferes with their education.” The Carr duo are setting out on Friday and would really appreciate sponsorship from Paisley Daily Express readers. To donate e-mail your pledge to martyn.carr1988@yahoo.co.uk You can find out more about insulin pumps at online at the website www.insulin-pumpers.org.uk or e-mail enquiries@IPAGScotland.co.uk | 
