Insulin pump scores with sporty Jake

A sporty Penkridge teenager with diabetes has been given the chance to play his two favourite sports with help from hospital medics.

Sixteen-year-old Jake Murphy loves to play cricket and football but because of his condition his ability to take part has been affected since he was diagnosed in 2001.

Now experts from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust have provided him with an insulin pump which has vastly improved his quality of life.

He is now at the top of his game after being fitted with the device, which measures out a steady flow of insulin to control the blood sugar levels in his body. Jake, of Grange Road, Penkridge, carries the pump, which is the size of a pager, on his waistband and it delivers the insulin through a tube into his body.

The Wolgarston High School pupil said the device had made it much easier for him to play for his two sports clubs, Hawkins Cricket Club, in Cheslyn Hay, and Penkridge Juniors football club.

The A-Level student said: "Before I was fitted with the pump, I had to take an injection in the middle of cricket matches and I would often go hypoglycaemic when playing sport, which is when your blood sugar level drops too low.

"When I play cricket now the pump allows me to lower the amount of insulin given to me before and during the match and I take the pump off altogether for football.

"I love playing football and cricket and the pump has given me a lot more flexibility to follow my sporting ambitions.

"I played for Penkridge Juniors under-16s side last year and my next goal is to get into the adult team."

Karen Whitehead, paediatric diabetes specialist nurse for the trust, said: "We are very fortunate in this area because South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust has agreed to fund our trust to provide insulin pumps for diabetic patients.

"The pumps are not suitable for everyone who is diabetic but for those who meet the guidelines they can make a big difference."

The trust cares for a total of 116 young patients with diabetes, of which five are currently using insulin pumps.