Re: Insulin pump and ketones question

[Guest guest]

Are the alarms on the pump designed to say whether it is a high bs or a low

bs according to the tone or rythm of the alarm?

Insulin pump and ketones question

>>>

>>>

>>>> I have a question mostly for the type 1 diabetics on the list,

>>>> especially

>>>> those who use a pump. I've been considering a pump for a while now and

>>>> am

>>>> thinking of bringing it up with my doctor. Today, due to circumstances

>>> that

>>>> caused me to miss my lunchtime Humalog and not realize I couldn't do it

>>>> until after I'd eaten, I came home this evening (six hours after lunch)

>>>> to

>>> a

>>>> blood sugar of 18.6 and spilling moderate ketones. Needless to say this

>>> has

>>>> scared me into making sure I never forget my insulin pen again, or at

>>> least

>>>> making sure I have it before eating (I didn't realize ketones could

>>> develop

>>>> in just hours from missing only one shot, since I had Lantus in my

>>>> system

>>> at

>>>> least, but guess I was wrong).

>>>>

>>>> Anyway, this made me think of the fact that people using an insulin

>>>> pump

>>>> have an even higher risk of developing ketones and ketoacidosis than

>>> someone

>>>> like I would, since if their pump stopped working they wouldn't have

>>>> any

>>>> insulin, not even something like Lantus, in their system. This is the

>>>> one

>>>> major disadvantage to using a pump that I can see, especially if I'm

>>> living

>>>> on my own as I probably would be. For those of you who use pumps, has

>>>> it

>>>> ever malfunctioned or otherwise stopped working for you, and if so, was

>>>> it

>>>> fixable quickly enough to avoid ketones? One of my fears is that I

>>>> would

>>> not

>>>> notice if something was wrong with the pump and it wasn't delivering

>>>> insulin, and/or that I wouldn't be able to figure out what was wrong if

>>>> I

>>>> did know.

>>>>

>>>> Also, how other type 1's test for ketones when you're high? I have

>>>> enough

>>>> vision that I can sort of see generally what the colour on the strip

>>> changes

>>>> to with a magnifier, although it's far easier to get a sighted person

>>>> to

>>>> look. I'm thinking if I get a pump I would want a glucose meter that

>>>> could

>>>> test for blood ketones as well as blood sugar, like the Precision Xtra.

>>>>

>>>> Also, does anyone have any idea how long ketoacidosis would actually

>>>> take

>>> to

>>>> develop? I've thankfully never experienced it so don't really have any

>>> idea.

>>>> I've heard anything between a few hours to a day or two to a week or

>>>> more.

>>>>

>>>> Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any feedback! I got home

>>>> about

>>>> an hour and a half ago and my blood sugar is now 9.3, but the ketones

>>>> are

>>>> still there, I think they'll take a few hours to go away. Won't be

>>> skipping

>>>> insulin again, by accident or otherwise, anytime soon! That would be

>>>> one

>>>> advantage to the pump, at least: it's impossible to forget to bring

>>>> your

>>>> insulin.

>>>>

>>>> Jen

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

[Guest guest]

Do questions, Jen.

I have been using the Disetronic H-tron pump for over 4 years. I love!

Disetronics is different than the mini-med as the company give you 2 pumps

when you sign up, so the one time I had a problem, I switched over to the

the other pump and sent the defective one back. Couple of times the pump

did not work and my sugar went up as did the ketones level (and I assume

this because I was sick to my stomach, which often happens with high

ketones) and I gave myself a shot of humalog, which quickly brought my sugar

won from 480-which is about 13 in your measurement) and the only reason it

went that high is because I had forgotten to bring a bottle of insulin and

syringe with me. All pump companies recommend that you bring insulin with

you in case of pump failure. I knew the sugar was going up because I could

check it. It turned out that I had dropped the pump at one time and it had

developed a leak, so the insulin was getting to me, but to the inside of the

pump!

Usually when something is wrong, the pump lets off a warning beep and then a

number comes on the screen. The most common reason for the beep is the need

for new batteries, so I change batteries (very easy); the second most common

reason is that there is kink in the line-also easily fixable. One time it

started beeping I could not figure out what was the reason, so I called the

800 number-all companies have 800 numbers you can call 24-7 and they go

through every step with you from the beginning to the end until it is fixed.

But I always have bottles of insulin and syringes on hand. I don't think

Ihave had to use any now in a log time-in fact I better check the expiration

date on the insulin! Also when I travel, I take the extra pump and extra

cartridges with me. Disetronics has made it possible to purchase pre-filled

cartridges, so you don't have to the cartridge yourself as you do with the

other brands. (I am basically lazy!) Also, it very easy to change the site

where the pump is attached to you-but it is important that you change that

site every 2 or 3 days to avoid infection start. I really recommend the

pump. It is detachable if you want to shower or swim and you can keep it

unhooked from you for as long an hour without it hurting you.

Insulin pump and ketones question

I have a question mostly for the type 1 diabetics on the list, especially

those who use a pump. I've been considering a pump for a while now and am

thinking of bringing it up with my doctor. Today, due to circumstances that

caused me to miss my lunchtime Humalog and not realize I couldn't do it

until after I'd eaten, I came home this evening (six hours after lunch) to a

blood sugar of 18.6 and spilling moderate ketones. Needless to say this has

scared me into making sure I never forget my insulin pen again, or at least

making sure I have it before eating (I didn't realize ketones could develop

in just hours from missing only one shot, since I had Lantus in my system at

least, but guess I was wrong).

Anyway, this made me think of the fact that people using an insulin pump

have an even higher risk of developing ketones and ketoacidosis than someone

like I would, since if their pump stopped working they wouldn't have any

insulin, not even something like Lantus, in their system. This is the one

major disadvantage to using a pump that I can see, especially if I'm living

on my own as I probably would be. For those of you who use pumps, has it

ever malfunctioned or otherwise stopped working for you, and if so, was it

fixable quickly enough to avoid ketones? One of my fears is that I would not

notice if something was wrong with the pump and it wasn't delivering

insulin, and/or that I wouldn't be able to figure out what was wrong if I

did know.

Also, how other type 1's test for ketones when you're high? I have enough

vision that I can sort of see generally what the colour on the strip changes

to with a magnifier, although it's far easier to get a sighted person to

look. I'm thinking if I get a pump I would want a glucose meter that could

test for blood ketones as well as blood sugar, like the Precision Xtra.

Also, does anyone have any idea how long ketoacidosis would actually take to

develop? I've thankfully never experienced it so don't really have any idea.

I've heard anything between a few hours to a day or two to a week or more.

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any feedback! I got home about

an hour and a half ago and my blood sugar is now 9.3, but the ketones are

still there, I think they'll take a few hours to go away. Won't be skipping

insulin again, by accident or otherwise, anytime soon! That would be one

advantage to the pump, at least: it's impossible to forget to bring your

insulin.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Do questions, Jen.

I have been using the Disetronic H-tron pump for over 4 years. I love!

Disetronics is different than the mini-med as the company give you 2 pumps

when you sign up, so the one time I had a problem, I switched over to the

the other pump and sent the defective one back. Couple of times the pump

did not work and my sugar went up as did the ketones level (and I assume

this because I was sick to my stomach, which often happens with high

ketones) and I gave myself a shot of humalog, which quickly brought my sugar

won from 480-which is about 13 in your measurement) and the only reason it

went that high is because I had forgotten to bring a bottle of insulin and

syringe with me. All pump companies recommend that you bring insulin with

you in case of pump failure. I knew the sugar was going up because I could

check it. It turned out that I had dropped the pump at one time and it had

developed a leak, so the insulin was getting to me, but to the inside of the

pump!

Usually when something is wrong, the pump lets off a warning beep and then a

number comes on the screen. The most common reason for the beep is the need

for new batteries, so I change batteries (very easy); the second most common

reason is that there is kink in the line-also easily fixable. One time it

started beeping I could not figure out what was the reason, so I called the

800 number-all companies have 800 numbers you can call 24-7 and they go

through every step with you from the beginning to the end until it is fixed.

But I always have bottles of insulin and syringes on hand. I don't think

Ihave had to use any now in a log time-in fact I better check the expiration

date on the insulin! Also when I travel, I take the extra pump and extra

cartridges with me. Disetronics has made it possible to purchase pre-filled

cartridges, so you don't have to the cartridge yourself as you do with the

other brands. (I am basically lazy!) Also, it very easy to change the site

where the pump is attached to you-but it is important that you change that

site every 2 or 3 days to avoid infection start. I really recommend the

pump. It is detachable if you want to shower or swim and you can keep it

unhooked from you for as long an hour without it hurting you.

Insulin pump and ketones question

I have a question mostly for the type 1 diabetics on the list, especially

those who use a pump. I've been considering a pump for a while now and am

thinking of bringing it up with my doctor. Today, due to circumstances that

caused me to miss my lunchtime Humalog and not realize I couldn't do it

until after I'd eaten, I came home this evening (six hours after lunch) to a

blood sugar of 18.6 and spilling moderate ketones. Needless to say this has

scared me into making sure I never forget my insulin pen again, or at least

making sure I have it before eating (I didn't realize ketones could develop

in just hours from missing only one shot, since I had Lantus in my system at

least, but guess I was wrong).

Anyway, this made me think of the fact that people using an insulin pump

have an even higher risk of developing ketones and ketoacidosis than someone

like I would, since if their pump stopped working they wouldn't have any

insulin, not even something like Lantus, in their system. This is the one

major disadvantage to using a pump that I can see, especially if I'm living

on my own as I probably would be. For those of you who use pumps, has it

ever malfunctioned or otherwise stopped working for you, and if so, was it

fixable quickly enough to avoid ketones? One of my fears is that I would not

notice if something was wrong with the pump and it wasn't delivering

insulin, and/or that I wouldn't be able to figure out what was wrong if I

did know.

Also, how other type 1's test for ketones when you're high? I have enough

vision that I can sort of see generally what the colour on the strip changes

to with a magnifier, although it's far easier to get a sighted person to

look. I'm thinking if I get a pump I would want a glucose meter that could

test for blood ketones as well as blood sugar, like the Precision Xtra.

Also, does anyone have any idea how long ketoacidosis would actually take to

develop? I've thankfully never experienced it so don't really have any idea.

I've heard anything between a few hours to a day or two to a week or more.

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any feedback! I got home about

an hour and a half ago and my blood sugar is now 9.3, but the ketones are

still there, I think they'll take a few hours to go away. Won't be skipping

insulin again, by accident or otherwise, anytime soon! That would be one

advantage to the pump, at least: it's impossible to forget to bring your

insulin.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Do questions, Jen.

I have been using the Disetronic H-tron pump for over 4 years. I love!

Disetronics is different than the mini-med as the company give you 2 pumps

when you sign up, so the one time I had a problem, I switched over to the

the other pump and sent the defective one back. Couple of times the pump

did not work and my sugar went up as did the ketones level (and I assume

this because I was sick to my stomach, which often happens with high

ketones) and I gave myself a shot of humalog, which quickly brought my sugar

won from 480-which is about 13 in your measurement) and the only reason it

went that high is because I had forgotten to bring a bottle of insulin and

syringe with me. All pump companies recommend that you bring insulin with

you in case of pump failure. I knew the sugar was going up because I could

check it. It turned out that I had dropped the pump at one time and it had

developed a leak, so the insulin was getting to me, but to the inside of the

pump!

Usually when something is wrong, the pump lets off a warning beep and then a

number comes on the screen. The most common reason for the beep is the need

for new batteries, so I change batteries (very easy); the second most common

reason is that there is kink in the line-also easily fixable. One time it

started beeping I could not figure out what was the reason, so I called the

800 number-all companies have 800 numbers you can call 24-7 and they go

through every step with you from the beginning to the end until it is fixed.

But I always have bottles of insulin and syringes on hand. I don't think

Ihave had to use any now in a log time-in fact I better check the expiration

date on the insulin! Also when I travel, I take the extra pump and extra

cartridges with me. Disetronics has made it possible to purchase pre-filled

cartridges, so you don't have to the cartridge yourself as you do with the

other brands. (I am basically lazy!) Also, it very easy to change the site

where the pump is attached to you-but it is important that you change that

site every 2 or 3 days to avoid infection start. I really recommend the

pump. It is detachable if you want to shower or swim and you can keep it

unhooked from you for as long an hour without it hurting you.

Insulin pump and ketones question

I have a question mostly for the type 1 diabetics on the list, especially

those who use a pump. I've been considering a pump for a while now and am

thinking of bringing it up with my doctor. Today, due to circumstances that

caused me to miss my lunchtime Humalog and not realize I couldn't do it

until after I'd eaten, I came home this evening (six hours after lunch) to a

blood sugar of 18.6 and spilling moderate ketones. Needless to say this has

scared me into making sure I never forget my insulin pen again, or at least

making sure I have it before eating (I didn't realize ketones could develop

in just hours from missing only one shot, since I had Lantus in my system at

least, but guess I was wrong).

Anyway, this made me think of the fact that people using an insulin pump

have an even higher risk of developing ketones and ketoacidosis than someone

like I would, since if their pump stopped working they wouldn't have any

insulin, not even something like Lantus, in their system. This is the one

major disadvantage to using a pump that I can see, especially if I'm living

on my own as I probably would be. For those of you who use pumps, has it

ever malfunctioned or otherwise stopped working for you, and if so, was it

fixable quickly enough to avoid ketones? One of my fears is that I would not

notice if something was wrong with the pump and it wasn't delivering

insulin, and/or that I wouldn't be able to figure out what was wrong if I

did know.

Also, how other type 1's test for ketones when you're high? I have enough

vision that I can sort of see generally what the colour on the strip changes

to with a magnifier, although it's far easier to get a sighted person to

look. I'm thinking if I get a pump I would want a glucose meter that could

test for blood ketones as well as blood sugar, like the Precision Xtra.

Also, does anyone have any idea how long ketoacidosis would actually take to

develop? I've thankfully never experienced it so don't really have any idea.

I've heard anything between a few hours to a day or two to a week or more.

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any feedback! I got home about

an hour and a half ago and my blood sugar is now 9.3, but the ketones are

still there, I think they'll take a few hours to go away. Won't be skipping

insulin again, by accident or otherwise, anytime soon! That would be one

advantage to the pump, at least: it's impossible to forget to bring your

insulin.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Dear Harry, The phone advertisement I have heard so far was not pacific. If

they fallow there usual pattern, it will probably be a generic ring for

both. I am looking in to this my self.

Insulin pump and ketones question

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>> I have a question mostly for the type 1 diabetics on the list,

>>>>> especially

>>>>> those who use a pump. I've been considering a pump for a while now and

>>>>> am

>>>>> thinking of bringing it up with my doctor. Today, due to circumstances

>>>> that

>>>>> caused me to miss my lunchtime Humalog and not realize I couldn't do

>>>>> it

>>>>> until after I'd eaten, I came home this evening (six hours after

>>>>> lunch)

>>>>> to

>>>> a

>>>>> blood sugar of 18.6 and spilling moderate ketones. Needless to say

>>>>> this

>>>> has

>>>>> scared me into making sure I never forget my insulin pen again, or at

>>>> least

>>>>> making sure I have it before eating (I didn't realize ketones could

>>>> develop

>>>>> in just hours from missing only one shot, since I had Lantus in my

>>>>> system

>>>> at

>>>>> least, but guess I was wrong).

>>>>>

>>>>> Anyway, this made me think of the fact that people using an insulin

>>>>> pump

>>>>> have an even higher risk of developing ketones and ketoacidosis than

>>>> someone

>>>>> like I would, since if their pump stopped working they wouldn't have

>>>>> any

>>>>> insulin, not even something like Lantus, in their system. This is the

>>>>> one

>>>>> major disadvantage to using a pump that I can see, especially if I'm

>>>> living

>>>>> on my own as I probably would be. For those of you who use pumps, has

>>>>> it

>>>>> ever malfunctioned or otherwise stopped working for you, and if so,

>>>>> was

>>>>> it

>>>>> fixable quickly enough to avoid ketones? One of my fears is that I

>>>>> would

>>>> not

>>>>> notice if something was wrong with the pump and it wasn't delivering

>>>>> insulin, and/or that I wouldn't be able to figure out what was wrong

>>>>> if

>>>>> I

>>>>> did know.

>>>>>

>>>>> Also, how other type 1's test for ketones when you're high? I have

>>>>> enough

>>>>> vision that I can sort of see generally what the colour on the strip

>>>> changes

>>>>> to with a magnifier, although it's far easier to get a sighted person

>>>>> to

>>>>> look. I'm thinking if I get a pump I would want a glucose meter that

>>>>> could

>>>>> test for blood ketones as well as blood sugar, like the Precision

>>>>> Xtra.

>>>>>

>>>>> Also, does anyone have any idea how long ketoacidosis would actually

>>>>> take

>>>> to

>>>>> develop? I've thankfully never experienced it so don't really have any

>>>> idea.

>>>>> I've heard anything between a few hours to a day or two to a week or

>>>>> more.

>>>>>

>>>>> Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any feedback! I got home

>>>>> about

>>>>> an hour and a half ago and my blood sugar is now 9.3, but the ketones

>>>>> are

>>>>> still there, I think they'll take a few hours to go away. Won't be

>>>> skipping

>>>>> insulin again, by accident or otherwise, anytime soon! That would be

>>>>> one

>>>>> advantage to the pump, at least: it's impossible to forget to bring

>>>>> your

>>>>> insulin.

>>>>>

>>>>> Jen

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jennipher, Unfortunately, there are two or three alarms sounds on the

pump I have. I need to have my husband read the screen for me, now. I once

could read the screen a little. Have a diabetes specialist show you a

working pump. I was shown two different types and chose the one I have now.

My diabetes nurse refers blind people to me to determine if a pump will be

right for them. I had a blind woman who was considering a pump to get her

control a little better. Both she and her husband are totally blind. I had

to ask If they had any one near by to read the pump in the middle of the

night. It does go off now and a gain. When she told me they didn't I had

to recommend they reconsider until some one comes up with a more audio

friendly version. This is not to discourage you, as much as to give you a

fresh perspective.

Re: Insulin pump and ketones question

> Hi ,

>

> Thanks for your comments. I haven't looked at any pumps yet so am not sure

> which one I'd get. First I have to bring it up with my doctor and see what

> he thinks, then figure out how to come up with the $6,000 to buy one!

> *smile* I suppose then I'd do research into exactly which one I wanted.

>

> It's good that you haven't had any problems so far. I only know one person

> in " real life " who uses a pump (a friend of my brother's) but I only see

> him

> for a few minutes every few years, so don't have anyone I can ask

> questions

> of, and didn't have any idea how frequent pump problems are. When one of

> these alarms goes off to they have different sounds to distinguish what

> the

> problem is, or do you have to get a sighted person to look at the screen

> to

> figure it out?

>

> Jen

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jennipher, Unfortunately, there are two or three alarms sounds on the

pump I have. I need to have my husband read the screen for me, now. I once

could read the screen a little. Have a diabetes specialist show you a

working pump. I was shown two different types and chose the one I have now.

My diabetes nurse refers blind people to me to determine if a pump will be

right for them. I had a blind woman who was considering a pump to get her

control a little better. Both she and her husband are totally blind. I had

to ask If they had any one near by to read the pump in the middle of the

night. It does go off now and a gain. When she told me they didn't I had

to recommend they reconsider until some one comes up with a more audio

friendly version. This is not to discourage you, as much as to give you a

fresh perspective.

Re: Insulin pump and ketones question

> Hi ,

>

> Thanks for your comments. I haven't looked at any pumps yet so am not sure

> which one I'd get. First I have to bring it up with my doctor and see what

> he thinks, then figure out how to come up with the $6,000 to buy one!

> *smile* I suppose then I'd do research into exactly which one I wanted.

>

> It's good that you haven't had any problems so far. I only know one person

> in " real life " who uses a pump (a friend of my brother's) but I only see

> him

> for a few minutes every few years, so don't have anyone I can ask

> questions

> of, and didn't have any idea how frequent pump problems are. When one of

> these alarms goes off to they have different sounds to distinguish what

> the

> problem is, or do you have to get a sighted person to look at the screen

> to

> figure it out?

>

> Jen

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jennipher, Unfortunately, there are two or three alarms sounds on the

pump I have. I need to have my husband read the screen for me, now. I once

could read the screen a little. Have a diabetes specialist show you a

working pump. I was shown two different types and chose the one I have now.

My diabetes nurse refers blind people to me to determine if a pump will be

right for them. I had a blind woman who was considering a pump to get her

control a little better. Both she and her husband are totally blind. I had

to ask If they had any one near by to read the pump in the middle of the

night. It does go off now and a gain. When she told me they didn't I had

to recommend they reconsider until some one comes up with a more audio

friendly version. This is not to discourage you, as much as to give you a

fresh perspective.

Re: Insulin pump and ketones question

> Hi ,

>

> Thanks for your comments. I haven't looked at any pumps yet so am not sure

> which one I'd get. First I have to bring it up with my doctor and see what

> he thinks, then figure out how to come up with the $6,000 to buy one!

> *smile* I suppose then I'd do research into exactly which one I wanted.

>

> It's good that you haven't had any problems so far. I only know one person

> in " real life " who uses a pump (a friend of my brother's) but I only see

> him

> for a few minutes every few years, so don't have anyone I can ask

> questions

> of, and didn't have any idea how frequent pump problems are. When one of

> these alarms goes off to they have different sounds to distinguish what

> the

> problem is, or do you have to get a sighted person to look at the screen

> to

> figure it out?

>

> Jen

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear , I guess it's perspective. I don't have a problem with taking

a few more blood sugars any longer. How do you determine what is going on

in your pump? *smiles*

Insulin pump and ketones question

>>>

>>>

>>>> I have a question mostly for the type 1 diabetics on the list,

>>>> especially

>>>> those who use a pump. I've been considering a pump for a while now and

>>>> am

>>>> thinking of bringing it up with my doctor. Today, due to circumstances

>>> that

>>>> caused me to miss my lunchtime Humalog and not realize I couldn't do it

>>>> until after I'd eaten, I came home this evening (six hours after lunch)

>>>> to

>>> a

>>>> blood sugar of 18.6 and spilling moderate ketones. Needless to say this

>>> has

>>>> scared me into making sure I never forget my insulin pen again, or at

>>> least

>>>> making sure I have it before eating (I didn't realize ketones could

>>> develop

>>>> in just hours from missing only one shot, since I had Lantus in my

>>>> system

>>> at

>>>> least, but guess I was wrong).

>>>>

>>>> Anyway, this made me think of the fact that people using an insulin

>>>> pump

>>>> have an even higher risk of developing ketones and ketoacidosis than

>>> someone

>>>> like I would, since if their pump stopped working they wouldn't have

>>>> any

>>>> insulin, not even something like Lantus, in their system. This is the

>>>> one

>>>> major disadvantage to using a pump that I can see, especially if I'm

>>> living

>>>> on my own as I probably would be. For those of you who use pumps, has

>>>> it

>>>> ever malfunctioned or otherwise stopped working for you, and if so, was

>>>> it

>>>> fixable quickly enough to avoid ketones? One of my fears is that I

>>>> would

>>> not

>>>> notice if something was wrong with the pump and it wasn't delivering

>>>> insulin, and/or that I wouldn't be able to figure out what was wrong if

>>>> I

>>>> did know.

>>>>

>>>> Also, how other type 1's test for ketones when you're high? I have

>>>> enough

>>>> vision that I can sort of see generally what the colour on the strip

>>> changes

>>>> to with a magnifier, although it's far easier to get a sighted person

>>>> to

>>>> look. I'm thinking if I get a pump I would want a glucose meter that

>>>> could

>>>> test for blood ketones as well as blood sugar, like the Precision Xtra.

>>>>

>>>> Also, does anyone have any idea how long ketoacidosis would actually

>>>> take

>>> to

>>>> develop? I've thankfully never experienced it so don't really have any

>>> idea.

>>>> I've heard anything between a few hours to a day or two to a week or

>>>> more.

>>>>

>>>> Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any feedback! I got home

>>>> about

>>>> an hour and a half ago and my blood sugar is now 9.3, but the ketones

>>>> are

>>>> still there, I think they'll take a few hours to go away. Won't be

>>> skipping

>>>> insulin again, by accident or otherwise, anytime soon! That would be

>>>> one

>>>> advantage to the pump, at least: it's impossible to forget to bring

>>>> your

>>>> insulin.

>>>>

>>>> Jen

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

[Guest guest]

The pum is set to give you so many tenths of a unit per hour. By doing

frequent blood sugars when you first get it, will help the doc or diabetic

nurse educator as to how to adjust it. You count carbs and give yourself

insulin in a bolusaccording to how many carbs you ate. For instanace, when

I eat 30 grams of carbs, I give myself 2 units. The button on the pump

beeps with every half unit of insulin (this is for the Disetronics pump) I

understand the mini-med you can give yourself tenths of a unit such as .3

tenths. You do a blood sugar before you eat, of course so you can take into

account if you need extra insulin to also decrease the blood sugar if it is

higher than you want it be before you eat. All of the pumps work on a

beeping mechanism. I don't know if the beeps on the mini-med are different

sounds according to what is going on. With the present Disetronics one, it

is nt different. But, the new one coming out may make diffeant sounds.

Re: Insulin pump and ketones question

Dear , I guess it's perspective. I don't have a problem with taking

a few more blood sugars any longer. How do you determine what is going on

in your pump? *smiles*

Insulin pump and ketones question

>>>

>>>

>>>> I have a question mostly for the type 1 diabetics on the list,

>>>> especially

>>>> those who use a pump. I've been considering a pump for a while now and

>>>> am

>>>> thinking of bringing it up with my doctor. Today, due to circumstances

>>> that

>>>> caused me to miss my lunchtime Humalog and not realize I couldn't do it

>>>> until after I'd eaten, I came home this evening (six hours after lunch)

>>>> to

>>> a

>>>> blood sugar of 18.6 and spilling moderate ketones. Needless to say this

>>> has

>>>> scared me into making sure I never forget my insulin pen again, or at

>>> least

>>>> making sure I have it before eating (I didn't realize ketones could

>>> develop

>>>> in just hours from missing only one shot, since I had Lantus in my

>>>> system

>>> at

>>>> least, but guess I was wrong).

>>>>

>>>> Anyway, this made me think of the fact that people using an insulin

>>>> pump

>>>> have an even higher risk of developing ketones and ketoacidosis than

>>> someone

>>>> like I would, since if their pump stopped working they wouldn't have

>>>> any

>>>> insulin, not even something like Lantus, in their system. This is the

>>>> one

>>>> major disadvantage to using a pump that I can see, especially if I'm

>>> living

>>>> on my own as I probably would be. For those of you who use pumps, has

>>>> it

>>>> ever malfunctioned or otherwise stopped working for you, and if so, was

>>>> it

>>>> fixable quickly enough to avoid ketones? One of my fears is that I

>>>> would

>>> not

>>>> notice if something was wrong with the pump and it wasn't delivering

>>>> insulin, and/or that I wouldn't be able to figure out what was wrong if

>>>> I

>>>> did know.

>>>>

>>>> Also, how other type 1's test for ketones when you're high? I have

>>>> enough

>>>> vision that I can sort of see generally what the colour on the strip

>>> changes

>>>> to with a magnifier, although it's far easier to get a sighted person

>>>> to

>>>> look. I'm thinking if I get a pump I would want a glucose meter that

>>>> could

>>>> test for blood ketones as well as blood sugar, like the Precision Xtra.

>>>>

>>>> Also, does anyone have any idea how long ketoacidosis would actually

>>>> take

>>> to

>>>> develop? I've thankfully never experienced it so don't really have any

>>> idea.

>>>> I've heard anything between a few hours to a day or two to a week or

>>>> more.

>>>>

>>>> Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any feedback! I got home

>>>> about

>>>> an hour and a half ago and my blood sugar is now 9.3, but the ketones

>>>> are

>>>> still there, I think they'll take a few hours to go away. Won't be

>>> skipping

>>>> insulin again, by accident or otherwise, anytime soon! That would be

>>>> one

>>>> advantage to the pump, at least: it's impossible to forget to bring

>>>> your

>>>> insulin.

>>>>

>>>> Jen

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>