Re: I just got the insulin pump!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I just got a pump too... haven't had it in me yet - it got delivered this

past week and I go for training this week, and hopefully insulin, and I also got

the minimed 715 - I'm a type 2 though... and I can't wait to start pumping so

I can get better control of my BG. So far I've fiddled around with it,

setting basals and doing pretend boluses. I'm anxious to get going!

Stacey

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/19/2005 7:11:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,

whimsy2@... writes:

>

>As for me, I'll hold off until they have a pump that does that

>calculations. In the meantime, I test about 10x a day and match carbs to

>insulin for meals, use UL for basal and have no problem -- well, very

>little problem --keeping my BGs - where I want them to be.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The pump does this, that's why it's so great. Once you get your basal set

(and you can have up to 48 different basal rates, something that's not possible

with any injection method), you then figure out your carb to insulin ratio and

your correction ration, program those into your pump. When it's time to eat,

you take BG (which is sent to the pump automatically), enter the number of

carb grams you plan to eat and the pump says - bolus x amount based on your

ratio for that time of day (you can have several different ratios throughout the

day) and based on whatever insulin you still have active in you (something else

you tell the pump - how long the fast insulin lasts in you from a bolus), and

based on any correction needed either up or down. If you don't agree for some

reason, you can change the amount to bolus, or you can go ahead with it. It

will also remind you to test at however many hours or minutes after your bolus.

>Perhaps your problems pre-pump might have been solved if you'd tested

>more often and used Lantus twice a day - or UL twice a day instead of

>once a day. I don't know. There are all kinds of alternative ways to

>manage this disease; it just takes motivation and persistence. And a

>good teacher.

>>>>>>>>

One doesn't stop testing with the pump. Hell, I already test 8-10 times a

day, and that won't change with the pump. I tried lantus twice a day. UL works

for some but not for that many no matter who teaches. Some of us have such

variable insulin needs throughout the day that no amount of fiddling with long

term insulins does any good. Lows at 1-3 am or incredible dawn phenomenom at

7-10 don't easily correct with injected insulin.

And once I get hooked up to my pump, I will kiss those syringes good bye

with glee. Sure, I have to keep some around in case something happens with the

pump, but it's rare, and even if something does happen, most times you get a

replacement within a day or less from the company. Pumping also requires

frequent testing for best results - small adjustments throughout the day become

very

easy when all that's done is pressing a few buttons as opposed to getting out

syringe and vial or pen needle and pen. One changes the site where the pump

infuses every 2-3 days.

Another advantage of the pump is that there is better absorption, and most

who go from mdi to a pump use at least 25% less insulin than before. And while

motivation is important, things come into line much more easily with a pump

since the basal rates can be adjusted so easily and closely - the minimed allows

basal rates down to .1 unit per hour.

I'm a big convert even though I'm not wearing mine yet!! I carried it in my

pocket yesterday and did pretend boluses all day to see what it's like. I

can't wait to be free of the needles!

One thing we can agree on is that it doesn't matter what method you use as

long as you can keep good BG numbers.

As an aside, it's fairly easy for a type 1 to get a pump, more difficult for

a type 2, though that is changing.

Stacey

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/19/2005 9:35:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,

whimsy2@... writes:

>

>I guess when it comes right down to it, I really I don't like the idea

>of being permanently attached to a pump. And I don't mind dealing with

>syringes at all.

>>>>>>.

LOL And I hate being permanently attached to syringes and insulin pens, and

I've only been at it since June!

To each her own... <smile>

Stacey

[Guest guest]

Hi, ...I'm glad the pump is working for you.

As for me, I'll hold off until they have a pump that does that

calculations. In the meantime, I test about 10x a day and match carbs to

insulin for meals, use UL for basal and have no problem -- well, very

little problem --keeping my BGs - where I want them to be.

Perhaps your problems pre-pump might have been solved if you'd tested

more often and used Lantus twice a day - or UL twice a day instead of

once a day. I don't know. There are all kinds of alternative ways to

manage this disease; it just takes motivation and persistence. And a

good teacher.

Vicki, LADA type 1 diagnosed 1997, UL and Humalog insulin and lotsa

testing, no complications.

I just got the insulin pump!

>

> Hello everyone! I'm writing b/c I wanted to let you

> all know how good this new insulin pump has been for

> me. For the past three years on injection therapy I

> have had the worst time keeping my bg's at a normal

> range and an A1c that was barely budging and still in

> the high 7%. I was anywhere from 250 to 50 on a daily

> basis. Was doing about 5 to 7 shots a day, including

> splitting my lantus up into twice a day. Always felt

> horrible and tired with alot of mood swings.

> Now that I've recieved my pump I have the ultimate bg

> levels! I am using Minimeds newest 715 model. It

> delivers spurts of humalog as my 24 hour throughout

> the day and each time I check my bg's the information

> in 'beamed' into my pump. According to my settings it

> will figure the insulin dosage for me when I want to

> eat. It is extremely easy and the greatest relief b/c

> now I know that my A1c will drop dramatically over the

> next few months.

> For me, using injection therapy was always a 'guess'

> and the lantus was hard to judge on a daily basis b/c

> once you do the shot, thats it for the next 24 hours.

> With the pump I can regulate my basal rate depending

> on activity using the many different settings and even

> temporary settings I could use for exercise.

> My life is much easier now and for anyone even

> thinking about getting a pump, I urge you to do more

> research. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

>

> t-1

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Stacey...well, congratulations on getting your pump.

I guess when it comes right down to it, I really I don't like the idea

of being permanently attached to a pump. And I don't mind dealing with

syringes at all.

Vicki

Re: I just got the insulin pump!

>

> In a message dated 2/19/2005 7:11:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> whimsy2@... writes:

>>

>>As for me, I'll hold off until they have a pump that does that

>>calculations. In the meantime, I test about 10x a day and match carbs

>>to

>>insulin for meals, use UL for basal and have no problem -- well, very

>>little problem --keeping my BGs - where I want them to be.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>

> The pump does this, that's why it's so great. Once you get your basal

> set

> (and you can have up to 48 different basal rates, something that's not

> possible

> with any injection method), you then figure out your carb to insulin

> ratio and

> your correction ration, program those into your pump. When it's time

> to eat,

> you take BG (which is sent to the pump automatically), enter the

> number of

> carb grams you plan to eat and the pump says - bolus x amount based on

> your

> ratio for that time of day (you can have several different ratios

> throughout the

> day) and based on whatever insulin you still have active in you

> (something else

> you tell the pump - how long the fast insulin lasts in you from a

> bolus), and

> based on any correction needed either up or down. If you don't agree

> for some

> reason, you can change the amount to bolus, or you can go ahead with

> it. It

> will also remind you to test at however many hours or minutes after

> your bolus.

>

>>Perhaps your problems pre-pump might have been solved if you'd tested

>>more often and used Lantus twice a day - or UL twice a day instead of

>>once a day. I don't know. There are all kinds of alternative ways to

>>manage this disease; it just takes motivation and persistence. And a

>>good teacher.

>>>>>>>>>

>

> One doesn't stop testing with the pump. Hell, I already test 8-10

> times a

> day, and that won't change with the pump. I tried lantus twice a day.

> UL works

> for some but not for that many no matter who teaches. Some of us have

> such

> variable insulin needs throughout the day that no amount of fiddling

> with long

> term insulins does any good. Lows at 1-3 am or incredible dawn

> phenomenom at

> 7-10 don't easily correct with injected insulin.

>

> And once I get hooked up to my pump, I will kiss those syringes good

> bye

> with glee. Sure, I have to keep some around in case something happens

> with the

> pump, but it's rare, and even if something does happen, most times you

> get a

> replacement within a day or less from the company. Pumping also

> requires

> frequent testing for best results - small adjustments throughout the

> day become very

> easy when all that's done is pressing a few buttons as opposed to

> getting out

> syringe and vial or pen needle and pen. One changes the site where

> the pump

> infuses every 2-3 days.

>

> Another advantage of the pump is that there is better absorption, and

> most

> who go from mdi to a pump use at least 25% less insulin than before.

> And while

> motivation is important, things come into line much more easily with a

> pump

> since the basal rates can be adjusted so easily and closely - the

> minimed allows

> basal rates down to .1 unit per hour.

>

> I'm a big convert even though I'm not wearing mine yet!! I carried it

> in my

> pocket yesterday and did pretend boluses all day to see what it's

> like. I

> can't wait to be free of the needles!

>

> One thing we can agree on is that it doesn't matter what method you

> use as

> long as you can keep good BG numbers.

>

> As an aside, it's fairly easy for a type 1 to get a pump, more

> difficult for

> a type 2, though that is changing.

>

> Stacey

>

[Guest guest]

,

Did your insurance cover the pump? If not how much did it cost. How is the

pump connected?

Marla

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki:

I took your suggestion and subscribed to this list and have been lurking

for the last couple of weeks, under whelmed by all the food posts and

then this thread and your reply caught my attention. I too don't feel

comfortable with the idea of being permanently attached to a pump, with

the key word being attached.

This is only one of the reasons I choose not to get a pump. I think

diabetes management has come a long way in the last 20 years and that it

is great that there are choices. I've tried a few things that were not to

my liking, ex: the jet injector. It hurt and bruised and I am not needle

phoebic so it was not for me. I would have thought Vicki that you would

find a plus in using a pump in that it would, in some situations, evoke

curiosity and give you an opportunity to educate the uninformed or

newbie. Funny thing is that this is another reason why I do not want a

pump. I do not want to bring attention to my having diabetes. Been there,

done that, didn't bother getting the tee shirt and most importantly, I

was not good at it. I found, especially with type IIs that many don't

want to be educated about their DM. Not people on this or other lists but

in the general population. I tried with my business partner who was dx'd

with type II about three years ago. A couple of type II friends are the

same way, so it must be me because you Vicki do a good job IMHO in

informing newbie type IIs. Over the decades I have dealt with having type

I I have decided that it is not part of my identity. I am not a diabetic.

I have diabetes. I don't want my husband or kids to make diabetes part of

my identity and I don't want it to play a part in how people deal with me

in the work place or in our social circles. I decided that using a pump

would change that, for me. So, I'll stick with my pen delivery system. I

will still try new insulins and different routines and still aim for

tight control as well as encourage anyone who thinks a pump is the

correct route for them.

Just my two cents.

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 18:33:39 -0800 " whimsy2 " writes:

>

> I guess when it comes right down to it, I really I don't like the

> idea of being permanently attached to a pump. And I don't mind dealing

> with syringes at all.

> Vicki

>

[Guest guest]

You might find interesting posts on " pumpers " probably there are

multiple lists.

Betty

>

> ,

> Did your insurance cover the pump? If not how much did it cost. How

is the

> pump connected?

> Marla

[Guest guest]

I guess it must just be my personality. My 50th high school reunion is

coming up and it's being put together by a professional organization

which sent out an online questionnaire. They will publish a booklet of

the responses. When they asked " what are your interests, " the first

thing I put down was " diabetes education. " (That came right before

quilting, smile).

Because of my work as a medical transcriptionist, I daily see the

results of poor diabetes education and poor diabetes management. It

really pains me to see damage done by poor diabetic care that could have

been avoided. Even though I can help only a tiny, tiny percentage of

diabetics, to me it's definitely worth the effort. I'm not at all shy

about my diabetes or being identified as a diabetic, although I'm

certainly more than *just* a diabetic. . I use every opportunity I can

to educate people.

I'm glad to see you here, .

Vicki

Re: I just got the insulin pump!

>

> Hi Vicki:

>

> I took your suggestion and subscribed to this list and have been

> lurking

> for the last couple of weeks, under whelmed by all the food posts and

> then this thread and your reply caught my attention. I too don't feel

> comfortable with the idea of being permanently attached to a pump,

> with

> the key word being attached.

>

> This is only one of the reasons I choose not to get a pump. I think

> diabetes management has come a long way in the last 20 years and that

> it

> is great that there are choices. I've tried a few things that were not

> to

> my liking, ex: the jet injector. It hurt and bruised and I am not

> needle

> phoebic so it was not for me. I would have thought Vicki that you

> would

> find a plus in using a pump in that it would, in some situations,

> evoke

> curiosity and give you an opportunity to educate the uninformed or

> newbie. Funny thing is that this is another reason why I do not want a

> pump. I do not want to bring attention to my having diabetes. Been

> there,

> done that, didn't bother getting the tee shirt and most importantly,

> I

> was not good at it. I found, especially with type IIs that many don't

> want to be educated about their DM. Not people on this or other lists

> but

> in the general population. I tried with my business partner who was

> dx'd

> with type II about three years ago. A couple of type II friends are

> the

> same way, so it must be me because you Vicki do a good job IMHO in

> informing newbie type IIs. Over the decades I have dealt with having

> type

> I I have decided that it is not part of my identity. I am not a

> diabetic.

> I have diabetes. I don't want my husband or kids to make diabetes part

> of

> my identity and I don't want it to play a part in how people deal with

> me

> in the work place or in our social circles. I decided that using a

> pump

> would change that, for me. So, I'll stick with my pen delivery

> system. I

> will still try new insulins and different routines and still aim for

> tight control as well as encourage anyone who thinks a pump is the

> correct route for them.

>

> Just my two cents.

>

>

>

> On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 18:33:39 -0800 " whimsy2 "

> writes:

>>

>> I guess when it comes right down to it, I really I don't like the

>> idea of being permanently attached to a pump. And I don't mind

>> dealing

>

>> with syringes at all.

>> Vicki