Diabetes, HIGH BLOOD SUGAR and INSULIN PUMP

[Guest guest]

Welcome ,

I have diabetes that was always 250-300, once in a while 100 ever since I began

testing in 1997. My blood sugar goes up when I exercise or even walk around a

big grocery store or from my car in a big parking lot. I would get dizzy and

see spots when it fell below 120.

I was taking 20 units at a time to cover small meals and get it down. Also was

taking 35 mg lantus. Nothing seemed to help, oral or insulin.

On August 6th though I started on the insulin pump. I was skeptical and asked

how this would lower my blood sugars as she had me taking more to cover the carb

ratio for meals and you set a ratio to be dispensed each hour. I was averaging

120 units a day this way. But, my recent blood sugars only a couple are now

above 120. I lowered the hourly dispensing today. Before I go into a store

where I will be walking alot I increase the temp basal. The only problem we

have now is that when I eat a poptart for breakfast instead of cereal at 2 hours

after I am still 257. Tomorrow I am going to set the pump to give the insulin

over a longer period of time because the np is thinking that the fat is taking a

longer time to have my blood sugar peak.

Anyway, she was saying that the higher your blood sugar is the more insulin

resistant you are. Now that my blood sugars are down, I am going low at 80-90

more often because I am more sensitive to the insulin and so I will not be

needing as much.

The key with the pump is that you get a specified small amount each hour. You

where it on your clothing with a clip or can get a harness to where around your

body. There is a small tubing that you change each 3 days and the insulin is in

a small resovoir on the pump. It is about the size of a pager. Of the $6000 it

cost, between my insurance and " financial aid " of 20% I only had to pay $285.

You can disconnect the pump without taking out the infusion part for showering,

swimming, etc. The infusion part comes with tape that is very hard to get off

until you want it to so there is no need to worry about that

The pump is a little complicated to learn at first but they have great customer

support. You can get a remote control for it for caregivers to give insulin

when it is needed before meals and can also lock the buttons if the person

wearing it is prone to playing with it.

Janet Sample

Thanks

> Thanks so much for the great welcome! As I stated earlier, Mike is

> 55, constantly in pain, or as he says, a constant ache in his

> muscles. He has sugar diabetes, and high blood pressure. I am sure

> stress makes this condition worse for him. What is happening to him

> now is his sugar will not go down, no matter what we do, so it means

> insulin again for him. He has been stumbling more, and he really

> feels like its all collapsing around him. You don't know how good it

> feels just to have someone say " I know what you are going through "

> I'll keep watching and reading and hoping I can help someone else

> too!!!

>

>

>

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

>