Re: No Math Insulin--Concept vs. Reality

[Guest guest]

GREETINGS --

The concept of reflected in the Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm Insulin

Pump and Glucose Monitoring System is certainly a heartening one, but

there is still a long way to go before the concept becomes a fully

functional reality. Presently I believe there is only one meter

compatible with the Paradigm system and many users who have been

attracted to the BD meter involved have stopped using it because of

accuracy problems and quality control problems with the test strips.

It is still necessary to prick your finger 4-6 times per day to

measure your blood sugar whiich will then be inputted into the pump's

computer, it will also be necessary for each user to establish the

other inputs (# of points elevated blood sugars drop per unit of

insulin, # of grams of carbohydrates covered by one unit of insulin,

number of ounces of protein covered by one unit of insulin)(and

change them as their situation changes), factoring in the volume of

carbohydrate and protein in each meal or snack that you consume, and

come up with the $6,000+ it will cost for all of the goodies -- when

insurance companies balk at the price of a fully loaded cadilac when

a VW will do the basic job. I use insulin (Humalog and Lantus) and

do all of the things described above anyway -- and will continue to

do them since it is the only way (except use a pump) that I am able

to keep my A1c's below 5.5%.

wambo1941

>

>

> >

> > No-Math Insulin

> >

> > New device helps diabetics maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

> >

> > by a Rasich

> >

> >

> > Hidden challenge for type 1 diabetics: math wizardry. You have to

> > calculate your insulin needs several times a day, factoring in

blood

> > sugar and the carbs you're eating. Get the dose wrong, and blood

sugar

> > could spike or drop dangerously.

> >

> > Now there's a better solution. The FDA recently approved a

combination

> > glucose meter and insulin pump with a built-in calculator. Small

as a

> > pager, the Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm Insulin Pump and Glucose

Monitoring

> > System stores 3 days of insulin and delivers it through a thread-

thin

> > tube attached to your skin.

> >

> > " This helps get doses right, " says Francine Kaufman, MD, past

president

> > of the American Diabetes Association. " It lessens the risk of

devastating

> > complications. "

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Wambo....

> GREETINGS -- The concept of reflected in the Medtronic MiniMed

> Paradigm Insulin Pump and Glucose Monitoring System is certainly a

> heartening one, but there is still a long way to go before the

> concept becomes a fully functional reality.

Beside the dream - I can count, I worry about some. They say - some

schools teach everything, but math... A sad thought...

[Guest guest]

Thank you Wambo....

> GREETINGS -- The concept of reflected in the Medtronic MiniMed

> Paradigm Insulin Pump and Glucose Monitoring System is certainly a

> heartening one, but there is still a long way to go before the

> concept becomes a fully functional reality.

Beside the dream - I can count, I worry about some. They say - some

schools teach everything, but math... A sad thought...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/29/2004 5:45:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, arenot@...

writes:

>

>

> Beside the dream - I can count, I worry about some. They say - some

> schools teach everything, but math... A sad thought...

>

What makes this very sad, is that I have seen the young people at cash

registers. If there is a situation where someone says after it is rung up, " I'll

give you the coins " , these people at the registers have no idea how to make the

change correct then. THAT scares the socks right off of me! I have seen it

over and over again. Hugs, Marilyn