New Member
Here is a message that was sent to me from one of our members. Any suggestions
Please post them Thank You.
Frank
Hi,
I just found your group. Great idea! Anyways, I have
been having trouble keeping my sugars under control,
even on 4 or more shots a day, so I’m looking to
get a pump. I really want one before college starts
again in January. I am looking at a Mini-med. Any
advice on how to get a pump quickly and any tips for
new users?
Thanks,
September 3rd, 2003 at 10:17 pm
Dear Hopeful,
I would suggest not looking for a *miracle* or a quick fix. Pumping brings
on a different lifestyle with a new set of requirements. Getting one in a hurry
sounds as though a big disappointment could easily follow. You have to get
adjusted to it and all the ramifications. It’s not an overnight thing. Rushing
in to it might end up rushing out of it because it didn’t *work out well.*
Jan (60 y/o, T-1 49 yrs, pumping 16 yrs)
Here is a message that was sent to me from one of our members. Any
suggestions Please post them Thank You.
Frank
Hi,
I just found your group. Great idea! Anyways, I have
been having trouble keeping my sugars under control,
even on 4 or more shots a day, so I’m looking to
get a pump. I really want one before college starts
again in January. I am looking at a Mini-med. Any
advice on how to get a pump quickly and any tips for
new users?
Thanks,
September 4th, 2003 at 3:24 am
New member,
My son is 10 and even with 3-4 shots a day we are having a difficult
time getting his readings under control. actually I find it difficult to
recall the meaning of the word,(control) We are in the process of getting
him on a pump also, so far starting from the date we spoke to the doctor
about it was a month ago. We are hoping to get him on one by the end of the
year.
Hope you have good insurance, good luck, keep us informed.
Keep your chin up and keep trying.
Red <:)))><
September 4th, 2003 at 7:51 pm
There is a great web site and email list at www.insulin-pumpers.org That is
a wealth of information on pumps, dealing with insurance, and Doctors, etc.
Might start there! Good Luck!
David
Here is a message that was sent to me from one of our members. Any
suggestions Please post them Thank You.
Frank
Hi,
I just found your group. Great idea! Anyways, I have
been having trouble keeping my sugars under control,
even on 4 or more shots a day, so I’m looking to
get a pump. I really want one before college starts
again in January. I am looking at a Mini-med. Any
advice on how to get a pump quickly and any tips for
new users?
Thanks,
November 21st, 2005 at 3:00 am
Hi! My name is Connie and I just joined your list at the invitation of
Jan, Chrissy and Betsy. I’m a 34 year old, Type 1, stay at home mother
of a 5 year old. My initial DM dx was as a Type 2 in December 1997.
After being put in the hospital with DKA on Valentines Day 1998, it was
corrected to Type 1. I have been interested in and trying to get a pump
for a couple years now. Starting this past January 1, we are finally on
an insurance plan that will pay 100% of the cost of a pump, which is the
only way I would be able to afford it. My first appointment with my new
endo is tomorrow morning and I’m going in with as much pro-pump studies
and information as I can get my hands on (with all the *important* stuff
clearly highlighted!). He won’t be able to say that I’m not prepared.
I look forward to learning even more about the pump and pumping through
this group.
Connie
November 21st, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Connie,
Do you have the book ‘Pumping Insulin’ by Walsh? Absolutely essential!
David
November 22nd, 2005 at 1:31 am
Hi Connie: Welcome!! Joan:))))))
November 22nd, 2005 at 6:33 am
Welcome Connie, I am on here too.
Gail
P.S. good luck tomorrow.
November 8th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Well I’m not exactly a new member, I have been reading the posts for
about a month now. But this is my first time posting.
I have been thinking of going on the pump now for about 6 months and
have finally decided I’m going to do it. In fact the paperwork is
already being sent to my insurance co.
I have had type I diabetes for 28 years, diagnosed when I was 5.
Haven’t had the best control until recently, 3 months ago my
Hemoglobin was at 10.66 now it is 7! Hooray! I’m expecting that
number to go down even further.
I’m very excited to be going on the pump, but unfortunately I won’t be
able to start pumping until Sept. because there are no classes until
that time. Big disapointment, but I’ve waited this long I guess a few
more months will be okay.
What I’m wondering now is, how do they figure out your basal rate? Do
they just start you at a certain amount and adjust it according to
your bs readings, or is there some sort of calculation that is done?
I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions. Sorry I didn’t mean to write a
book here LOL!
Thanks for reading!
Marne
November 9th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
In the meantime, if you have the pump, play with it and work the buttons and
be sure to watch the accompanying video. Get the book Pumping Insulin (3rd
edition) by John Walsh and Ruth Roberts and a lot of your questions will be
answered in there.
They take your total daily dose now, reduce it by 25% and cut that in half for
your basal, then use a carb-insulin ratio according to a chart for when you
eat. This will be *experimental* for the first couple of weeks so be prepared
to keep lots of logs. Many start out with one basal rate (my pump has the
potential of 48 diff. ones as well as a temporary). You will have some
long-acting insulin lingering in your system for a bit so be sure to ask when
they want you to take your last injection of that. Pumps, as you probably
know, use only Regular or Humalog. Humalog is by far the best. There is now
Novolog on the market which some will be using.
> I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions.
> Marne
Keep asking - oh, and in a few months you’ll probably say, "I wonder why I
waited so long!" (~_^)
November 11th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
<<What I’m wondering now is, how do they figure out your basal rate? Do
they just start you at a certain amount and adjust it according to
your bs readings, or is there some sort of calculation that is done?>>
The team will sit down with you and base it on how much insulin you are
taking now via injections, your body wieght and how much carbs you eat.
Generally the total should come out about 20 to 25 percent less of what you
are taking now.
When you first start pumping they will work with you closely to fine tune
your insulin dossage, the biggest thin for the first few weeks was getting
use to not snacking.
Frank
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
November 26th, 2006 at 4:58 am
<<
I’m very excited to be going on the pump, but unfortunately I won’t be
able to start pumping until Sept. because there are no classes until
that time. Big disapointment, but I’ve waited this long I guess a few
more months will be okay.
What I’m wondering now is, how do they figure out your basal rate? Do
they just start you at a certain amount and adjust it according to
your bs readings, or is there some sort of calculation that is done?
I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions. Sorry I didn’t mean to write a
book here LOL!
Thanks for reading!
Marne
>>
Hi Marne: Welcome!
Depending upon what pump you have, you can contact the company to see if they
will send a pump trainer to you. It can be arranged, and if you have the
pump already, I’d suggest wearing it, and working with it so that you can get
used to wearing it. Any questions, ask away! We’re all here to root you
on! Joan:)
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:51 am
Hi. I have been lurking on the list for a little over a week now and am
learning alot. I have soooo many questions and know that I am a long way from
knowing all I need to know to get started on the pump. My doc decided on July 13
to go ahead and put me on the pump. I am waiting for the pre-authorization to
clear the insurance company and then we go to the next step………whatever
that may be. I am currently reading "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh and am
learning alot from it as well. But would love if some of you could share your
"starting out" stories with me, so I have some idea of what to expect. I look
forward to getting to know you all.
Love & laughter,
Kelley in KS
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Welcome, Kelley,
March 4th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
—– Original Message —–
From: "Kelley Mingle"
>My doc decided on July 13 to go ahead and put me on the pump.
Hi Kelley,
Welcome I am a new pumper too. I haven’t gotten my own pump yet as I am
still training. This is my first week wearing loaner with saline in it, and
it’s going much better than I had ever expected!
> I am currently reading "Pumping Insulin"
I really enjoyed that book, since I knew nothing about insulin pumps. I
think it has helped my training move along because I already have a good
idea of what we are doing and why we are doing it.
>I look forward to getting to know you all.
There are a lot of very supportive people here who have been a great help
and blessing as I am learning about all this. : )
Have a great day and God bless,
Julia
March 6th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Kelly,
I can’t remember my starting stories and anyway they would be obsolete for
now. I have been pumping 20 years come Sept.
Anyway, I have a good friend that just started and I found her problems
mainly lie in the carb counting. That is new her, she just guesses a lot.
When I make her set down with me and look it up, she says that is not
enough. She forgets the basal rate she is getting. Then she ends up having
lows. My advice get a good carb counting book, if you don’t have one and
use it.
Gail
March 7th, 2007 at 6:52 am
Jan, can I ask what you signature is? Is it suppose to make a design or
just pretties?
Gail
March 8th, 2007 at 3:27 am
It is directly plagiarized from Jana’s sig the other day. It’s a heart in the
middle with lots of heavenly blessings. (I think)
Jan °Ü°
March 8th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Oh, I thought it was a bunch of flies buzzing around!
Patrick
March 9th, 2007 at 7:38 am
I thought it was probably suppose to be something, but it comes to me just
a big jumble of things.
Gail
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Hi. I wanted to introduce myself. I have been reading the posts on
this site for a while, and have found them to be very helpful. My
name is Jill, I have had Type 1 for 32 years. I have been pumping
for about 15 months. I am married, and have 2 sons (11 and 7). I
feel like I know many of you, so I wanted to say hi!
April 24th, 2007 at 5:15 am
Hi Jill! Welcome to the list!! Joan:)
April 24th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Hey Jill, - first I got to say that’s my favorite female name.
Anyways, I’m Sheena. Diabetic for about 3 years. Pumping for 1.5 years.
Pumping has had it’s ups and downs for me. But over all its been good. I
would never ever want to go back to shots.
I don’t talk much here but I read allmost everthing!
Welcome!
Sheena Ratz
April 24th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Hi Jill and welcome to the group! Chera
April 25th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Hi Jill,
Welcome to the list…
At the risk of repeating myself I have been type I since 1956, pumping since
1990 (I think). Wouldn’t consider doing anything else! Not even a
transplant. The pump, along with Vasotec, and the Bg meter, have combined to
save my life, literally.
David
April 25th, 2007 at 10:26 am
<< Hi. I wanted to introduce myself. I have been reading the posts on
this site for a while, and have found them to be very helpful. My
name is Jill, I have had Type 1 for 32 years. I have been pumping
for about 15 months. I am married, and have 2 sons (11 and 7). I
feel like I know many of you, so I wanted to say hi!
>>
Hi Jill, Nice to meet you. Im Chrissy, Type 1 for 34 yrs. Pumping around
2yrs. I forget the exact date. Im married also and also have 2 sons (11 and
6). Too bad we dont live close our kids could play. Im in Tucson, AZ. Im
glad you posted.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:41 am
David
I guess I never really noticed before, but we were dxed the same year. A
lot of DM right?
Gail
April 26th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Thanks for all the welcomes! Chrissy-I’m not all that far away.
I’m in Denver. Plan a trip up this way!
Jill
April 26th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Gail,
I can hardly wait for the big 50!
David
April 27th, 2007 at 4:07 am
A few weeks ago, someone mentioned (though I could
have read it on Jan’s web site) that Lifescan or Lilly
or some other diabetes product supplier gives a medal
or something for 25 and 50 years of living with
diabetes. Does anyone know anything about this
(despite my vagueness)?
Sarah
April 28th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
You having a BASH too??
April 29th, 2007 at 3:22 am
Joslin Diabetes Center
One Joslin Place
Boston, MA
They will alert Eli Lilly Co. and Joslin sends a Bronze 50-yr medal
(paper weight, actually) and Lilly will send a Sterling Silver
engraved medal on an s.s. chain. - for 50 years. A certificate is
issued for 25 years from Joslin. You can find them on the web. They
send paperwork to be filled out for verification.
April 29th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Five years to go; if I make that, there will be a bash!
David
April 30th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I hope you make it there David but with a cure.
May 1st, 2007 at 7:13 am
Sarah, the Joslin Clinic in Boston gives a certificate for 25 years and a
bronze medal for 50 years. Joslin, for those who don’t know, is the premier
diabestes treatment center. A lot of what we do today and don’t even think
about as diabetics was first developed at Joslin.
Patrick