Comments on: JOAN

By: carmen15

carmen15 — Fri, 14 May 2004 02:32:20 +0000

Hi Kathy:
I forgot where you live. First: you need to be followed by an
endocrinologist who knows what he/she is talking about. If you want, go to
www.diabeteswell.com and register for on-line management with Dr. Joe
Prendergast. His site is a WEALTH of information.
Second: if you are spilling that much protein, you should be on an ACE
inhibitor. If your doctor knows anything about the current treatment for
diabetes, he should have talked to you about it. It’s not just for
hypertension anymore. Studies have found that it can slow down the damage to
our kidneys…
Third: Educate yourself. The only way you will have good control, is to
know how to control your glucose. Optimal "Normal" glucose is 75-110 mg/dL
(fasting) and less than 140 1 hour after a meal. Don’t go crazy with those
numbers, just use them as a guide. some of us don’t function with a bg of
110….have to get used to it. Took me 3 months of being on the pump to get

used to the idea of "normal" glucose levels. My HgA1C (glycated hemoglobin)
is 6.2 which is "normal". Start learning as much as you can absorb….it’s
the best way to reduce fear and make the right decisions for yourself. Joan:)

By: elmo_15

elmo_15 — Tue, 11 May 2004 23:00:07 +0000

Those readings sound like good advice to me, Kathy
fp

By: norma_1400

norma_1400 — Tue, 11 May 2004 18:32:17 +0000

I went on the pump 31/2 years ago to gain tighter control with this
disease and to try and avoid more complications.
I have already some kidney problems. Back in January ,99, I was
told that I was spilling high amounts of protein. At the 300 mark. The
doctor
told me to keep the fasting sugars to 120 before meals and 160 2 hours
later. Can you please tell me just how dangerous this reading is? The
doctor didn’t tell me anything other than this. I’m really uptight about
these
readings.
Kathy

By: daphne400

daphne400 — Thu, 18 Dec 2003 19:49:33 +0000

See John….we all have our preferences….my Disetronic beeps back to
acknowldge my bolusing….and if it’s quiet, people think I have a beeper
going off….it can also whirrr while its dosing…..I use it as an
opportunity to teach. My family is all very supportive…I’m the oldest of
8, with 19 nieces & nephews, and one grandson, so it isn’t an issue. I can
understand….both pumps have advantages and disadvantages depending on our
lifestyles….feedback to the manufacturer can prompt redesign as you are
seeing in the 508.
You’d be surprised in the opportunities I’ve had to enlighten my fellow
nurses and many of the residents I work with….diehard educator….Joan

By: daphne400

daphne400 — Thu, 18 Dec 2003 11:41:52 +0000

This is a new one on me…nothing in the literature that mentions that
limitation other than a mandatory q 28 month inspection and servicing….Joan

By: daphne400

daphne400 — Thu, 18 Dec 2003 03:34:12 +0000

Hi David:
The pump doesn’t kick into gear until it has both the motor and the
electronics batteries in place. My backup has been sitting on the shelf in
its little case, doing just fine, so that’s not an issue. Sometimes,
American bureauracy has advantages. The Joint Commission on Hospital
Accreditation (JCAHO) requires that this particular pump has a backup for
redundency…to my advantage.
As far as the square wave…the Disetronic temp basal mode can be increased
or decreased by tenths of a %, so I don’t see much difference, although the
backlight would be nice, but I need my glasses to see so need a little light
anyway….later, Joan :))

By: elmo_15

elmo_15 — Sun, 14 Dec 2003 14:34:57 +0000

I don’t believe that is correct John. These pumps can go on almost
indefinitely with the periodic maintenance feature being done.
fp

By: elmo_15

elmo_15 — Sat, 13 Dec 2003 22:19:36 +0000

Dave, The "D" pump backup. I rotate ‘em every 2 months, when I do that, I
take the batteries out of one and put ‘em in the other. The only thing ya
have to do is reset the clock and/or make any changes in basals that may
have occurred in the last time period. Then clean the other one and put it
in its case for use 2 months from now.
slick, huh?
fp

By: mattie_70

mattie_70 — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 11:59:30 +0000

Thanks for the advertising Joan
My one main complaint about my MiniMed pump (apart from its loose rattling
door, and the unreliablility of the buttons) is the interminable clicking
noise it makes every time it gives me 0.1 units. Sometimes this prevents me
giving myself a discrete bolus at the dinner table. As I’m eating dinner
with my guests there is suddenly a constant clicking noise coming from my
direction. "What on earth is that noise?" "Oh, it’s me. I have diabetes.
It’s my insulin pump."

I don’t mind discussing my diabetes with others, but it is a private
medical condition and sometimes it is simply not appropriate…

John

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By: mattie_70

mattie_70 — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 03:51:49 +0000

>John, Please explain "expire"???
>fp

Switch off permanently, shut down, refuse to work any more… The pair of
Disetronic pumps are (or were) programmed to run for 4 years, and then
close down permanently.

Do they not do that in the US?

John

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