pump protocol
This is a pump protocol site put out by the U.S. Navy. For those wondering
how the setup works, this explains it, although it was different when I
started 8/23/83 - dinosaur days. 
34 Responses to “pump protocol”
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April 29th, 2004 at 4:03 pm
Well, well, well…..
The Navy has changed a bit since I was diagnosed while on active duty in the
Navy in 1956. At that time, I was placed on one shot a day of NPH, told I was
fine, and discharged. No training, no information about glucose, what it is,
or even told what my fasting readings were. It appears that the only place
that had it right in 1956 was the Joslin Clinic in Boston, and they were largely
ridiculed by the mainstream medical people.
It was 30 years before I learned what to do about it, after attending a detailed
review at the UCSF diabetes clinic in San Francisco. By that time, I was
suffering with all the classic symptoms of long term neglect. But, since that
time (1979) I have been on tight control, then the pump in 1989, and am doing
just fine.
Isn’t historical perspective wonderful?
David
April 29th, 2004 at 7:36 pm
David,
Maybe we went through all of it so it will help someone else. I know that
doesn’t help us, but it may someone we love very much some day.
Gail
April 30th, 2004 at 8:18 am
Good point, Gail…
But, I am not sure how much good is being done; the failure rate at the UCSF
4 day training course is well over 50%; the main reason is that the failures
are people without the discipline or interest to take matters into their own
hands. My experiences with a number of people I have tried to help has not
been very good, either. I can get their attention, but not hold it for
very long.
David
April 30th, 2004 at 11:51 am
But David, the failure rate when I started (almost 44 yrs) treatment, was
almost 100 per cent. I am sure there was not training in the navy or
anywhere. I know as a young girl I could not go into any armed forces
because of diabetes, I could not work in any factory. It was very difficult
for me to find a job, because there were no discrimination laws back then.
I went into nursing. Only thing I could find to go to school for that I
could get a job. But…….I still had trouble getting a job, you know,
"diabetics are always sick and call in and miss work", "they don’t take
care of themselves and expect everyone else to do their work for them". I
was not told this to my face, but it got back to me.
Oh well at least that is behind us "somewhat", it still exist some though.
Gail
May 1st, 2004 at 12:32 am
Hi David:
Remember when you first found out about the pump? Weren’t you a bit scared
about the concept of taking matters into your own hands? I think at some
point we all are. As a nurse, and having done diabetes education for 20
years, there will be patients who truly want to make changes and others that
are too scared to make that committment to themselves. For every failure,
there is still a success somewhere else, so have faith…it’s one soul at a
time…Joan:)
May 1st, 2004 at 8:41 am
The discrimination aspect is one that I never encountered, but I heard about
it once in awhile. Although the company I worked for knew about it, I
never had any problems, and basically stayed ‘in the closet’ so to speak.
I worked for four companies, attended three schools, and never had a serious
discrimination problem over 40 years or so. Maybe I was lucky.
May 1st, 2004 at 4:49 pm
No, I didn’t have that experience, because when I started the pump (about 10
years ago) I had already been on tight control for over 10 years with
multiple injections, and all that stuff, and so the pump was simply an
easier way to make it happen. My biggest difficulty with the pump was when
I had serious problems with the soft sets, and my CDE talked me into using
the bent needle. That was traumatic at first, but I wouldn’t change it now
for anything! Reliable, simple, and easy.
David
May 1st, 2004 at 8:22 pm
David,
When I started almost 19 yrs ago, CPI only had straight needles, then when
bent came out I used them and liked them, but to me the greatest invention
was the soft set. I use them and love them. But we are all different and
isn’t it great that now there are so many choices.
Gail
May 2nd, 2004 at 4:29 am
David,
Yes you were very lucky. What part of the world do you live in? I am in a
very rural area in central Illinois and found it harder. Of course
advancement and technology, at one time, were much slower getting here.
When I was dx in ‘ 56 my family Dr. had never heard of children getting
diabetes and did not know how to treat me. He told my parents that I would
probably die some night in a reaction. God looked down upon me and within
two months a new young Dr. came to town, just out of school in California.
And behold his wife was diabetic, so he had studied up on it. I know he is
one of the reasons I am still alive today.
Gail
May 2nd, 2004 at 5:12 pm
Soft sets failed to work properly with me about 1 time out of four, and the
way I usually found out was by having a bg of over 500 a few hours after
installation.
I agree that everyone is different, but for me they were a disaster!!
May 3rd, 2004 at 1:19 am
I live not far from San Francisco near San Rafael. I am very close to UCSF
and can get there in less than 1/2 hour or so.
My father was born in rural Illinois, New Philadelphia. Ever heard of it?
May 3rd, 2004 at 4:52 am
David,
I had some problems for years, but they were the most comfortable for me.
Then another list mate told me about the softserter and have been using it
since last fall and no more problems.
Gail
May 3rd, 2004 at 1:00 pm
I am sure on the coast and in a very populated area like CA that you do
receive the technology long before here.
No I have never heard of there. I have heard of New Albany and New Harmony,
both in Indiana, but I don’t think I have heard of any New anything in
Illinois.
Was he raised in Illinois?
Have you heard of Champaign Urbana where University of Illinois is located?
I live about 70 miles south of there. Driving time is about four hours to
Chicago and two and one half hours to St Louis.
Gail
May 4th, 2004 at 3:13 am
-Sara
May 4th, 2004 at 11:21 am
-Sara
May 4th, 2004 at 3:31 pm
<< I tried to enter the AirForce five years ago when I got
out of high school. Despite being in the 99 percentile
on my Armed Services Vocational Aptititude Battery, I
was told I would NOT be able to join as either an
enlisted or as an officer because of my diabetes. I
called the Army, Navy, Marines, and EVEN THE COAST
GUARD and was told the same thing.
>>
Yes, the armed forces still will not accept people with diabetes. And
actually, I can see why. It would be a little hard to keep Humalog fresh in
100 degree heat pinned down in a foxhole for a week! And try checking your
bg and chewing some glucose tabs during a mortar attack!
But let’s face it, not everybody can do every job, even if they don’t have
diabetes. I’m only 5′8" so I doubt I’ll ever be in the NBA!
Patrick
The NC bluegrass pickin’ pumper. (Now that I can do!)
May 5th, 2004 at 4:04 am
> Hey, how about that… I passed through San Rafael
I live in Oakland…
> TWICE yesterday
Small world, I grew up in Oakland (Montclair)…now live in Lake Tahoe.
Scott
May 5th, 2004 at 5:38 am
Sara,
I thought that was still true, that you could not get into the armed forces
with diabetes. But I had not heard of anyone trying lately.
Gail
May 5th, 2004 at 6:21 pm
New Philadelphia is on the map, but very small….when we drove from St.
Louis to Chicago a few years ago, I almost made a short trip to see the
place, but it was too far out of the way. I have lots of old relatives in
Illinois and Ohio, but most of them moved away 100 years ago or so…
Champaign/Urbana; I have been there a few times when I lived in Chicago.
David
May 6th, 2004 at 2:28 am
For anyone interested in how the Navy used to treat diabetes, consider my
case:
I was accepted for OCS in 1954, but potentially failed the initial physical
because there was sugar in my urine. I was told to go away for a couple
of hours, come back, and try again. I passed.
I went to an MD and told him the story; he did a blood glucose, and I
passed. I often wonder what would have happened had he done a glucose
tolerance test at that time.
After finishing OCS, spending a year at sea, completing submarine school,
and then spending a year in Submarines, I suddenly developed diabetes. End
of career.
Message? I am not sure, but there certainly is one in there somewhere…..
David
May 6th, 2004 at 6:02 am
David,
Where between St. Louis and Chicago do you get off to go to New Philadelphia?
Gail
May 6th, 2004 at 6:44 pm
Not sure anymore; I think it is west of Springfield somewhere, maybe 50-75
miles. I don’t have the map anymore that we used when making that trip.
David
May 6th, 2004 at 10:17 pm
David,
Interesting. How many years have you had diabeties now?
Gail
May 7th, 2004 at 10:59 am
Since 1956; so that seems to be 44 years.
David
May 7th, 2004 at 7:07 pm
Yes, small world…my in-laws used to live in Montclair, and I lived at
Incline Village for four years..
May 7th, 2004 at 10:40 pm
Same here that’s cool. It will be 44 yrs this summer. I was five. Were you
in California at the time (I know actually the Navy), but when actually
started treatment for it?
Gail
May 8th, 2004 at 12:53 pm
-Sara G.
May 8th, 2004 at 7:30 pm
I was sent to the US Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan, where I spent several
weeks waiting for them to decide what to do with me. Then, I was
transferred to the US Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. Treatment
was very simple; take one shot of NPH daily, and don’t worry about it.
Statement by MD: "We have solved this disease; you will be fine!"
David
May 9th, 2004 at 3:37 am
I already have five secret handshakes, but I guess could learn another.
I will be away for three weeks, so think about this and maybe we could try a
local funny hat contest…
May 9th, 2004 at 7:11 am
Only if you decide to meet in Illinois some of the time. Heck with the bay.
Gail
May 9th, 2004 at 3:18 pm
And 44 yrs later are you fine?
Gail
May 10th, 2004 at 5:02 am
Isn’t it amazing when you think about how doctors tell you about your
diagnosis. I found out at the college health clinic. The doctor looked at
me and immediately told me that it was probably just fatigue. He ran test
anyway. When I returned for the results, the first thing he told me was that
I would probably die of kidney failure.
How is that for an intro to diabetes? I am sure this guy was the exception
and not the rule.
May 10th, 2004 at 8:15 pm
No bjc, unfortunately, that’s the rule. Most physicians are really not well
versed about us, that includes nurses, and Nurse Practitioners, and Physician
Assistants (although NPs and PAs are probably better educated about diabetes
and patient education) too.
It’s amazing how much information I share when I refuse the cookies or soda,
with a "no thanks I’m on an insulin pump" AMAZINg how high the eyebrows
elevate! The amount of mis-information is astounding! When you find a
physician who is an "expert"…take that one with a grain of salt….when we
find an endocrinologist who is willing to listen, now THAT"S a peach to keep.
Was I lucky I found just that one!
For all of us, our best defense is self-education. we are already pretty
much doing self-management, so more power to US:) Joan - a future Family
Nurse Practitioner who specializes in diabetes education and patient
management (and often very long winded!).
May 10th, 2004 at 11:49 pm
Not really. My doctor told my parents I would probably die one night in a
reaction.
Gail