Insulin Pump Users

Joan, that list of 7 bg-test times is encouraging — thanks! I *do* use
the 1.0 bolus at site changes, and last night did it right after
dinner…everything worked great.

>Joan does wear solids and small prints

I’m so glad I got at least ONE visual image right! Gail, I never
would’ve believed you were a redhead (and this is horrible stereotyping,
I know, to assume they’re all hot-tempered) if it weren’t for Jan’s
photo — you always sound like the voice of calm reason.

Woh, John, I sure never expected that. It’s probably in the fine print
somewhere (the hospital-admission papers when our son was born warned
something like "childbirth can be fatal") but at least NOW I can say I
knew the risks while there was still time to back out!
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Okay, so I go to the hospital for whatever, they see how much I have used
the previous day(s) and I’m healing from whatever and need more insulin.
Then what? They say, "No, you don’t usually take that much? Or, let’s say
I’m going to enjoy a piece of pie and bolus for it. Then that throws off my
daily totals? I don’t see what purpose keeping track of daily totals does.
Isn’t the whole purpose in pumping to keep a good BG control? The way I
prime often takes 2.0u or less and that isn’t enough to make any difference
one way or the other. I’m still stuck in my *old lady* ways - I don’t
disconnect either. Used those awful straight needle things for so many years
it really took some convincing for me to go to SofSets and spend (ins.)
money for them. That soft cannula sure made a difference (especially with
the free SofSerter) getting away from the fire pain of the steel needle. The
SofSets I use do not disconnect.
Jan

John, I just heard on the news, no AC strike until at least Wed. next week
so I guess yr ok. Ok?
tom

>>Jan,
I can’t believe you go one year with one lancet. Why? Does your insurance
not pay for it? That cannot be good on your fingers, like using the same
inj. needle for a year.
Gail>>

I’m setting up my 50th DM anniversary BASH display table and found 125
lancets just for the Accu-Chek Complete - figure I’ll run out in 62.5 years
if I change every 6 months as recommended at New Year’s and 4th of July.
Jan

Thanks, and I did not make it up. It really is the name of a product. LOL
Jan

Part of that is the luck of the gene pool. There ain’t no guarantees.
On
another list I’m on an identical twin did
everything right and has all the
complications. His twin did nothing right and
has none. Go figure. But,
whatever we can do is what is best - and hope
for the best.

> Oh, shoot. I’ve been diabetic 41 years,
with absolutely NO complications
> (yet), and until starting on Humalog/carb
counting a few months ago, did
> only two tests a day…three if I was
feeling really dedicated. I’m
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Kevin, that sounds like the worst of all — watching your child go
through it. I’ve always felt like my mom had a harder time than I did,
and keep hoping my son will stay healthy. It might be too soon to tell
yet, but you’re probably one of the few people who can define whether
it’s worse to be the diabetic or the parent of a diabetic!

> If I changed the site every time I had a high BG, I’d be
>changing several times a day!

What I was told is that two 240-plus BG’s in a row required a site
change. (Just one requires a ketone check.) But already I’m starting to
think that might’ve been overkill…it doesn’t sound like EVERYbody on
here is following that rule.

I’m hoping there’ll be some point when the CDE hands me a bottle of
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Wow, 61 messages in my mailbox this morning! I’ve gotta remember to go
on digest before leaving the office Friday, or the system will probably
explode….

>I’m starting to wonder what
>your training for the pump consisted of.

Boy, not enough! I kept getting switched back and forth between two
CDEs, and I’m guessing they didn’t leave comprehensive-enough notes about
what each one had covered. There was a 2-hour session with the Mini-Med
rep, but she focused on programming the pump rather than actual site
changes. Good thing this group is here to fill in the chinks!

>That is a number one no no of pumping
>changing at night before bed. Which sets are you using also?
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A friend of mine had given me a box of skin-prep to use because the
tape
would keep coming undone during very humid weather. i live here in south

jersey. I’ve never used them, but now I need to. Can anyone tell me
exactly
how to use them and also how to get the stuff to come off when it is
time to
change the site. Thank you very much.
Kathy Buchecker.

My gosh, this is a busy group today — two 25-message digests already,
and it’s not even midnight!

So many things I wanted to respond to…

>whole slew of people rooting for you

Janet, that’s been wonderful! The other day when I was dying to throw
out the pump and the horse it rode in on, I told my husband I was giving
it a month "because if I quit now, it’d be like I was letting down all
those people on the support loop." (He thought I was crazy, but he’s
not ON here.)

>Try doing a baseline bg before site change…record boluses

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