Insulin Pump Users

When I first received my pump, my diabetes educator suggested wearing
it without it being hooked up. So I did, but I found that clipping
the pump to my underwear was a pain either in my side or my back,
depending on wear it was located. I saw in the Minimed catalog the
thigh thing and went to a Walmart and bought an Ace knee brace. I
have found that this works quite well for me. I just slide it on the
leg over the knee and clip the pump inside the brace.

Where you you place yours?

Research Department news
JDRF’s presence at the Society for Neuroscience meeting and
co-sponsorship of the "Hypoglycemia and the Brain" workshop
are just two of the initiatives JDRF has taken to enhance
research on complications of diabetes. In fiscal year 2000,
JDRF funded $22.6M toward complications research.
Research and Training Grant applications are reviewed twice
a year, in November and May. Applications are reviewed
through JDRF’s two-step process: first by the JDRF Medical
Science Review Committee (MSRC), a peer review similar to
that of the NIH, and then by JDRF’s Lay Review Committee
(LRC), who review applications for relevance to the mission
of the Foundation and relevance to current research priorities
set forth by the JDRF Task Force. At the FY2001 November
review, which recently took place in New York,279 applications
(more…)

Well, the nice thing about a 58 bg at 2am is there’s something to read
while waiting for it to rise!

Today’s digest was a fun one — so many things to reply to. Jan and
Scott, thanks for the frozen-shoulder info & ideas…I’m gonna look for
an acupuncturist after Christmas vacation, because it sounds like
there’d be no problem combining herbs (which shouldn’t cost much) with
physical therapy (which my insurance pays for). What the heck, I’ll
take anything I can get!

Gail, your mention of "getting lost in the cracks" is heartbreaking. I
think you’re right, and boy does it seem unfair. It’s like there’s
nobody from whom to demand restitution, but there sure OUGHT to be.

Mary, I tried pumping in the mid-80s same as you did, and gave it up as
(more…)

I have seen a couple of postings about using the arm as a site. Could you
respond to how it works for you?

Thanks,
Bart

Bradley, that’s a fun question! I’m surprised that I _didn’t_ make up a
name for my pump, since naming characters is probably my favorite part
of writing romance novels.

Unless maybe I use up all my naming energy there…

Anyway, Buddy sounds like a winner!

Laurie, who started "frozen shoulder" physical therapy this morning

www.authorspotlights.com/campbell

Hi, I’m new to this list but I have a question that maybe someone can
answer. My diabetologist feels that I should go back on the pump. I’ll
be on Medicare in January and according to the November issue of
Diabetes Forecast, Medicare will cover an insulin pump but it’s
necessary to have a C-peptide less than 0.5 (I had a C-peptide done but
if I’m taking insulin regularly will it be that low?) Also the person
has to take at least 3 injections a day and making dose adjustments for
at least 6 months. I’ve been doing that since August 1. The person
checks blood glucose at least four times a day and keeps records proving
it. (that seems to be a given–I check regularly and I can’t imagine
being on a pump at the present time without doing so). The final quote
is the problem unless there are some "or’s" omitted. "The person has an
HbA1c over 7 percent, a history of recurring low blood glucose
reactions, wide flucuations in glucose swings and/or dawn Phenomenon ( a
rise in glucose levels in the early morning, often climbing above 200
(more…)

Hello to all, I started using an insulin pump just about a month
ago. I can’t say enough good about it. I have been a diabetic for
45+ years, since five years old. Very tight control in the early
years, due to my mom. But after I left home I went crazy. Drinking
and eating anything I wanted, but always taking a shot or five per
day.

After reading many of the posts here, I decided that I needed to name
my pump. I decided on "Buddy", since he is my buddy. He is with me
24/7/365. I read where someone on this list named theirs Scooter. I
thought that was cute.

What did you name yours?

Thanks for the info Jan. I’ll check with my doctor about if she sees
dialysis patients. I think she does, but will look into it. You have given
me such a wonderful course of action. I do take aspirin, vitamins, etc.
like you suggested so I have that going for me. I could do alot better
watching my salt (although I am much better than I used to be). I think
this is a good wake up call for me to get back into the good habits I used
to have. I had heart surgery Aug 99 and was doing well for awhile but
slipped into a bad depression. I was tired all the time and didn’t care
about things as much as I should. Well, turns out part of my problem was
due to the wrong Synthroid dose and a different blood pressure medicine.
Now since my meds are adjusted (as of two months ago), I am doing so much
better. Not depressed like I was and have a lot of energy. It makes a
world of difference in my motivation. It’s that time of year to make new
goals and I can tell this will be a good year if I just put in the effort.
Thanks for your encouragement. Love, Jeana Ü

Got this letter from E-Groups wanted to share it with all the members.

My gosh. It just struck me that, having waited 41 years for diabetes
complications to set in, I finally got one. All you other "frozen
shoulder" people have convinced me the doctor was right…and it’s such
a weird feeling!

Having gone without complications since age 3, I was really starting to
feel like I’d been granted some kind of immunity…which I hate losing.

Does anybody else remember the impact of their first "complication"
arising? Did anybody have that sense of "shoot, I never thought it’d
happen to ME" ? Or was everybody else more realistic from the start?

Laurie, still not quite believing it

www.authorspotlights.com/campbell