Comments on: Insulin Pumps

By: mable11

mable11 — Tue, 23 May 2006 18:45:02 +0000

Audra Noble
Type 1 for a long, long time
-previously 4 shots a day, Humalog and NPH

PRESENTLY ON MINIMED 508. Since Thursday before dinner. Last night
I got too high because of the pasta and Alfredo sauce,
recovered that with a 2am bolus. Was good for a while, UNTIL I
FORGOT TO BOLUS FOR MY BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. I was taking
too much time testing and marvelling at what I could do, AND what I
couldn’t remember to do. This evening I’m better. I’ve decided not
to be in a panic about anything. My trainer said I had to think like
a normal pancreas: eat carbs, get insulin; no food, no insulin, etc.

I am liking this, although I was quite weepy about having this
attachment. Since it doesn’t hurt, I’m not noticing that I AM

attached!
Yeah!!

BTW I’ve got the MM508 and have been using the belt clip. Never mind
it not falling off, the clip is built so that you really have to
consciously unclip it to get it off the belt. I practiced wearing it
last week before getting attached and found putting it in my pocket
was okay and very accessible. The trainer also pointed out that you
can just put it in your underwear if they will hold the pump in. I’m
female… I declined.

I was having a reaction during a small part of the training - thought
I was just being overwhelmed by all the computer-like stuff, but
tested, my BG was low, and treated.

Wish me luck guys. So many of you have given me the impetus to move
on to the pump. I’m so looking forward to having more flexibility.

PS My training was just over 3 hours. Boy, Canadians must be FAST>>>>

By: Olin Ok

Olin Ok — Tue, 23 May 2006 07:33:07 +0000

One thing to keep in mind; the basal rate effectiveness is dramatically
different when using Humilog. Since this insulin acts quite rapidly, the basal
function is closer to ‘real time’ than when using regular insulin. Thus,
starting and stopping, as well as timing for dawn syndrome, will be considerably
different.

When I switched to Humilog, I found that the basal rate control was dramatically
improved; also, it was easier to determine what to do when a problem arose.

David

By: Randolph Fawn

Randolph Fawn — Mon, 22 May 2006 11:04:39 +0000

Being confusing now, Gina, what do you think it would be like if in a severe
low and trying to figure it out? But let’s say the basal is .6 - that’s 0.1u
every 10 minutes on a MM (don’t know what Mike has). Suspending for a half
hour would me missing 0.3u - not only that, it takes effect after a couple of
hours. That’s why if someone has dawn phenomenon, the basal is upped a couple
of hours before the rise hits - not *when* it hits.

I will hold firmly to the belief this practice is of suspending in a severe
low is recommended by a non-DMer who hasn’t lost brain function due to a low.
Treating is instant and safer. (~_^)

By: judith600

judith600 — Sun, 21 May 2006 14:11:27 +0000

> . As
> she said, if he’s not really low, he’d only be in suspend for a few minutes
>

if your basal is less than 1.0 an hour, what good does this do? there is no
insulin going in and the stuff that goes in, would it make a difference right
away? seems like this kind of is confusing me….LOL

By: colin_140

colin_140 — Sat, 20 May 2006 02:12:01 +0000

<< Dear R-1000A pump user,
In your post you mentioned cloudy insulin and particles….I have, a few
times, had some particles in my insulin bottle, I believe this is from the
reservior or the syringe part of the pump. It has not effected the insulin
as far as I can tell. I use a 507 minimed and the refill items to match, of
course. But I have also used disertonic brands for the infusion set or
tubing part…..so maybe all of the "parts" are inter changable, I don’t
know
this for sure???
Melissa, in Tampa,Florida >>
Hi Melissa: the infusion sets are compatible with all the pumps. Joan

By: Carlos Kiara

Carlos Kiara — Wed, 17 May 2006 06:05:14 +0000

I agree with Jan. A severe low is life threatening. Always treat, then
check if no one is there to do it for you. Why? Because you can die much
faster in a low than high. If it is high you will get very sick first and
have time to get to a hospital, not so a low.
EMT’s and paramedics are told to treat a DMer in trouble as a low always
until it can be checked out.
Gail

By: Randolph Fawn

Randolph Fawn — Sun, 14 May 2006 16:08:06 +0000

I know, in fact, MM does not recommend this practice - at least the PR officer
told me personally they don’t, and retrained a local CDE here who recommended
it. As I stated before, I was in a very severe low and heard of this practice,
my mind wasn’t functioning correctly and instead of Suspending, I bolused
1.9u! That’s dangerous. A SEVERE low connotates just that = SEVERE. Those are
the kinds you are *out of it*. The best thing is to treat it first, test - if
not that low and too much is injested, cover the excess carbs with the
appropriate bolus.

How many of us have done stupid things because our BGs are low (not even
*severe*)? I’m going to go out on a limb and guess the CDE is NOT a DMer and
has no clue the actual experience of decreased brain function with a lack of
glucose for the brain to function correctly. If Mike is having problems
learning the intricacies of pumping, this is certainly one practice (IMHO)
that can be ditched. I have heard of others (including myself) who have

forgotten to restart the pump. Being in a SEVERE low just about cancels out
memory of what you are doing - let alone should do when recovered. (~_^)

By: keisha_800

keisha_800 — Sun, 14 May 2006 08:55:46 +0000

Dear R-1000A pump user,
In your post you mentioned cloudy insulin and particles….I have, a few
times, had some particles in my insulin bottle, I believe this is from the
reservior or the syringe part of the pump. It has not effected the insulin
as far as I can tell. I use a 507 minimed and the refill items to match, of
course. But I have also used disertonic brands for the infusion set or
tubing part…..so maybe all of the "parts" are inter changable, I don’t know
this for sure???
Melissa, in Tampa,Florida

This is my first post, I have been "listening" for a couple of weeks, getting
courage I guess? Anyway, I am thankful for the info so far.
Melissa

By: Xavier Roseanna

Xavier Roseanna — Sat, 13 May 2006 06:12:45 +0000

I hope these Polls are not becoming bothersome to people. They are
used for information purposes for the members of the club only. If
anyone has any ideas for a new pole please just E-mail me. When these
2 are concluded I will post a new one.

Frank

By: Xavier Roseanna

Xavier Roseanna — Fri, 12 May 2006 13:57:24 +0000

<< I Also try telling him that with the pump, if he has
a "severe" low, he has the option of suspending >>>

I would agree to lose that idea, that is very dangerous indeed. It is
always better to treat the reaction with some fast acting carbs then
wait 15 minutes and eat some complex carbs. The problem with
suspending and waiting is that the blood sugar could continue to drop
to an even lower level especially if the reaction was caused from an
over bolus or exercise.

Frank