Comments on: Before I get started on the pump…. http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/ Blog for the diabetics who use an insulin pump to control diabetes Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:48:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: colin_140 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25179 colin_140 Sun, 16 Jul 2006 07:49:17 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25179 << Question to Pumpers is: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to someone who is just getting started with Carb Counting and with the Pump??? >> Be patient with yourself and learn all you can...time is on your side...Joan:)) <<
Question to Pumpers is: Knowing what you know now, what advice would
you give to someone who is just getting started with Carb Counting
and with the Pump??? >>
Be patient with yourself and learn all you can…time is on your
side…Joan:))

]]> By: Molly Kathern http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25177 Molly Kathern Sat, 15 Jul 2006 15:54:58 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25177 A little side note: According to health care professionals, theoretically speaking, if you go low, yes the liver will pump glycogen. But, if you have a low amount stored by the liver and/or have been low for long enough to use up that "reserve," then you can still hypo. If your basal rate(s) is (are) not set at a high amount, then even over an 8 hr period, you would be talking only a few units given out total, and then not all at one time. Without insulin going in, the body naturally raises the blood sugar level by using itself for fuel (this is why ketoacidosis can develop without any or with too little insulin or if food intake is too little for too long, and why when pumping checking urine for ketones when +250 glucose level for more that 2 unexplained readings is so vital. If tubing were clogged or reservoir empty and you hadn't set correct reservoir amount to get alert to low amount, since there's no intermediate or long acting insulin being used, only Humalog, ketoacidosis could develop in as <!--more--> short a period of time as 4 hours). Had asked about this when Hubby and I had looked over the MiniMed 508 features. Marj A little side note:
According to health care professionals, theoretically speaking, if you go
low, yes the liver will pump glycogen. But, if you have a low amount stored
by the liver and/or have been low for long enough to use up that "reserve,"
then you can still hypo.
If your basal rate(s) is (are) not set at a high amount, then even over an 8
hr period, you would be talking only a few units given out total, and then
not all at one time. Without insulin going in, the body naturally raises the
blood sugar level by using itself for fuel (this is why ketoacidosis can
develop without any or with too little insulin or if food intake is too
little for too long, and why when pumping checking urine for ketones when
+250 glucose level for more that 2 unexplained readings is so vital. If
tubing were clogged or reservoir empty and you hadn’t set correct reservoir
amount to get alert to low amount, since there’s no intermediate or long
acting insulin being used, only Humalog, ketoacidosis could develop in as

short a period of time as 4 hours).
Had asked about this when Hubby and I had looked over the MiniMed 508
features.

Marj

]]> By: patience_15 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25176 patience_15 Fri, 14 Jul 2006 19:59:02 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25176 << WE eat when we want to now and match the carbs to insulin. (~_^ >> Oh thats interesting. Thanks. Chrissy << WE eat when we want to now and match the carbs to insulin. (~_^ >>

Oh thats interesting. Thanks. Chrissy

]]> By: Randolph Fawn http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25175 Randolph Fawn Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:09:48 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25175 If it's set for 8hrs (or 10, 12, etc.) and you were passed out - wouldn't by the time it alarmed already be too late? Besides the liver will dump glucagon (glycogen?) into your system and that's why many people wake up high. If basals are set correctly a person should be okay. When this alarm feature was *new* on my 2nd pump my D.E. (no Certifieds back then) wouldn't even talk about it to new pumpers but promoted the Eugly pumps without the bells and whistles. But back then people were *victims* of *runaway* insulin and they wanted to make sure there was a stop feature. Pumps used to deliver insulin at meal times, too - forcing a person to eat to match the clock. I can certainly see the problem if one was sleeping in and the insulin was delivering for a meal and they weren't awake to eat. That would take up the 8 hours until alarming. WE eat when we want to now and match the carbs to insulin. (~_^) If it’s set for 8hrs (or 10, 12, etc.) and you were passed out - wouldn’t by
the time it alarmed already be too late? Besides the liver will dump glucagon
(glycogen?) into your system and that’s why many people wake up high. If
basals are set correctly a person should be okay. When this alarm feature was
*new* on my 2nd pump my D.E. (no Certifieds back then) wouldn’t even talk
about it to new pumpers but promoted the Eugly pumps without the bells and
whistles. But back then people were *victims* of *runaway* insulin and they
wanted to make sure there was a stop feature. Pumps used to deliver insulin at
meal times, too - forcing a person to eat to match the clock. I can certainly
see the problem if one was sleeping in and the insulin was delivering for a
meal and they weren’t awake to eat. That would take up the 8 hours until
alarming. WE eat when we want to now and match the carbs to insulin. (~_^)

]]> By: patience_15 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25174 patience_15 Fri, 14 Jul 2006 03:43:41 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25174 << I did/do not use that function on my 3rd and 4th pumps. (~_^) >> Jan, My CDE said that that was in case you were unconcious (rare) so that if you hadnt touched your pump in awhile it would stop the insulin delivery. Cause if you had passed out from low sugar you wouldnt want more insulin to continue to pump. I know this occurance is rare but I wouldnt want more insulin pumping if this happened to me. Chrissy << I did/do not use that function on my 3rd and 4th
pumps. (~_^)
>>

Jan,

My CDE said that that was in case you were unconcious (rare) so that if you
hadnt touched your pump in awhile it would stop the insulin delivery. Cause
if you had passed out from low sugar you wouldnt want more insulin to
continue to pump. I know this occurance is rare but I wouldnt want more
insulin pumping if this happened to me. Chrissy

]]> By: Randolph Fawn http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25173 Randolph Fawn Thu, 13 Jul 2006 22:54:27 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25173 > Also, to start, be sure to measure everything. Pretty soon, you > won't need to do this, and you'll get pretty good at "eyeballing" half a cup, > etc. > Patrick A half a cup is the size of a tennis ball; an oz. of cheese is the size of a ping-pong ball; a deck of cards is the size of 3 oz. skinless/boneless chicken; an average size fist is the size of a cup; an older-style mayo lid (about 3" dia) is a 3 oz. hamburger (cooked); a slice of cold cuts is 1 oz. (~_^) > Also, to start, be sure to measure everything. Pretty soon, you
> won’t need to do this, and you’ll get pretty good at "eyeballing" half a
cup,
> etc.
> Patrick

A half a cup is the size of a tennis ball; an oz. of cheese is the size of a
ping-pong ball; a deck of cards is the size of 3 oz. skinless/boneless
chicken; an average size fist is the size of a cup; an older-style mayo lid
(about 3" dia) is a 3 oz. hamburger (cooked); a slice of cold cuts is 1 oz.
(~_^)

]]> By: Randolph Fawn http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25172 Randolph Fawn Thu, 13 Jul 2006 14:46:47 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25172 If you read your manual, you should be able to disable that function of an alarm if untouched for xx hours. - Or, I think it can be increased. My 2nd pump that I used for 9 years had that function and the purpose back then was so *all that insulin* wouldn't be going into you without you paying attention. We had only one basal option then, too. There was no such thing as basal fasting and adjusting rates. I did/do not use that function on my 3rd and 4th pumps. (~_^) If you read your manual, you should be able to disable that function of an
alarm if untouched for xx hours. - Or, I think it can be increased. My 2nd
pump that I used for 9 years had that function and the purpose back then was
so *all that insulin* wouldn’t be going into you without you paying attention.
We had only one basal option then, too. There was no such thing as basal
fasting and adjusting rates. I did/do not use that function on my 3rd and 4th
pumps. (~_^)

]]> By: jerrold16 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25171 jerrold16 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 05:57:00 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25171 To start with, READ! The labels on foods are an excellent source for the carb amounts. Also, to start, be sure to measure everything. Pretty soon, you won't need to do this, and you'll get pretty good at "eyeballing" half a cup, etc. And finally, get one (or more) books that list the amount of carbs. Many of these now even have listings for fast food places. And speaking of eating out, be sure to ask the waitress what is in something or how it is prepared if you don't know. If you let them know it's for medical reasons, they are usually cooperative, even with "secret" recipes. Patrick The NC bluegrass pickin' pumper To start with, READ! The labels on foods are an excellent source for the carb
amounts. Also, to start, be sure to measure everything. Pretty soon, you
won’t need to do this, and you’ll get pretty good at "eyeballing" half a cup,
etc. And finally, get one (or more) books that list the amount of carbs.
Many of these now even have listings for fast food places. And speaking of
eating out, be sure to ask the waitress what is in something or how it is
prepared if you don’t know. If you let them know it’s for medical reasons,
they are usually cooperative, even with "secret" recipes.

Patrick
The NC bluegrass pickin’ pumper

]]> By: patience_15 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25170 patience_15 Wed, 12 Jul 2006 19:12:59 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25170 << When I first went on the pump around 3 or 4 a.m. I heard a beeping sound and could not finger it out. Then i relaized it was my pump beeping -It seems that if I don't touch the pump in an 8 hr period it will beep so I know just touch the light button just before going to bed and it is happy. >> Thats so if you had passed out or something if you dont touch any buttons for a certain period of time the pump will quit giving you insulin. At least thats what I was told. Chrissy << When I first went on the pump around 3 or 4 a.m. I heard a beeping
sound and could not finger it out. Then i relaized it was my pump
beeping -It seems that if I don’t touch the pump in an 8 hr period it
will beep so I know just touch the light button just before going to
bed and it is happy.
>>

Thats so if you had passed out or something if you dont touch any buttons for
a certain period of time the pump will quit giving you insulin. At least
thats what I was told. Chrissy

]]> By: elvira_14 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25169 elvira_14 Wed, 12 Jul 2006 15:21:43 +0000 http://www.diabetic.netslonguirado.com/2006/07/12/before-i-get-started-on-the-pump/#comment-25169 I have been on the pump for approx. 4 months. One of the things I find very helpful is my carb. counting book, it has fast food listings and some other resturants .When you are checking the carbs on food you have at home make sure you note the number of serving in the container along with what the amount of one serving is. Make sure you keep good records of what you are eating and you bg after eating. I still have high bg when I eat chinese food since my husband loves it I eat it about once a month but keep on trying something different to determine how to keep my bg in line. When I first went on the pump around 3 or 4 a.m. I heard a beeping sound and could not finger it out. Then i relaized it was my pump beeping -It seems that if I don't touch the pump in an 8 hr period it will beep so I know just touch the light button just before going to bed and it is happy. Good luck to you. I think you will be happy with the pump and see <!--more--> better bg. Mary I have been on the pump for approx. 4 months. One of the things I
find very helpful is my carb. counting book, it has fast food
listings and some other resturants .When you are checking the carbs
on food you have at home make sure you note the number of serving in
the container along with what the amount of one serving is. Make sure
you keep good records of what you are eating and you bg after eating.
I still have high bg when I eat chinese food since my husband loves
it I eat it about once a month but keep on trying something different
to determine how to keep my bg in line.
When I first went on the pump around 3 or 4 a.m. I heard a beeping
sound and could not finger it out. Then i relaized it was my pump
beeping -It seems that if I don’t touch the pump in an 8 hr period it
will beep so I know just touch the light button just before going to
bed and it is happy.
Good luck to you. I think you will be happy with the pump and see

better bg.

Mary

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