Insulin Pump Users

>Maybe I started with too much enthusiasm

Stefania, I hear you! That’s exactly what I did, and it made things
harder…but it’s an incredibly easy mistake to make, because all you
hear at the beginning is the good stuff about pumping and it’s such a
letdown to discover it’s not all sunshine and roses.

What worked for me (aside from all the GREAT practical suggestions Joan
listed) was setting a deadline. I told myself "you have to stay on the
pump until July 19 because then you can tell everyone who swears it’s
wonderful that you DID give it a fair shot and decided against it."

So most of the first month (or whatever length of time you pick) was
just slogging through, waiting until the magic date when okay, I could
say I’d tried and go back to shots.
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Hello everyone!
WOW!!! I can’t believe how many people have responded to my post! This list
is just amazingly encouraging! I am so thankful for all of the input i have
recieved from you all! Tonight at Church, I asked for prayers for when i
start the pump! Every little bit helps and there is no doubt in my mind that
it was God’s doing to let me have the oppertunity on the pump in the first
place!

Im getting tired of waiting to start out! My education day is this Friday
(29th) I am so excited about it! But at the same time, I think deep down
inside Im kind of freaking out about the pump! I know I must be stressing
out a lot about something because im not sick but my blood sugars are
totally on this rollercoaster ride these past 3 days! It might sound kinda
silly but, I’ve just been on shots for so long and im in excellant control
with those and know how to work it. so i think its just freaking me out
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Talk about exciting! It sounds like you have a great attitude — AND
you’re a lot smarter than I was about starting the pump, because you’ve
already guessed there might be some less-than-perfect moments <g>.

I was ready to quit my first week (and would have if it weren’t for the
tremendous support on here) because, from all the product literature and
my trainer’s raves, I had the idea that pumping was 100-percent
wonderful, paradise, ecstacy, joy…. So it was a huge letdown to
discover that sticking the needle in hurts the same with a pump as with
a syringe, and that it can be hard to maneuver the insertions until
after a month or so of practice.

Compared to all the advantages, those are pretty minor things — but
they seemed horrible to a beginner expecting 100-percent joy. As long
as you’re going in KNOWING that any new endeavor will have its ups and
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Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie. I just joined the list a few days ago and
i really like that so many of you are involved in the list. Some lists are
sooo dull! Well anyways, I live in Tacoma Washington and i will be a senior
in high school next school year. I have had diabetes for about 3 1/2 years.
My little brother and i were both diagnosed with diabetes in the same week!
My mom has had it since she was 21.

Anyways, I am like the only person in our family that really has taken up an
interest in learning all there is to know about diabetes and how to manage
it to the best of my ability. I have been researching the pump for almost 2
years now and finally, The money situation and stuff has worked out for me
to get the pump! Im sooooo excited! It totally brings me to tears sometimes
when i think about actually being on the pump! I have heard so many awesome
stories about how much better it is and i cant wait to start!

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There is a new pump soon to be on the US market. It is made by SOOIL
out of Korea. Ther website is www.sooil.com. If anyone is interested.

I’m going to plan on putting a 12" tall (small)American Flag on the table
where we’re sitting so those who aren’t familiar with us will have a bit of a
clue Saturday at Shapiro’s in Indy at 1:00 p.m. 6/23/01 800 block of south
Meridian.

Sorry folks, been away from the computer for almost a week. I’m
going to make a lot of brief references to several things here…

First, I hope/plan to be there on Saturday. I am a loner, so no
guest will be coming along.

Second…I think the difference between waterTIGHT and waterPROOF, is
a depth/pressure thing. Neither should allow water into the pump,
but the waterTIGHT should be able to withstand water pressure better
than a waterPROOF pump can (resident engineer, can you confirm
this…I have a tendency to get things backwards!) Which is what
would allow for the depth on the Paradigm…that is probably also why
the time limit is given…the pump needs to normalize periodically to
allow it to remain waterTIGHT. IF this is the case, the time limit
would only apply to continued, complete submersion…more than a bath
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Brian, I don’t think there’s any scientific evidence for OR against this
(the way there IS evidence that bad a1c’s tend to create complications),
but I’m convinced that some of avoiding complications has to do with
factors beyond our control.

Like Jill said, her doctor attributed it to good genetics…my mom
attributes mine to a guardian angel…and I bet anyone else who’s been
lucky for 40-plus years will have their own theory. I like attributing
it to luck, because — always assuming I stay responsible about
testing/carbs/exercise/etc — that way I know if things DO go wrong, it
wasn’t my fault!

There was some story (maybe apocryphal <g>) about identical twins who
each got Type 1 at the same age, and the one who practiced good control
developed all sorts of complications while the one who practiced bad
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For all who have been reading my posts about my heart problems I have finally
had a diagnosis that is making lots of sense. I have severe sleep apnea. My
oxynization is below 60%, I have over 50 events per hour and THAT is why I am
having chest pains and irregular heart beats. Once I learned the symptoms it is
appearant that I have been suffering from this for a long time and it has just
been getting worse. I will be set up with a CPAP machine within the week.

I will not be able to go to Indiana as they said it is best I don’t drive. I
have been almost falling asleep while driving so I am grounded. Has anyone else
had this?

Catie

Is it possible or at even likely to entirely
avoid complications associated with diabetes
if you maintain good a1c’s throughout your life?

-b