Starting on a pump Friday!
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!
I would be so grateful if you all would tell me any negative things about
the pump. I know that something must be annoying about it right? It cant ALL
be fabulous… so i would like to know what i am getting into i guess…
the good AND bad of it! Thanks so much!
My MiniMed came in the mail last week and my appointment is on Friday to
start it and have my little "education day" So wish me luck guys! 
bye bye!
Stephanie
October 27th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Hi Stephanie,
This is a great group. You’ll love being on the pump. It gives you so much
more flexibility. The only drawbacks I have personally experienced is that
I gained weight when I first started because I was used to maintaining my
weight with high blood sugars. Once I brought them into normal range, I
gained about 10-15 pounds. Still working on getting that off after 4 years
on the pump. The other negative is that I have had a couple of site
infections. I ended up being allergic to one of the infusion sets and it
caused an itchy irritation and I must have infected it when I scratched too
hard or it might have got infected when I left it in too long. Anyway, that
is the worse of it. I have had a couple of accidentally pulling it out or
turning it off and my blood sugars zoomed up, but they were soon corrected.
Just be sure to test often and check things out to make sure things are
well. I would also try all the different infusion sets Minimed makes to
find the one that meets your needs the best. I like the Sillouhettes
because I can disconnect at the site (no tail thiny) and it has a longer
guide needle to get through my extra flabby stomach. That’s all I can think
of right now. I know about the excitement you can get about the pump. I
was the same way. It truly is a blessing.. Good luck to you and I think
it’s great that you are motivated to take care of yourself at such a young
age. You will live a longer, happier life with that attitude. Look forward
to talking with you– Jeana in Anchorage-41 yrs old.. type 1 since age 8.
Wife of 17 years to wonderful hubby and stay at home mom to four kids (two
homegrown and two adopted)
October 28th, 2006 at 5:08 am
Hi Stephanie,
I just started on my Minimed 508 this last Tuesday.
I’m age 56 and was diagnosed about 23 years ago. Have
been having very bad control problems for about the
last 3 years… bg’s from 30 to 350 and seemingly very
different reactions to the same foods. Usually high
in the mornings and lows in late afternoons. Passed
out a few times and last A1c was 8.9.
After starting on the pump, my bg’s stayed between 50
and 185 for over 3 days!!!!! My first "problem"
happened last night when I got home from work and when
I was changing clothes discovered the infusion tube
had become disconnected from my side… took bg and it
was 322!!! I’m not sure how it got disconnected, but
will watch it a little closer from now on.
To this point I’m believing that this is the best
thing I have ever done for myself… hope your
experience produces wonderful results as well.
Best Regards,
Ken
October 28th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Hi Stephanie: Welcome to the list!
There are so many positives, that at times the little negatives seem
unimportant. Doing frequent fingersticks, getting yourself into a routine
that works between you and your pump. Making sure you have backup supplies
with you whereever you go….after a while it all becomes just the way you do
things.
Experiment with the infusion sets you get….there a couple of choices, and
you may find some work better than others.
It will take you a couple of months to work out all the kinks, and then
you’ll see just how easy it is….good luck! We’re all here rooting for
you……Joan:))
October 28th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
<< 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!
Hi Stephanie and welcome. My name is Chrissy. Ive been diabetic for 34yrs
and on the pump about 1 1/2 yrs. I live in Tucson, AZ. Im 46yrs old and
have a husband and 2 sons ages 6 and 10.
My little brother and i were both diagnosed with diabetes in the same week!
My mom has had it since she was 21.
Wow was that hard on you guys to find out that both of you were diabetic? Do
you two kinda take care of each other since you understand what it is like to
have to deal w/this?
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!
It is wonderful. For the first time in 30 some years I feel like I have a
life. I’m no longer restricted by eating schedules or what kind of food I
can have. You will love the pump.
I would be so grateful if you all would tell me any negative things about
the pump. I know that something must be annoying about it right? It cant ALL
be fabulous… so i would like to know what i am getting into i guess…
the good AND bad of it! Thanks so much!
To me the only thing I dont like is that the kind I have is not waterproof.
Its water resistant but I have to take it off if I swim or shower. Thanks to
Jans suggestion about how to get around this I dont feel as badly.
My MiniMed came in the mail last week and my appointment is on Friday to
start it and have my little "education day" So wish me luck guys!
As I answer this it is Saturday. So youve already had your training. Im
sure you will do wonderfully!!! I’m so happy you are so excited. Keep it up.
God Bless, Chrissy
October 29th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
It took me a year to decide if I wanted to pump - but then it was the size of
You can see a
a checkbook box or Beta videotape so not very discreet.
picture of it in the URL below.
I am including 10# reasons to pump written by someone else. Oh, tell me what’s
so good about MDI?
1. I can sleep until noon on the weekends without doing anything special and
when I wake up I’m 115.
2. I can skip a meal, eat later, eat earlier, or eat sporadically all the
live-long-day and just change my boluses.
3. I can give an exact amount of insulin (tenths of units aren’t available
with shots).
4. I can decide to exercise at the spur of the moment and just change my basal
rate without having a severe hypo
5. I can decide what I’m going to eat when I see it instead of trying to
predict what I’m going to feel like eating four hours from now.
6. I don’t have ANY night hypo’s anymore. (I used to pop out of bed 4-5 times
per week).
7. I don’t have daily hypos anymore & I don’t have to stay over 150 in order
to do it.
8. I don’t get headaches all the time from the roller coaster of going from
387 to 43 in one afternoon.
9. No brainer: no more shots.
10. I feel good/optimistic about tight control for the first time EVER.
When I considered pumping I had heard of two young men who each gained 35# - I
didn’t want that but felt strongly I was headed for double amputation due to
severe neuropathy. I felt it was better to buy bigger clothes than to not need
shoes. I lost 20# (have gained it back, however). Back then, we still used the
exchange system and since I was in much better control, I didn’t need more
insulin nor more food to feed it. Some people will gain weight now because of
carb-counting and the new-found freedom. Those treats do have calories.
I hope it goes well for you, and I hope your mom and bro see how much better
off you are and will turn their lives around by your example. Keep us posted,
dear.
October 30th, 2006 at 1:21 am
Hi Jan, hi all!
I’ve been very happy to read your message which is really encouraging, like
everyone’s else advice and messages!!
… I’ve been on a pump since 31th of May; as many of you, I decided with my
doctor to switch to it just because I could see each one of the 10 points
Jan quoted, and I wasn’t able to manage my BG, with very hi-and-low’s values
in the same day, many hypos and all the usual stuff …
I’m only feeling a bit confused because I’m still not able to manage the
insulin-carbohydrates ratio… and I still have some hyper… I can’t
understand if I do too low boluses or if my basal rate is wrong… I’m
really going nuts and sometimes felt like switching back to shots…
Maybe I started with too much enthusiasm and wasn’t prepared to the (few, I
admit) negative aspects … Has anybody of you any advice to give me or any
books/websites etc. to suggest where I can learn more about dietetic
matters, carbohydrtes and so on??
Some days only reading your enthusiastic comments gave me the strength to go
on and trying to understand how to manage this new therapy…
Thank you very much!!
Stefania
October 30th, 2006 at 10:51 am
<< Maybe I started with too much enthusiasm and wasn’t prepared to the (few, I
admit) negative aspects … Has anybody of you any advice to give me or any
books/websites etc. to suggest where I can learn more about dietetic
matters, carbohydrtes and so on??
Some days only reading your enthusiastic comments gave me the strength to go
on and trying to understand how to manage this new therapy…
Thank you very much!!
Stefania
>>
Hi Stefania: Have faith! it will all come in time….invest in John Walsh’s
"Pumping Insulin" now in 3rd Ed. You can get it at amazon.com
For us, it’s the pumpers bible.
Next, it would be good for you to sit down with a CDE/Nutritionist who is
familiar with pumpers and our needs. Try to be consistent about your carb
intake for a couple of weeks. You’ll learn which carbs make your bgs go up
more than others, and the combinations that prolong absorption. Especially
those high fat foods.
Who established your basal rate???? It’s really important to do frequent bgs
right now. before your meal or snack and 1- 2 hours after and record
everything. You’ll start seeing your trends and how you work with your pump.
Are you using Humalog for your insulin?? It’s easier to work with and I
find better control with it.
It’s better to do little corrections rather than big. Can’t unbolus once
you’ve bolused, so remember that.
Frequent bgs - can’t stress that enough. After about a month, it will be a
lot easier, and you’ll see what we mean….Joan:))
October 30th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Stephanie,
Welcome.
I have been pumping 20 yrs this coming Sept. I would hate to have to back
on injections. I really don’t know of any down side to the pump that one
does not have with injections also and the pump gives so much more
flexibility.
I have had DM for 44 yrs and was five at dx. How old is your younger brother.
I also have a MM 508.
Good Luck.
Gail
November 1st, 2006 at 6:40 am
Hi Stephanie,
I sent you a message the other day, and my wife
(daisy2u2001) sent a note to you late this afternoon.
I just started on the pump last Tuesday… and it is
going GREAT!!!! Before the pump I was taking
humongous quantities of insulin each day (100+ Units)
and was totally out of control and I’m now taking
55-60U per day and have excellent control….go
figure!!!
I have had two problems (the nurse I talk to calls
them "learning experiences"), both of which were
caused by my own errors: * On Friday a.m. after my
shower I evidently didn’t connect the tubing back on
tightly enough and it came loose sometime that
afternoon… result was bg of 302 when I got home from
work and discovered the problem. * Think I messed up
doing the priming on Sunday… result bg of 196. So
no big deal and I learned what NOT to do.
Otherwise my bg’s have been between 50 and 150 and I’m
eating pretty much what I want to… just counting
carbs and doing a bolus for what I eat. I LOVE IT
!!!!
This website has the best info regarding the
guidelines for maintaining good control that I have
found anywhere. It also does a great job of defining
the responsibilities of the Dr. and medical people and
of the patient… Maybe this info will help you to
care for and "educate" your brother and your Mom!!!
Best of luck to you.
Ken