Insulin Pump Users

4 Responses to “its Stephanie again!”

1. sabine170 Says:
   October 31st, 2006 at 3:01 pm

   Stephanie,
   You sound like a very mature 17 yr. old. In my opinion, and this is
   strictly an opinion, you mother and father are being negligent in the care
   of you and your brother. You are both minors and they should be getting you
   the medications, meals and counselling you need in handling this disease
   for a lifetime.
   If you mother wants to put her head in the sand about herself, she is an
   adult and can do so, but to neglect yours and your brother’s diabetes
   education is wrong.
   Keep posting and ask what ever you need.
   I feel that probably the excitement of the pump and the responsibility that
   you feel toward you brother and mother are the factors in you roller coaster.
   Take care.
   Gail

2. patience_15 Says:
   November 1st, 2006 at 12:10 am

   << 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!

   I feel the same way about my pump.

   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
   that this is such a huge change that is going to take place when i get the
   pump!

   What you are feeling is totally normal. When I got training for my pump I
   didnt even know how to count carbs. I was on the exchange diet. You were
   
   allowed so many carbs, fruits, vegetables etc per day. So I was totally
   overwhelmed w/having to learn the pump and how to count carbs. Ive been
   diabetic for 34 years and knew my routine and when I did my training even tho
   I was excited it was hard not knowing totally how to do everything. But I
   survived and Im doing fine. So dont worry it will be OK.

   Someone asked me if it was hard on my family having both my brother and i
   diagnosed in the same week. Well to tell you the truth, i had no clue what
   diabetes was! My mom has haad it since she was 21 but has ALWAYS been
   terribly controlled and i had no idea she had it! I can NEVER remember
   seeing her take a shot or test blood

   My kids see me do my stuff all the time. Even tho they are adopted (and I
   dont think diabetes is in there family) I still want them to know as much as
   possible about diabetes. Ive taught them how to call 911 if I need help.
   They understand as much as possible for a 6 and 10 yr od.

   She is 41 years old and so far has neuropathy all up both legs, that
   intestine problem that happens, she has had 2 heart attacks, (the first one
   when she was 34) and 2 triple by pass surgeries, she has stints in 2
   arteries, and she has relaly bad delayed digestion. Seeing what diabetes and
   poor control has done to her, really has made me motivated to take care of
   myself.

   I’m so sorry about your Mom. I wish she would wake up. My Dad was a
   diabetic and was also an alcholic. That is not a good combonation. So I can
   understand your feelings there. Unfortunatly my father died when he was in
   his 50s needlessly. He just didnt care and never stopped drinking. I hope
   better for your Mom but if she continues to not take care of herself it will
   shorten her life. I’m happy that you have such a good attitude. Please keep
   it up it will pay off thruout your life.

   My brother on the other hand….is 14 (just yesterday was his b-day) and his
   last A1C was 14.2!!! He doesnt check his sugars and hardly takes shots! I
   relaly wish my parents would do more with him and making sure he is doing
   what needs to be done. They dont though so i try and talk to him about it
   but only get dirtly looks and i hear things like "you deal with it your way
   and ill deal with it my way!" I dont know what to do with him! And my mom is
   the same way! She has this mindset like "Well, diabetes has damaged me this
   much already, starting good control now wont help much!" Grr! yes it will!
   It can help prevent further damage! She just doesnt get it! She cant even
   walk across the room without taking a nitro pill! Im the one doing cooking,
   cleaning and stuff that she should be doing. When she had her last appt. I
   went with her and got the nutritionalist to write out moms meal plan and
   stuff, so at dinner, im the one that fixes her plate up and measures stuff
   for her carbs and all that. I remind her about blood tests and shots grr its
   annoying! The mother/daughter roles have totally switched! I always thought
   that wasnt supposed to happen until you are like 40 and your parents are 60
   or somethin! But no, here i am 17 and shes 42! something is just not right
   with that picture…oh well!

   Stephanie Im so sorry you have so much responsibility. Your brother is so
   young. If he continues this way…..well you know. Are you guys close at
   all? Can you ever get alone w/him and have a heart to heart? Does anyone
   else in your family have a relationship w/the Lord? Your brother could end
   up in a coma if he doesnt take his shots. What does your doctor say? If he
   stays in denial so many things could happen to him. Hes still young….I
   dont know what to say. Doesnt he feel lousy? Psychially I mean. I forget
   is your dad still alive/in your life? Does he have any input in you and your
   brothers life?

   I have God on my side thankfully! I know that without his support, I
   literally would not be here right now! My life was at such a low point after
   about a year of diabetes. I didnt really let things "sink in" for a very
   very long time, i just tried to controll things without help from
   God…wrong answer! I took it upon myself to learn everything about diabetes
   and when i did, i was soooo scared! Literally scared for my life as most of
   you, im sure can relate to. I panicked and tried to kill myself with an
   overdose of insulin, well the insulin was old and didnt work…God had a
   hand in that let me tell you!

   Im very thankful God saved you. You are one special person.

   Since then, i found what i needed in my life
   and instead of diabetes education scaring me, i try to use it as an
   advantage! And Im am hoping when i get the pump, it will allow me to do more
   things that are a hassle to do now! I want to be around for a long time
   before the Lord calls me home! The longer i am on earth, the more work I can
   do for God and that is what is most important!

   You have such a strong faith Im very proud of you. Keep coming here and get
   support and love. This is a good group.

   oh wow! I really didn’t mean for this e-mail to be sooo long! sorry
   about that! But hey, thanks again for all of the encouragement! It is so
   great to get it from someone that has "been there and done that" I cant wait
   to get to know you all better! Life is a journey isnt it? I hope all of you
   are enjoying the ride Love,
   Stephanie

   Dont worry about the length. Thanks for sharing your life w/us. Love Chrissy

   >>

3. Jeannette Kaley Says:
   November 2nd, 2006 at 12:29 pm

   Stephanie,

   I hope that all is well for you. I know what you are going through, I
   couldn’t stand the site of my pump sitting there on the table and not being
   able to use it. I was so excited that I couldn’t stand it, nervous though
   too. It is all worth while! I have been using my pump now for almost 4
   months and you couldn’t pay me to go backt o taking 4 shots a day. My blood
   sugars are in the best control ever! I was in Philadelphia this past
   weekend for a National conference with the American diabetes Association.
   Wow, what an experience!! Yesterday I stopped at the Minimed booth to talk
   to the pump rep from the area to let him know how things are going, he
   introduced me to the gentleman that invented the insulin pump and is the
   head of the company. I told him that I wanted to kiss his feet (LOL) we
   talked for a few mintues, he gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheak and he
   told me that it is stories like mine and how successful the pump has been
   
   for me that make his job all worth while. It was a neat experience to
   actually get the chance to talk to him up close and personal.

   I know what you are going through with your mom. My mother was diagnosed
   with type 2 diabetes approximately one year after I was diagnosed with type
   1. She’s a nurse and doesn’t take care of herself. It is very frustrating.
   I am a little older than you and no longer live at home, but I worry about
   her all of the time. And to think that she gets on my case if I am visiting
   her and my blood sugar is a little high!! She has already had to have
   angioplasty done and continues to think that diabetes "isn’t really that
   bad" and she is a nurse. UGH!!!

   I commend you for your research and motivation in learning about diabetes
   and trying to take care of yourself. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
   Good luck with the pump, I think that you will really like it. It is a lot
   of work to learn everything and get used to it, but it doesn’t take long as
   long as you stay motivated and enthusiastic about your treatment. There are
   times that you may get frustrated, but don’t let that get you down. Keep in
   touch!

   Chera

   PS. I was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago when I was 27, I have been using my
   pump for almost 4 months now and it has beena wonderful experience!!!!

4. Jeannette Kaley Says:
   November 2nd, 2006 at 8:37 pm

   >Stephanie,

   I forgot to tell you that prior to pump with four shots a day my blood
   sugars were running 38-450+ no matter how hard I tired ti watch what I ate,
   or how much I exerscied, now my blood sugars are 77-150 and I am using much
   less insulin as well. I find that using the Humalog all of the time is much
   more predictable than using the NPH and the Humalog together.

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