Hey pumpers, pump fans, and pump enviests (not a word yet..),
I'm back.
So much has been transpiring. And if it's any consolation at all, I sure have THOUGHT about blogging (and you all) a lot! If there was a way to transfer thoughts from the brain to the blog (bypassing the typing) I'd be the world's busiest blogger. Maybe Steve Jobs can start working on that? Hmmm...iThought...
Anyway, in a nutshell here's what's been going on (these will be future posts):
-My feet starting hurting - BAD. I mean, so bad I could hardly stand or walk. So bad they felt like they were on FIRE. So bad it brought tears to my eyes and really, really scared me.
-I subsequently went to see a neourologist, which sparked a personal fitness revolution.
-I started exercising (seriously) again. Great for the health, but the blood sugars have been erratic. I will be blogging about P90x and having type-1 diabetes (+ the pump) soon!
-I've had the opportunity to speak to a lot of doctors, nurses, CDE's and others about the pump. It is such a blessing to be involved with this vibrant community of progressive thinkers who seek to help us all in so many ways.
-I've learned a lot about P.N. (Peripheral Neuropathy) and that there is a TON you can do.
-I've heard some GREAT stories from a lot of you, all over the world. There's a camaraderie that those of us with type-1 diabetes share, and it's a great privilege to be a part of your life-stories!
-I've heard some heartbreaking stories as well. I will never understand why anyone in the medical community would not whole-heartedly endorse the insulin pump. Thinking or saying that better control must be reached to 'earn' the pump is absurd. If that were true of my team, I'd still be using injection therapy and my health would be suffering because of it.
-I've had to come to grips with having some complications. This is a topic I will elaborate on in great length in the future because NOT having complications is a source of great pride for many. I felt, for a long time, that I got 'kicked out of the club' because I couldn't say I was complication-free any longer.
-I've been formulating some thoughts for an updated review of the pump. I still give it 5 stars (out of 5), A+, 100%!
I've been busy with my life's work - reaching the lost, encouraging the hopeless, and doing everything I can to inspire the apathetic.
Before I close here I want to make sure I make myself crystal clear:
If you have not started the pump yet, I understand. I waited (far too) long, and I had EVERY excuse in the world. But the truth is, even if you have great control, the pump can STILL make you better. How does a more flexible eating schedule sound? How about even better control?
I can promise you that you can't have a more negative opinion of the pump, because I despised it.
And now, today, I do everything I can to tell every single person with diabetes to get on it; NOW.
If it changed my life, it will change your life, too.
If you have any doubts, fears, questions or concerns - please contact me.
I never thought I'd say this, but the truth is...with the pump there are times it feels as if I don't have diabetes at all.
And the fact is, if diabetes is what I had just a short time ago while on insulin injections, frankly, I don't have diabetes any more.
Until there is a cure, there's the pump. It's that good.
Until next time, I'll be pumpin...
Showing posts with label pump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pump. Show all posts
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Friday, May 15, 2009
6 month review of the insulin pump
Greetings friends!
It's been 6 months (+ 5 days - but who's counting?!) since my life drastically changed due to the insulin pump. I've learned a lot about the medtronic paradigm system, and I wanted to share my review with you here.
The 'honeymoon' phase of feeling invincible wore off after a few weeks, but in general I cannot compare now to 6+ months ago. A few general observations:
-I sleep much better. I used to always wake up tired and lethargic, no matter how many hours of rest I got. Now I pop out of bed promptly at 5:15 AM daily whistling "It's a wonderful life!" Well, that may be a slight exaggeration, but really I wake up feeling refreshed, and that has everything to do with the blood sugar averages thanks solely to the pump.
-I'm less moody. Again, operative word: less! All kidding aside, my overall attitude, motivation, and energy level are much higher. Irritation levels have decreased [ note: that's my irritation level of how I feel, not how much I irritate others - :) ] Why do I hear a booming, "A-MEN" coming from my wife and kids??!
-I like testing my blood sugar. 20+ years of ka-ka-me-me readings makes you a little jaded towards testing. But when you see those normal readings on a consistent basis, you start to think, "hmmm, when can I test again?!"
On to the review:
1. "Low resevoir" means I should change my set soon.
I know, I know - thanks a lot Captain Obvious! But for some reason I think of insulin as liquid gold, and treat it as such. A while back I learned that there's about 10 units of insulin in the primed tubing, so even when the pump reads "0 units left" you still have around 10. Again, I should know better. I had to learn the hard way...I ran out of of insulin (bone dry) in the middle of the night, and awoke at 511 mg/dl. Yes, I said 511. Even when my average was high 511 felt horrible - but when your average is normal, 511 feels like your worst nightmare. Lesson learned.
2. De' ja' flu
I was worried about getting sick and being on the pump. I normally get the flu every few years. Well, I got the flu this year (despite the flu shot), and it was really no biggie (see a previous post). But then, I got it again. Not quite as easy the second time around, but being really sick stresses out the body, and after a day or so I recovered fine. Having the pump actually makes it easier to control the blood sugars while sick, so that's a bonus.
3. The meter & the pump talk.
So you test your blood sugar, and moments later, "voila" your reading is displayed on the pump. Magical (actually, RFID, but still impressive). They say it works up to about 8 feet or so, but the other day I had my pump off (shower) and tested my blood in the kitchen. My pump was in the bathroom - around the corner, down the hall, in the room, take a left, through 3 doors and 2 walls. Suddenly I hear the familiar 'bzzzzz bzzzzz' and I think, "whaaat now?" I look at the pump and there it is, "113." You've got to be joking me...nope, that's how cool this stuff is.
This communication makes taking your insulin easy. And who really remembers to test 2 hours after you last ate...exactly after 2 hours? The pump and meter combo make it a cinch.
4. Dress up.
Medtronic calls them 'skins,' and it's an adhesive you can put on your pump to personalize it. Being baseball season, I now sport the Milwaukee Brewers pump. Ironically, ever since the pump and the brewers got paired, the brewers have hardly lost. Who knew the team needed the paradigm insulin pump?
5. Painless.
I can't remember the last time inserting the infusion set actually hurt. Usually it's totally pain-free, as in I cannot feel it at all. Once in a blue moon it's slightly uncomfortable, but no where near the 'muscle shot' pain. And to think you only have to change it once every 4 days (I mean, 2-3 as they recommend - lol), again: awesome!
6. Care link.
It's a usb dongle that plugs in to your computer (pc only - I've logged plenty of complaints!) that reads EVERYTHING from your pump. Every setting, blood sugar reading, insulin dose, time, carbohydrate value, correction amount, basal, and bolus. As if that weren't cool enough, you can customize a variety of charts and graphs to visually see everything that's happening with your diabetes management. You can go from a daily report up to SIX MONTHS! This tool has been invaluable to me, and helps you identify trends that you might otherwise miss. I can't endorse it more highly.
7. CGMS
Fancy acronym for "continuous glucose monitoring system" which in English means a sensor that you wear that remotely sends your blood sugar to your pump every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day! (that's 288 blood sugars a day!!)
I tried the sensor twice before and we didn't get along well. So many stinking error messages, it caused more anxiety than anything. Now I know how to get around all the drama, and realize it's just the sensor and transmitter courting (who doesn't have a few minor issues while courting?!), it has nothing to do with the pump.
I gave it another try and absolutely love it. Well, mostly love it. See below for what I don't like, but I would definitely endorse it and think it's another great way to get tight control.
Here's my current screen...oh the bliss of the straight line (means blood sugars are steady)..
Notice the 'skin'? Brewer time. Also I have no clue what that is under the ACT button. My guess? Some Reese's Peanut Butter cup derivative...(I love having ratios that work!!)
What I don't like:
1. No back light on the meter.
An obvious design oversight. My one touch ultra smart has one, my one touch ultra has one, the one touch ping pump meter has one...the one touch ultra link does NOT. I've logged my frustration with Life Scan (one touch maker), but they have no plan to resolve the issue. When you test at night, or when out to dinner, or when driving at night, or at the movies....you get the point....YOU CAN'T READ THE SCREEN! So I use my cell phone as a light. Lame.
2. No back light on the pump buttons (halo lights).
Again, I don't know how this went unnoticed. Although the screen lights up beautifully, the buttons themselves do not. Having back lit buttons would ensure the proper buttons are being pressed. This would be an easy fix, and I'm going to photoshop a pic of what it could look like in the future.
3. Insulin delivery is slow.
You wouldn't think it would matter, but if you bolus (take your insulin) before a shower, you may have to wait a bit until you disconnect. If the delivery was faster (ala animas ping), you'd be ready quicker. Not a huge deal, just a minor preference issue.
4. Tubing options limited.
The tubing is what connects the pump and insulin reservoir to your body. The current options are 23" & 41." I use the 23" as I stay around the abdomen for infusion sites. But I could use a 6 or 9" as the pump and site are often just inches away from one another.
5. Care link log book
Although I sang the praises of care link above, the log book feature is useless. I called and made many suggestions for changes, none of which were incorporated. You need to be able to enter blood sugars and notes outside of the defined times, and you can't now. It's not very intuitive or user friendly, and I bypass it altogether.
6. CGMS
Yes, we're happy together now. But I have to admit, it is somewhat finicky and high-maintenance. The thought of the CGMS can be better than the reality of it at times (the CGMS is generally about 20 minutes behind your actual blood sugar). However, through proper calibration and updating, you can get the numbers to be fairly uniform. The errors and hassle therein can be a drawback, but if you simply insert the sensor and connect the transmitter WITHOUT TURNING IT ON on your pump...and leave it in for at least 2 hours before turning on (doing it before bed works best), then when you turn it on, within 15 minutes or so you calibrate and you're off and running (thanks Kevin for that great tip!)
My biggest frustration is keeping it on. The sensor uses adhesive, but the transmitter does not. I've yet to find adhesive that works well for me, and I prefer none at all (although that's risky and I've learned the hard way that the sensor can become dislodged this way rendering it useless).
7. Low blood sugar symptoms
I am much less sensitive to low b/s symptoms than before the pump, because my average is so much healthier now. I still have them, just not as pronounced. Not really something to complain about, more an observation than anything. This is where the CGMS comes in handy!
One final thought....I've noticed many diabetes suppliers and manufacturers believe we hate testing our blood sugar because it hurts. Further, many pump companies think we despise taking shots. My contention is that we don't like testing when control is difficult as more a psychological issue than a physical (pain) issue. Additionally, I never thought needles were a big deal. I mean, sheesh, they're so small and narrow you can hardly feel them at all. Again, a mind (mental) issue.
For me, being on the pump isn't great because of no shots. Before the pump I thought, "I'd rather take 10 shots/day rather than be hooked up to that pump." What you can never imagine until you experience it is how it will affect your...everything.
I'm a better husband, better father, better son, better friend, better man, better child of God, better employee.....
I'm just plain better -
Because of the pump.
So get better, and get pumpin....
It's been 6 months (+ 5 days - but who's counting?!) since my life drastically changed due to the insulin pump. I've learned a lot about the medtronic paradigm system, and I wanted to share my review with you here.
The 'honeymoon' phase of feeling invincible wore off after a few weeks, but in general I cannot compare now to 6+ months ago. A few general observations:
-I sleep much better. I used to always wake up tired and lethargic, no matter how many hours of rest I got. Now I pop out of bed promptly at 5:15 AM daily whistling "It's a wonderful life!" Well, that may be a slight exaggeration, but really I wake up feeling refreshed, and that has everything to do with the blood sugar averages thanks solely to the pump.
-I'm less moody. Again, operative word: less! All kidding aside, my overall attitude, motivation, and energy level are much higher. Irritation levels have decreased [ note: that's my irritation level of how I feel, not how much I irritate others - :) ] Why do I hear a booming, "A-MEN" coming from my wife and kids??!
-I like testing my blood sugar. 20+ years of ka-ka-me-me readings makes you a little jaded towards testing. But when you see those normal readings on a consistent basis, you start to think, "hmmm, when can I test again?!"
On to the review:
1. "Low resevoir" means I should change my set soon.
I know, I know - thanks a lot Captain Obvious! But for some reason I think of insulin as liquid gold, and treat it as such. A while back I learned that there's about 10 units of insulin in the primed tubing, so even when the pump reads "0 units left" you still have around 10. Again, I should know better. I had to learn the hard way...I ran out of of insulin (bone dry) in the middle of the night, and awoke at 511 mg/dl. Yes, I said 511. Even when my average was high 511 felt horrible - but when your average is normal, 511 feels like your worst nightmare. Lesson learned.
2. De' ja' flu
I was worried about getting sick and being on the pump. I normally get the flu every few years. Well, I got the flu this year (despite the flu shot), and it was really no biggie (see a previous post). But then, I got it again. Not quite as easy the second time around, but being really sick stresses out the body, and after a day or so I recovered fine. Having the pump actually makes it easier to control the blood sugars while sick, so that's a bonus.
3. The meter & the pump talk.
So you test your blood sugar, and moments later, "voila" your reading is displayed on the pump. Magical (actually, RFID, but still impressive). They say it works up to about 8 feet or so, but the other day I had my pump off (shower) and tested my blood in the kitchen. My pump was in the bathroom - around the corner, down the hall, in the room, take a left, through 3 doors and 2 walls. Suddenly I hear the familiar 'bzzzzz bzzzzz' and I think, "whaaat now?" I look at the pump and there it is, "113." You've got to be joking me...nope, that's how cool this stuff is.
This communication makes taking your insulin easy. And who really remembers to test 2 hours after you last ate...exactly after 2 hours? The pump and meter combo make it a cinch.
4. Dress up.
Medtronic calls them 'skins,' and it's an adhesive you can put on your pump to personalize it. Being baseball season, I now sport the Milwaukee Brewers pump. Ironically, ever since the pump and the brewers got paired, the brewers have hardly lost. Who knew the team needed the paradigm insulin pump?
5. Painless.
I can't remember the last time inserting the infusion set actually hurt. Usually it's totally pain-free, as in I cannot feel it at all. Once in a blue moon it's slightly uncomfortable, but no where near the 'muscle shot' pain. And to think you only have to change it once every 4 days (I mean, 2-3 as they recommend - lol), again: awesome!
6. Care link.
It's a usb dongle that plugs in to your computer (pc only - I've logged plenty of complaints!) that reads EVERYTHING from your pump. Every setting, blood sugar reading, insulin dose, time, carbohydrate value, correction amount, basal, and bolus. As if that weren't cool enough, you can customize a variety of charts and graphs to visually see everything that's happening with your diabetes management. You can go from a daily report up to SIX MONTHS! This tool has been invaluable to me, and helps you identify trends that you might otherwise miss. I can't endorse it more highly.
7. CGMS
Fancy acronym for "continuous glucose monitoring system" which in English means a sensor that you wear that remotely sends your blood sugar to your pump every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day! (that's 288 blood sugars a day!!)
I tried the sensor twice before and we didn't get along well. So many stinking error messages, it caused more anxiety than anything. Now I know how to get around all the drama, and realize it's just the sensor and transmitter courting (who doesn't have a few minor issues while courting?!), it has nothing to do with the pump.
I gave it another try and absolutely love it. Well, mostly love it. See below for what I don't like, but I would definitely endorse it and think it's another great way to get tight control.
Here's my current screen...oh the bliss of the straight line (means blood sugars are steady)..
Notice the 'skin'? Brewer time. Also I have no clue what that is under the ACT button. My guess? Some Reese's Peanut Butter cup derivative...(I love having ratios that work!!)
What I don't like:
1. No back light on the meter.
An obvious design oversight. My one touch ultra smart has one, my one touch ultra has one, the one touch ping pump meter has one...the one touch ultra link does NOT. I've logged my frustration with Life Scan (one touch maker), but they have no plan to resolve the issue. When you test at night, or when out to dinner, or when driving at night, or at the movies....you get the point....YOU CAN'T READ THE SCREEN! So I use my cell phone as a light. Lame.
2. No back light on the pump buttons (halo lights).
Again, I don't know how this went unnoticed. Although the screen lights up beautifully, the buttons themselves do not. Having back lit buttons would ensure the proper buttons are being pressed. This would be an easy fix, and I'm going to photoshop a pic of what it could look like in the future.
3. Insulin delivery is slow.
You wouldn't think it would matter, but if you bolus (take your insulin) before a shower, you may have to wait a bit until you disconnect. If the delivery was faster (ala animas ping), you'd be ready quicker. Not a huge deal, just a minor preference issue.
4. Tubing options limited.
The tubing is what connects the pump and insulin reservoir to your body. The current options are 23" & 41." I use the 23" as I stay around the abdomen for infusion sites. But I could use a 6 or 9" as the pump and site are often just inches away from one another.
5. Care link log book
Although I sang the praises of care link above, the log book feature is useless. I called and made many suggestions for changes, none of which were incorporated. You need to be able to enter blood sugars and notes outside of the defined times, and you can't now. It's not very intuitive or user friendly, and I bypass it altogether.
6. CGMS
Yes, we're happy together now. But I have to admit, it is somewhat finicky and high-maintenance. The thought of the CGMS can be better than the reality of it at times (the CGMS is generally about 20 minutes behind your actual blood sugar). However, through proper calibration and updating, you can get the numbers to be fairly uniform. The errors and hassle therein can be a drawback, but if you simply insert the sensor and connect the transmitter WITHOUT TURNING IT ON on your pump...and leave it in for at least 2 hours before turning on (doing it before bed works best), then when you turn it on, within 15 minutes or so you calibrate and you're off and running (thanks Kevin for that great tip!)
My biggest frustration is keeping it on. The sensor uses adhesive, but the transmitter does not. I've yet to find adhesive that works well for me, and I prefer none at all (although that's risky and I've learned the hard way that the sensor can become dislodged this way rendering it useless).
7. Low blood sugar symptoms
I am much less sensitive to low b/s symptoms than before the pump, because my average is so much healthier now. I still have them, just not as pronounced. Not really something to complain about, more an observation than anything. This is where the CGMS comes in handy!
One final thought....I've noticed many diabetes suppliers and manufacturers believe we hate testing our blood sugar because it hurts. Further, many pump companies think we despise taking shots. My contention is that we don't like testing when control is difficult as more a psychological issue than a physical (pain) issue. Additionally, I never thought needles were a big deal. I mean, sheesh, they're so small and narrow you can hardly feel them at all. Again, a mind (mental) issue.
For me, being on the pump isn't great because of no shots. Before the pump I thought, "I'd rather take 10 shots/day rather than be hooked up to that pump." What you can never imagine until you experience it is how it will affect your...everything.
I'm a better husband, better father, better son, better friend, better man, better child of God, better employee.....
I'm just plain better -
Because of the pump.
So get better, and get pumpin....
Monday, March 16, 2009
A "prime" candidate
I'm an avid sports fan. Without apology, I follow the Milwaukee Bucks zealously. I'm also a big NFL fan. I particularly enjoy tracking athletes who are diabetic. Knowing the diligence required to manage diabetes, coupled with the dedication needed to compete and excel in sports' most elevated arenas is quite noteworthy and deserving of respect.If you're a sports fan, you know about all the drama surrounding Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. If not, here's the quick backstory...
Jay is a good quarterback who had a fine season last year. Known as being both temperamental & sensitive, he led his team to a fast start, only to see their playoff hopes dashed by losing their last 4 games of the year. The coach retired, and the new coach inquired about trading for a different Q.B. Jay found out, and he's REALLY MAD.
So mad, in fact he now wants to be traded. He refuses to show up at team meetings. He's creating a huge distraction and frustrating everyone around him.
So in some ways, he's the typical diabetic!
But with ALL the DRAMA, I can't help but think the guy's blood sugars must be all over the board! Why else would he be acting this way?
So in my opinion, he just needs the pump! Think of it - stable blood sugars, moods, reduced sensitivity...ahh the joy of the insulin pump!
Come on Jay, get with the program. Join the ranks of us (increasing daily) that say,
"until next time, I'll be pumpin.."
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