I've finally hit the bottle! (Insulin Pump Therapy)

[Z-man]

Well, after months of delays, as of 7am today, I am on an insulin pump! It's a Minimed Paradigm 700. My One-Touch Ultra Link wirelessly communicates with this device, and will allow me to upload all my information to the computer. More importantly, this pump will help me manage my diabetes and get my A1-C where it needs to be.

This after 27 years of getting insulin into my body the 'old fashioned' way - as in 4 shots a day. Now, I just need to replace my infusion set every three days.

I was diagnosed as a diabetic back in 1981. Things were quite different back then - the first couple of years, blood test machines weren't even widely used - you would pee on a stick it get some vague idea of where your sugars are. In about a month (giving me some time to get used to my new pump), I'll have a inter-tissue glucose sensor that will communicate with my pump and measure my sugar levels every 5 minutes! This will greatly help those times when my sugar takes a nose-dive, or when I start climbing fast.

Some of you here encouraged me to go forward with getting the pump -- I greatly appreciate your comments and helping me find the courage to take the plunge! My initial fears have been replaced with a desire to get under control, and a hope for the future. Thank you.

-Z-man.

[dhoward]

Pics?

[Moses]

When you link a continuous blood glucose monitor with an insulin pump you have a basic "artificial pancreas". You should expect tighter control than you've ever had. Keep us updated on your A1c's and your general impressions of the system.

[Joeaksa]

Good luck and hope it makes life a lot easier!

[Rot 911]

I would think it has to really free up your life. Anything has to be better than giving yourself shots.

[Don Plumley]

That's great. My mom was an injection diabetic (Whenever she would visit I would have to do the injections) so I'm delighted to see this sort of technology become more mainstream.

Can't wait to hear your long-term impressions.

Don

[azasadny]

Z-man,
Take good care of yourself!!

[pwd72s]

I too wish you well. My cousin was a diabetic...he died a decade or so ago, not the diabetes, a freak car accident. Anyway, he loved it when my mom, an RN, was around to give him injections. Back then, the syringes were glass, and the needles looked as big as drywall screws.

This pump sounds like an answer to prayers. Z man, I hope it works well...

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by Z-man

In about a month (giving me some time to get used to my new pump), I'll have a inter-tissue glucose sensor that will communicate with my pump and measure my sugar levels every 5 minutes!

This just about made my jaw fall out of my head. I had no idea med tech had gone this far. Amazing.



Best of luck with your new "program", Z. Imagine it'll be nice to not have to think about it anymore!

[Joeaksa]

Anyway you can mix a bit of Vodka with that puppy?

[DUK]

My wife has had hers for a little over a year and I must say it's the best damn thing ever. She just switched her "plan" to one that uses carbohydrate amounts compared to the "sugars". I'm not exactly up on it yet, but I can say her sugars are even better now. If you want z-man I can get the info for you. But I'm sure your dietician has you doing something of this sort.

Good Luck with it and remember to move the infusion set around. My wife did have one time when it got infected and it wasn't pretty. Had to do with the heprin they were using and her putting the new infusion to close to the old one.

[Paul_Heery]

I've been on a pump for twelve years. I upgraded my old pump to a Paradigm a few months back. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Duke Zink

My wife has had hers for a little over a year and I must say it's the best damn thing ever. She just switched her "plan" to one that uses carbohydrate amounts compared to the "sugars". I'm not exactly up on it yet, but I can say her sugars are even better now. If you want z-man I can get the info for you. But I'm sure your dietician has you doing something of this sort.

Yep - I am using the carb wizard in the pump. Basically, I input my blood sugar level, the amount of carbs I am planning on eating, and based on my settings (carb to insulin ratio, glycemic index, and insulin sensitivity) it calculates the amount of bolus insulin needed. For day one, I have used significantly less insulin (like 10 units less), and my sugars are significantly lower. Here's my numbers for today:



That's an average blood sugar level of: 120. (If you remove the 299 high, the average is 98.) And I've consumed over 300 carbs today. That is way too many carbs, especially since I desire to lose some weight.

I emailed the doc around 10:30pm, and he resonded that I should decrease my basal rate to 1.55, except for 5am to 7am, where it will be 1.85.

But my overall impression so far -- excellent. I do feel freedom and knowing that my sugars will be far easier to manage - that is just an awesome feeling...

That said, I am a little concerned about bottoming out tonight...
-Z-man.

[Z-man]

It's just after midnight, and I'm down to 66... yikes! This stuff is realllll gooood....

-Z-man.

Note to self: don't post when sugar's low...

[Pazuzu]

Congrats on finding a tool to help you. I can't imagine having my body..."rebel"...against me on that level. You must be strong to fight this long fight

[Z-man]

Well, last night wasn't the best night - I simply couldn't keep my sugars high enough...

Had to eat 150 grms of carbs through the night, and even then, at 4:30, I bottomed out at 64.

The doctor is lowering my basal at night - hopefully this will help, and I can get some sleep tonight...

-Z

[dhoward]

Well, you just can't plug a megasquirt in and go racing either...

I'm sure you'll get it dialed in.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Well, last night wasn't the best night - I simply couldn't keep my sugars high enough...

Had to eat 150 grms of carbs through the night, and even then, at 4:30, I bottomed out at 64.

The doctor is lowering my basal at night - hopefully this will help, and I can get some sleep tonight...

-Z

Steve Wong chip.

Hope you're felling better ASAP, Z-man.

[Ronbo]

Please keep us updated with how well the pump and monitoring is working. I imagine I'll be there one day. At the moment I'm successful with 4 250mg Glucovance and 1 100mg Januvia per day. Do you find the pump comfortable to wear?

[Paul_Heery]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

Do you find the pump comfortable to wear?

I found this pic of Z to help answer this question.



This is actually a picture of a 522. This is the one I have. Z has a 722. The 722 is 0.6 inch longer than the 522 since it has a larger reservoir to hold more insulin.

During the day, I wear mine on my belt like a pager. You get so used to it that you only notice it when it is not there. Pumps are small, lightweight and really don't get in the way. At night, I wear lightweight shorts with a pocket down on the side that holds the pump (like cargo pants). You really can't wear it on you waist while sleeping.

For those interested in what's going on in this picture...

The MiniMed Paradigm 522 or 722 insulin pump (A) is small so you can wear it almost anywhere – under your clothing in a leg pouch, thigh pouch, bra pouch or on your belt like a mobile phone.

It delivers insulin through a soft tube called a cannula (B) that sits under your skin for up to 3 days after being inserted in a single virtually painless step. You can disconnect from the insulin pump easily and quickly for activities such as bathing, swimming or changing clothes.

Continuous glucose monitoring is made possible through a tiny glucose sensor (C) you wear for up to 3 days at a time. Like the cannula, it is easily inserted using an automatic insertion device provided with the system.

Glucose sensor data is sent continuously to a MiniLink™ REAL-Time Transmitter (D) , a small lightweight device that attaches to the glucose sensor. The transmitter sends the glucose data to the insulin pump through advanced radio frequency (RF) wireless technology. (The glucose sensor, transmitter, and adhesive patch are all waterproof.)

Z, hang in there. Things will get better. When I first got my pump, I was on the phone with my CDE every two hours, day and night. She would just call me to check in, tell me to take a reading and provide encouragement. This went on for two days. On the third day, she told me that she was going to let me sleep that night. I woke up every two hours all by myself just to test and make sure. On the forth night, I finally slept through the night. That was a great sleep.

It will take a while to get used to the settings and your doctor or CDE will be making minor tweeks for years to come. But, you will eventually become adept at working, tweeking and living with your pump as well.