insulin pumps
We’re looking into the Disetronic. I guess it’s the only one that gives you 2 pumps at once! So you have a back up!
I used to have a minimed pump and have switched to the disetronic and I love it. The disetronic also has a warning when you only have 20 units left. That has come in real handy for me. It is also somewhat waterproof. I think it is also easier to contact their support line.
Diane
September 19th, 2003 at 2:58 am
Brittany’s Paradigm starts alarming when it gets under 30 units. The only thing that I think is a pain in the butt with hers is when you have to change the battery. 9 times out of 10 you have to completely reprogram the whole thing. Now that we’ve done it so often it’s not that bad anymore, but we were at my dad’s in November and the battery went out, I didn’t have her basal rates with me. I had to call her nurse at home, which of course she didn’t have them either, but she helped me guess until I got them from the school nurse. Sheesh! I was glad that I had given her a copy in case the battery ever went out at school.
Jessica
We’re looking into the Disetronic. I guess it’s the only one that gives you 2 pumps at once! So you have a back up!
I used to have a minimed pump and have switched to the disetronic and I love it. The disetronic also has a warning when you only have 20 units left. That has come in real handy for me. It is also somewhat waterproof. I think it is also easier to contact their support line.
Diane
September 21st, 2003 at 9:26 am
Brittany has the 511. She got her’s in August, when we were talking to the insurance company about getting it, they didn’t say anything about the 508, they said that they were just doing the 511 at the time. Whatever that means.
Jessica
Which pump dose she have? I have the 508 and love it have not had to call Tech Support since I got in December.
September 22nd, 2003 at 3:36 am
<<MM 511???? Is that the Paradigm by another name?
kat
Yes, it’s a Paradigm, just a 511 instead of 508. I’m not sure what the differences are.
Jessica
October 31st, 2004 at 4:59 am
Insulin pumps do have their pros and cons. However if you take the
time to learn about them and how they work you would not be so
judgemental towards the machine. After all it is just a machine.
What is that saying? “You have to be smarter than the machine!” The
insulin pump injects insulin into your body 24 hours a day. The
insulin amounts are based on what you and your doctor see
from “tweeking” the pump based on blood sugars. So the pump does
not replace the injections. I never took 24 injections a day. But
the pump delivers my insulin to me 24 hours a day. The wizard
calulates the insulin needed for carbs. Here is a step by step
process of a carb bolus: check blood sugar, blood machine tells
insulin pump what the blood sugar is, you tell the insulin pump how
many carbs you are going to eat, the pump tells you how much insulin
to take based on your blood sugar reading and carb intake, then you
ok the pump to deliver the insulin to you. You change the insulin
pump every 3 days. I was on 4 injections a day so this is better
for me as well as many other diabetics. When you go to bed at night
you have the option of clipping the pump to you or letting it lay on
the bed. I have found that clipping it to me is best. I feel as
though some of you may be “afraid” of technology or of change. I
did not want to change the way I had been used to doing things for
the past 22 years but it has made a hugh difference in the quality
of my life. I am 30 years old and my husband and I are planning to
have our first child. After 22 years of this disease the pump has
made my life easier. My A1c was at 7.7 with injections and now it
is a 6.2. I think before you all get on here making fun of the
pump, a machine, you should look at the big picture. Yourself.
Jennifer
October 31st, 2004 at 9:11 pm
Kate,
Thanks!! BTW-I’m Stacy. I hope you’re feeling better. I would email you some of my home made chicken soup, but the bowl won’t fit in the floppy drive!! (LOL) Hope you’re OK, though!
Stacy(warbirdfan72)
KATE GREENE <girlanimal2000@…
Oops! I am not wanting to upset anyone, but I am hoping this is a group that can tolerate all conversational expressions, that of course, does not go beyond conventional boundaries. When I opened a diabetes Type 1 rap group in Houston, TX supported by the ADA. It became a monthly meeting we could (from all walks of life) come to and really talk about how we felt and our struggles with diabetes. We didn’t have to lie about our “high blood sugars” our less than perfect struggles with control, etc. Not knowing any diabetics other than ourselves, we could ask each other, how it felt for you when you had a low blood sugar, what tips about foods, employment, relationship issues. We shared real life experiences with each other. It was for diabetics only, not spouses or others that might good-intentionally shame or embarress us because we were unable to live up to their expections. We became a close knit core group and the group survived for approx. 10 years. We voted on
representatives, speakers to visit our group due to interest issues. There were many different personalities in this group and we came to love each one and welcomed each expression as belonging to that particular person, whether their input was needed or not. You see, we became survivors together. I still miss that group, but realize it came together out of a particular need in a window of time that does not exist today. It made me a better person and diabetic. To have a personality slip into this group and trip some of the seriousness out of ourselves, even for a moment, I think is a good thing….sometimes we get on a non-serious roll and even get a little entertaining. No one is out to intentionally disrupt the group. I, myself, volunteered a little humor into the negatives of the pump as expressed to me through pumpers who experience inconveniences as well as the good things about it.
If we, as a group, cannot tolerate anything but “this is the way we should do this or buy that” then I feel we all lose. I, myself, welcome Judith’s zaniness, warbird’s(?) coments due to personality expressions, we can still laugh at ourselves. No one intends to deter or change anyone’s program. So before anyone decides to get out of shape or on the defensive, think about tolerance or you may lose some of the older experienced diabetics or light humor you may covet. I find laughter about ourselves theraputic and relieves the martydom, that is easy to slip into. Enuff…for now. I’m at home, sick today, but I am still chuckling at Judith’s comments. Thanks, Judith!
September 19th, 2005 at 3:24 pm
Jennifer,
I am becoming more and more convinced of going on the pump. Since my eyes are going bad, not from diabetes, but from the normal, albeit frustrating, progression of age, I can’t see to hit any buttons on any machine. I was not aware the monitor could send info to the pump and then the pump does its thing.
By the way, Jennifer, I go to NKU across the river from Cincinnati. You will beat me to the finish line though. I sit for boards in May or June. The light is a pinpoint, but there is a light just the same. Congratulations for your light becoming brighter!
Joan
September 20th, 2005 at 6:59 am
My daughter gets her pump Feb 16th, it is purple and she is sooooo excited!
Hugs, Rhonda
September 22nd, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Medtronic MiniMed: Diabetes management products & support. Insulin pumps, gluc
There are 2 other companies that I know of, but this is the company we are going with…
I was told that in the next 18 months pumps will be able to test blood sugars as well, no more finger sticks!
Rhonda
September 24th, 2005 at 1:47 am
and they come in smoke, clear, blue or purple.
Guess which color the 7 year old is picking?
LOL,
Rhonda
September 24th, 2005 at 7:57 pm
hello!
and the pump lady,that is not her official name, said her son is just getting his license and wouldn’t it be great to just look at your pump and know if you were low or ok?
Rhonda
December 24th, 2005 at 11:37 pm
back in april in fact it was my daughters birthday, my husband found
me unresponsive. my sugar was 29 and he gave me a shot of
glucogon,but it got my sugar up but i was still unresponsive so he
called the rescue squad and i was taken to the hospital. i was in a
coma for 12 days. they had me life flighted to agh i was there for a
month, then they sent me to health south for rehab. i could not
write add, or subtract. i did not go home until may 13th. i had a
long hall ahead. i was not able to stay by my self, it was terrible
because i was always very independent. i still cannot work or
drive. i am going to my endo appt on friday and i am thinking about
going back on the pump again. so i would like any respones to my
dission, my family doesn’t want me to go back on it. before my life
was easier to manage.
December 26th, 2005 at 3:27 am
I think yo should do what you feel is best for you and your health.
{{{Hugs}}}
Rhonda
December 27th, 2005 at 6:05 am
any more input on the subject?
January 1st, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Its been awhile since I posted. Been very busy with Trevor and his
diabetes. Hes been sick alot lately. We had our very first experiance
with ketones Tuesday morning. I was scared too death. He was
complaining his neck hurt and couldnt move it when I woke up. So I
though well hes been congested, Ill just check him for ketones to be
safe. Well as soon as we tested the strip turned a very dark purple
that didnt even register on the bottle comparison. So I called his ped
here in town, they got him right in that morning. Turned out his
lymphnodes got infected. Anyway I am looking for a good Endo here in
Oregon or Washington for Trevor that is in favor of use of insulin
pumps with kids. His current endo said he doesnt believe in putting 6
yrs olds on pumps. He said he has to wait till he is 10 or 11. Well Im
not willing to wait that long. Trevor has been begging me for a
insulin pump so he doesnt have to take 3 injections a day anymore. I
see it as a better way to manage his blood sugars. Any help would be
great.
January 2nd, 2007 at 10:06 am
How far away is your nearest Children’s Hospital?
Geez, they are putting 2 year olds on pumps, and he wants to wait until 10? You are right, keep looking until you find one that does younger kids. I wouldn’t even waste the time with a visit. Make a call and ask what age do they put kids on pumps…if they give you the run around call someone else until you get the answer you are looking for.
Thanks for caring and sharing,
Rhonda
Mom to Sydney, 8
type 1 since April 7, 2003
pump start march 2, 2005