Type 1 diabetes

Hello Ladies… Gentlemen,

As before, I am most grateful for all your time and many excellent thoughts, views, perspectives concerning the pump, whether yours or just hypothetically. It is a deep question, and a “lite” question as well depending on ones mood, perspectives…

I respect the benefits that the basal dosages, whether a single rate all day long, or multiple rates, some slightly different, others more radically different during different times of day. I concede a suspicion that tiny doses released slowly, studied over the “long term” will perhaps guarantee less complications perhaps, but am skeptical until its proven definitively.

The DCCT was painfully clear. Tighter control holds very real & dangerous risks. My point as always, we all need to be damned careful we don’t push too hard for a number becoming too low!!! If we over-manage the sugar (ie keep too low), some obscenely high number of participants in that study REQUIRED external assistance because of that… and had not been the case previously? It happened to enough folks who went from the onesy-twosy shot-routine group to the multiple shots per day (IDDM) group that it got written prominently into the findings.

Lisa as for ~separation~ from the pump causing severe DKA, that was unfortunately my experience without a single exception. It was spooky and very, very annoying. I’d separate or turn off whatever the case for an hour, hour and a half and WHAM, HIGH, HIGH, HIGH. I’d never had that happen in 27 years save when deathly ill. On the pump it was a disgustingly regular event. Came to a point I never wanted to be separated, and that was a bad mental space for me.
As for not being “good” I don’t know what that means. We all do our best, and try and cope with something that will rend our souls and shred us into tiny little pieces if we permit it. Some stop trying, some try too hard, others get by and do well, others…. by little monologue aside for a moment I have a very simple question for you….

What does Alcohol taste like?
(Jeff looking genuinely interested, puzzled, frustrated by his inexperience’s…) There are an extraordinary number of things I did not do, and have never tried.

I can only give my own experience with the pump. I am not, and never have been, very good at following directions I don’t like. That also works in the pump. So, if I can get decent control with the pump, the darn thing must be an asset. At least in my case.
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Anyone have experience/knowledge with/on Xylitol? Judith

This is interesting. After Reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.
But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
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I am a bit late but I am thinking of you and your dad.I hope all turns
out well for him.
Howard

I wasn’t sure if I could manage this. My niece sent me this and I
thought I would share it, even though it doesn’t do with diabetes. I
also hope you people from other countries get the message.
Lori
This Should Help Explain It All…
A lot of folks can’t understand
how we came to have
an oil shortage here in our country.
~~~
Well, there’s a very simple answer.
~~~
Nobody bothered to check the oil.
~~~
We just didn’t know we were getting low.
~~~
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Good Morning,

I am most grateful for the thoughts and time so many have spent concerning this discussion/debate as to pumps their positives and drawbacks alike! Thank you, lets keep this going more please, more, more, more

Jen.
Thank you for your thoughts.

<<I do love the control that i get from the pump. I had ok control with injections. I also am a huge fan of the freedom i get with the pump.

“Control” in the sense your A1C keeps dropping, correct? 5.2 is amazing…. would scare the pants off me, but I do appreciate the number wistfully. Ok, now for the questions… anyone else feel FREE to jump in here and give input…. please.

Were you checking THAT frequently while using injections, or only after you got slammed around HARD because to whatever degree we are able to prevent lows, you missed the last bunch and they rightfully so scared the hell out of you [I’m not asking to somehow ~stand in judgment~, merely following a developing hypothesis here.] ? Am I on the ~right track~ accounting for your rigorous testing regimen, more or less?

I do NOT (:::z “get” this ~freedom~ idea one iota. I’m attached to an external device which though pager, sized I am ATTACHED 24-7 period.

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Good Morning Folks,

I was away for many days, and am sorry I missed so much interesting discussion, new members, and assorted challenges! I read quickly (with fascination) last nights thread re: pumps. I would like to have an open debate on this topic, if I may?

What’s favorable and then also negative about using one of the many assorted pumps available??? There are many whom are curious about them, and might benefit from the discussions…. There are many…<searching for the right word

Earnestly,
Jeff

Hi all,
I am writing you all in hope that you guys can say a BIG prayer for my
Dad. He just had bypass surgery this past Thursday and he did make it
through okay. He looked great to me yesterday despite the fact that he
was still on a oxygen mask. Unfortunately, I got a call this morning
at 4AM that he had been put back on the ventilator because his
numbers/vital signs were out of whack. Also, he showed signs that his
kidneys were struggling. I love my Dad so much and I would appreciate
any good thoughts you could send his way. I know I haven’t met anyone
in person from this group but I feel like this group is like a family.
Anything you could do would be appreciated.
Evelyn

Hi All!
My name is Tiffany. I have been a Type 1 Diabetic for the past 14 years, am complication-free, and have used the MM Paradigm pump for the past two years. I’m in my mid-20’s and hail from the great white northern region of Canada. I have a degree in Healthcare, a three-month-old Border Collie, I drive a very small car, and I sucked my thumb when I was little.

(And now that you know more than you ever wanted to about me…)

I stumbled onto this mailing list/site while surfing at work one day, and you guys seem like a pretty good group, so I decided to join the ranks. Et Voila, here I am, bad intro and all…I love talking with other Diabetics and look forward to getting to know you all!

Tiffany

–
www.candiddiabetes.com
Pumping with Attitude!

* The Problem with Insulin *

Losing weight is usually not easy but it may NOT be as hard as you think.
Most experts miss the point completely. When youre considering which
modern foods to avoid, its not about fat or sweetness Its more about a
foods starchiness. Its starches that have the highest scores on the
glycemic index.
The glycemic index measures how the carbohydrates in certain foods increase
your blood sugar. Foods with a high GI will spike your blood sugar. Foods
with a low GI have carbohydrates that break down slowly, releasing a more
manageable trickle of glucose into your bloodstream.(1)
Why is this important?
When your blood sugar rises, it triggers a release of insulin. Insulin is
not just the hormone problem in diabetes. Its role in normal metabolism is
to take care of blood sugar and build body fat. All other things being equal
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