Obligatory Introduction
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
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www.candiddiabetes.com
Pumping with Attitude!
June 10th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Welcome, Tiffany!
It is nice to ‘meet’ you. Your intro was awesome, I thought. : ) If only guys had introduced themselves that way when I was younger, it would have saved a BUNCH of time shopping.
It is off to study for what is, I hope, the last test I have to take for a while…. entering the healthcare profession here, too.
If you would like to send some of your cooler air towards Northern Kentucky, it would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Joan
June 12th, 2007 at 5:51 am
Welcome, Tiffany
I’m in the US, so forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is a degree in Healthcare? Is it a nursing degree, or something else?
I’m also on a MM Paradigm pump, the 715 (but I wish I had the smaller 515 instead). I’ve just been pumping for 3 months and so far have had no problems with the pump or with Minimed.
I checked out the web site in your sig and read a few things and really enjoyed them. Most of the diabetes related blogs I’ve checked out are full or depression and drama, and your’s was a welcome change. I plan on going back and reading more when I have time.
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Liz
July 19th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Thanks to all for the warm welcomes!
Sorry for the delayed response. This list is very busy; I am unable to keep up and you’ll have to forgive me for any sporadic messages in the future lol.
To Liz:
I generalized when I said I have a degree in healthcare. Specifically, I have a Unit Clerk degree; it’s a newly degree’d course (I was in the second year class in college) so it’s a little hard to explain lol. Basically, I have most of the book learning of an RN, some of the technical skills, but no BScN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing). The degree that I took in college is a stepping stone, and if I decide to go for my BScN (which I’d like to do, but first I have to get rid of my current student loan!! Eek!) I would be able to take an accelerated course of two years instead of four. I don’t know if you have LPN’s (Licenced Practical Nurses) in the US, but if you do, then you can imagine that I’m the degree in between an LPN and an RN.
Thanks for your kind comments about my blog
I always forget about the website in my signature; if it’s not allowed, someone please let me know and I’ll remember to take it out! I, too, have noticed that a fair amount of the D-blogs in circulation are pretty darn depressing; I read very few of them myself. I’m more of a sunshine and rainbows type lol, and to be honest my Diabetes really doesn’t depress or stress me (although I can be one hell of a drama queen when I want to lol lol).
Mary:
You are three for three! (for three?!?) Now you just need to have another kid
Congrats on your baby boy!! What are you going to take when you go back to school?
I look forward to getting to know all of you!
Tiffany
July 31st, 2007 at 10:15 am
Kate,
I have to agree with Tiffany, and I think I posted a message with some of
the same points re: the OmniPod. I *like* my tubing and don’t mind having
it. I also have a MiniMed pump, but it was sort of thrust upon me; I
didn’t choose it. When the NP/CDE suggested it, she’s the one who
contacted MiniMed and gave them my info. That’s the company she deals
with, maybe they have some kind of deal, but I didn’t question it. I knew
nothing about pumps but I had heard of MiniMed before, so that was
acceptable to me.
Only after I knew I was getting the pump (which was literally the week
after she first suggested it - I actually had the pump in my possession) I
started looking for information. I had never heard of Cozmo or Animas
before. I only knew MM and Disentronic, which doesn’t even make pumps for
the USA right now. Some of the features on the Animas and Cozmo pumps were
very appealing and I wish I had told the NP/CDE that I’d rather think about
it first so I could do my own research. However, I am very happy with my
MiniMed. It has some features that the other two companies don’t so
everything evens out. None of them are bad choices and they all do
basically the same thing so any choice you make will be a good one. Even
the OmniPod might be a great choice, but I wouldn’t want to be one of the
first to try it.
ALL of the companies are looking to sell their pumps and their
supplies. None of them are in business because they care deeply about
diabetics. They want to make a profit. All of the supplies cost about the
same amount. The nice things about pumps other than MiniMed’s Paradigm
series is that you can use any luer lock set, so you can shop around more
for supplies and maybe get a better deal. The fact that MiniMed’s Paradigm
sets have a proprietary connection annoyed me at first, but since there are
different sets available I still have a choice. With the OmniPod, it’s a
one-size-fits-all approach, and I think that will work against them.
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Liz
August 1st, 2007 at 10:34 pm
The attached meter on the Cozmo is appealing, but I’ve heard it’s bulkier
than other pumps. I’ve never seen one in person so I don’t know how much
bigger (thicker) it is. I know the meter itself is pretty thin, and it can
detach.
The cost & co-pays vary with every insurance company and every plan within
each insurance company. Some of them will list it under diabetes supplies
and some under durable medical equipment. You would have to check with
your insurance. I’m not sure what mine considers it to be, but they paid
for my pump and all supplies 100%. When the CDE first mentioned it, she
said she thought my insurance had an $800 co-pay for the pump. When
MiniMed contacted me, the person I spoke to said that my insurance was one
of the best to deal with and they cover it 100%. I checked my EOBs online
recently (Explanation Of Benefits) and saw exactly what MiniMed was billing
the insurance, how much the insurance was paying them and what part was my
responsibility. The amount insurance paid MM was less than their “retail”
prices but I DO NOT get billed for the difference. The EOB states that my
insurance pays MM a set price they have contracted for and I have zero
responsibility, not even a co-pay.
On the first EOB for the actual pump and the first 3 months worth of
supplies, MiniMed charged $6,195 for the pump (+ BD meter, software, cable,
insertion device). My insurance paid them $4,719.75. 4 boxes of infusion
sets were billed at $440, and my insurance paid $353.60. 4 boxes of
reservoirs were $124, but insurance paid $99.60. They even paid for the
I.V. Prep wipes, which most insurance doesn’t cover.
Now, I have heard some horror stories about MiniMed charging people for
supplies a year or two after the fact, which is why I’m keeping copies of
all the EOBs. They state that I am not responsible for anything, so if
MiniMed tries to bill me I can fight the charges. SOme people DO have a
co-payment and even then MM might take a year or more to finally send them
a bill.
–
Liz
August 6th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Son of a gun, I never thought about that.
I ride a lot too, and though I’ve never had any issues with carrying
meters/supplies, you’ve hit on a really good idea there, Mary.
Having an all-in-one unit would definitely be a plus!!
Tiffany