Good Morning,
10 servings of carbs per day sounds about right, for a certain age group, and folks whom are extremely active. It would be 2 servings per meal, 1 between each (ie snack), and one to place at will. But less are likely more helpful especially if weight loss is the goal…
Jeff
I know in the past we’ve passed around oddball things that people
will mention to us about misconceptions about what people with
diabetes can eat, and how ones with diabetes should live their lives.
Recently I’ve been drumming up donations for the JDRF walk-a-thon
this fall, and have been going at it pretty aggressively. Some
people ask questions, the usual, “so she can’t eat any sugar, she
must be overweight, blah blah blah.” One woman I gingerly tried to
explain that while I don’t feed my daughter snickers bars and
slushees, I do quite often give her a dixie cup size serving of ice
cream each night before bed. Before I could explain the benefits of
this, I got a look that could have killed. I thought this woman was
going to call child protective services on me.
I had to laugh at how much people don’t know and obviously don’t
understand. I’m sure the rest of you have come up against this in
your experiences.
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.
(more…)
I am a bit late but I am thinking of you and your dad.I hope all turns
out well for him.
Howard
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.
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! 
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!
Hi Mary,
<<Diabetics are encouraged to breastfeed.
Oh honey, sweetums………. 8~9 (sic. look what they said on the list tonight dear)….
Jeff (Entirely self-amused & knowing full-well that his beautiful wife will smack him…)
Hello everyone,
I have been away for the last two weeks and I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to Mary and baby Josef. I am so glad that you both are happy and healthy.
Also to Stephanie and Madelyn, the insulin pump is a very challenging device. I have only been using the pump since June 3, 2005 and I have learned that you have to be very precise, dedicated and aware of blood glucose testing, exercise, carbohydrate counting, glycemic index of various food items (fast or slow release of sugar), insulin to carbohydrate ratios, bolus amounts and basal rates.
You should be testing Madelyn before each meal and two hours after each meal. If her blood glucose is high two hours after a meal, then her insulin to carbohydrate ratio needs to be adjusted for that meal. If her blood glucose is high before a meal, then her basal rates needs to be adjusted. These adjustments should be made by you based on Madelyn’s blood glucose readings. Your pump trainer, doctor, nurse, etc. are there for initial setup, training, support, etc. of the pump, but diabetes is a self managed disease that should be managed by you and Madelyn. You and Madelyn need to take full control of everything she does concerning her diabetes. You might also want to read up on the Glycemic index of different food items.
My pump trainer, doctor, nurse and dietician did the same thing with me as they have done with you and Madelyn. I heard the “it will get better” and “just give it some time” speaches too. By the time my pump trainer said it was time for me to fly solo, I was already making suggestions to her about my basal and bolus rates. She told me to make adjustments as I see fit, just be careful to do them one at a time in small amounts and monitor them closely.
After two months of wearing this pump, I am in complete control of my pump and my diabetes. I have five different basal rates throughout a twenty four hour period and four different carbohydrate ratios for each of my meal boluses. My blood glucose readings are very good and my lows are getting better.
Stephanie, you and Madelyn can do this. Take control and use your best judgement. Count everything that Madelyn ingests and make adjustments accordingly. As Judith would say “Don’t let the buzzard win!!!”
Good luck…
(more…)
Hello Mary,
Congratulations! May you lives together be filled with BEAUTIFUL challenges!
Jen:
Relax dear lady…. (I’ve never been pregnant personally <wg
Anyway, looking forward to hearing their thoughts.
Jeff (hopeful your experience is a great one…)