[Diabetes-talk] question about high numbers and pumps

Sat Feb 16 23:51:54 UTC 2013

I agree with Mike despite being a pump *fanatic,* grin. Like I said,
it's an individual choice, though most newly diagnosed type ones are
placed on pumps ASAP.

Personally, I've never been bothered by wearing my pump except when
wearing dresses but even then it's not been a huge deal. I have never
experienced major annoyance with it to the point of this being a reason
to not use a pump. However, this is again a personal thing. You will
wear it at all times except when doing things like showering or
swimming, though I know some pumps can be in a little bit of water like
a shower.

Mike is absolutely correct in that pump users must be cautious and aware
of their carb/insulin ratios. You and your doctor will determine these
things and what works best for you. And you will most likely adjust both
basal and bolus rates from time-to-time. I'm currently on a 1/20 ratio
for breakfast and lunch and 1/15 for supper. This can change though if
anything in my life changes like activity, eating habits, illness and
phases in the moon, grin.

And I agree with Mike that a fully accessible pump is the preferred way
to go. In ten years, I've never had complications with my pump because
it's not fully accessible, but that being said, if I could access my
pump with complete accessibility and independence, I would just be in
heaven. If I can use my IPhone with complete accessibility, I don't know
why it' so difficult to make a pump in this way. All any company need do
is create a text-to-speech program to read out the menus, and it can be
an option yu turn and off like an IPhone so no *special* pump is
required for a small group of people.

Anyway, I recommend a lot of research and discussion with your endo so
you can best decide what's best for you. Play around with some pumps if
available, but from what I've discovered, the MedTronic and the Animas
Ping seem to be the two currently that will work best for nonvisual
users.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 4:27 PM
To: debbiewunder at centurytel.net; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] question about high numbers and pumps

Hi, Debbie.

You've gotten a lot of good advice from Bridgit, Veronica and other
confirmed pump fanatics. I don't dispute any of it. However, let me give
you a few thoughts from someone who is *not* a pump fanatic and who
doesn't trust machines in this realm -- at least not yet.

First, without knowing a great deal more about what sort of treatment
regimen you are on, it's difficult to say whether you'd benefit from use
of a pump. What medications are you on? What have you tried to bring
those readings down? You say you count carbs. Do you know your
insulin-to-carb ratios at various times of day? Are you on a basic
insulin regimen (two shots a day of mixed regular or short-acting and
intermediate or long-acting
insulin) or are you on an "intensive" or "physiological" management
regimen where you give shots of fast-acting insulin at meals according
to the anticipated carb load plus a once-a-day or twice-a-day basal
insulin dose (something like Lantus or, I think, Epidra). Or are you on
pills only or pills plus lantus? If so, you haven't even tried a
full-fledged manual intensive insulin regimen yet to see if your
readings come down a bit. This is not to say that a pump might not help
but it's no panacea and IMO you may not have enough info to make an
intelligent decision.

Second, the "secret" that's not often mentioned by pump advocates is
that you need to be as conscious -- or *more* conscious -- of your
insulin-to-carb ratios, basal dosages and the like, when on a pump as
you are taking shots, unless you blindly trust the pump.

Third, the pump (either pod or the regular kind with tubing and canula)
is attached to you at all times except for short periods. Can you put up
with this?

Fourth, although there are ways and work-arounds to handle most pumps
these days as a blind person, there's no truly accessible pump yet and
probably won't be for some time. I don't know about you but I don't
trust a machine unless it gives me direct feedback. But that's just me
although I know a person working for Omnipod who says her husband is an
engineer and has my exact attitude. (grin)

Bottom line: we don't really have enough information to comment
intelligently.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Debbie Wunder
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 9:46 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] question about high numbers and pumps

Hello everyone. Do any of you use a pump, and can you share with me the
pros and cons of using one? 
I recently did a four day glucose monitor test where they inject the
gadget in your stomach. I will get the results later today. My nurse
educator keeps bringing up using a pump, I am not sure this is for me. I
have numbers between the 200 and 300's, I drink water, count carbs, and
walk for exercise. I am at a loss, any thoughts on this would be greatly
appreciated.

Debbie

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