[Diabetes-talk] question about high numbers and pumps

Sun Feb 17 20:39:14 UTC 2013

Bridgit:

I hear you. But I have the same freedom that you do. The point is to be on
top of that-there diabetes!

As for strips and such, insurance companies have somehow gotten this wacky
idea that everyone will sell their extra strips. I don't know what diabetics
they're dealing with but none that I know would be that foolish.

But then society these days tends to view everyone as an air-head until
proven otherwise.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 11:25 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] question about high numbers and pumps

I agree about the freedom. And this is just my personal opinion. But I
like that I can pretty much live like my non-diabetic acquaintances
because if I don't eat at the same time each day, I just adjust basals
and boluses accordingly. If I work-out at different times day-to-day,
that's okay. I can essentially eat anything as long as I bolus
correctly, though I don't recommend this, grin. I no longer require a
strict amount of carbs per meal to match whatever insulin ratio I'm on
because, as Veronica says, I just dial up insulin based on whatever I
eat at any given meal. This is similar to how the pancreas works.

Now, I'm not saying a pump means you can say to hell with any regimin
and do whatever you like. You still need to test often and work with an
endo to adjust insulin patterns, and following a proper, healthy diet
will only increase your management, but yeah, for me, the pump has
allowed for some freedom I previously hadn't experienced.

And during my pregnancy, if it hadn't been for my pump, my diabetes
would have been all over the place. I know diabetics have been having
babies successfully without pumps for years, but for me, the pump was
crucial to my success. I actually maintained a six point A1-C during my
pregnancy, which is better than my normal seven point, smile.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Veronica Elsea
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 11:53 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] question about high numbers and pumps

Debbie, there's no harm as Bridgit has said in playing around with some
pumps to see what they're like. If you aren't yet on the intensive
insulin therapy as Mike described it, that's a good way to start because
you'll get familiar with the terms and all of that. But for me, once I
had my pump set, yes, I pay attention to all those things everyone's
mentioned, but it doesn't really run my life. And Mike, Apidra is a
fast-acting insulin. And boy did I find out the hard way not to put that
stuff in a pump. Wow! It gells up after two days and I actually burned
out my pump's motore because it had clogged out the tubing so badly. So,
back to Humalog even though there was a lot to like about the Apidra. It
worked fast and I wasn't allergic to it. For me personally, the best
thing about the pump is the flexibility it gives me. Yesterday I was out
walking and just ran into someone who said, hey let's get some coffee.
Since I was wearing my pump, I could say okay and then just push buttons
to bolus for what I had to eat. For me, the challenge of managing tubing
and features that quite as accessible as I'd like was no match for the
discomfort of figuring out where to go to inject insulin in public and
carrying all the stuff around me. And I imagine some of you are probably
laughing right about now. I am too, by the way. But that's me. It's just
like some of us use canes and some of us work with dogs. And each of us
vows to stick with our chosen methods. Choices are good. 
But the Omnipod will supposedly have new smaller pods starting in March.
But since nobody has beeps any more, I probably will take another look
at it, just because. What drove me nuts four years ago was the number of
alarms. Not only that, you do kind of have to know what those alarms
say. But I even figured out where in that remote the speech chip could
be housed. It would be oh so easy to do. Sheesh! 
But feel free to explore, making the decision based on what you need,
not just on what someone else says you can or can't do. And all
questions are welcome. But everyone's been giving you great advice here.
Yay team!

Veronica

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Phone: 831-429-6407

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 3:52 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] question about high numbers and pumps

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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