[Diabetes-talk] Can Anyone Help?

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Sascha,

Welcome. What's your current treatment and regimen? It can take time to
fine-tune basal rates on a pump that fit as best to you as possible. An
endo will work with you and determine these rates, but until you
actually start using a pump, it can be difficult to know exactly. I
spent two days in hospital once I started so if anything happened, I was
near help. I tend to have lows, though I feel symptoms typically in time
to catch, but nonetheless, getting low sucks. From time-to-time, my
basal rates need to be adjusted especially depending on activity level,
if I'm PMS-ing, change in meal times or anything else, but this will
usually show up in your glucose readings.

Having said all that, since being on the pump, I've experienced more
balance in my glucose readings, and my A1-C has been stable.

How often do you currently test blood sugars, because the more
frequently you test, the easier it can be to catch any extreme. I test
around 8 times a day, more if I'm more active. This also helps the
doctor to determine patterns, which helps in establishing basal rates.

The basal rates are the doses of insulin delivered every hour. Most
pumps can be set up to deliver different amounts every half-hour if
necessary. So for example, between midnight and 5 am, I receive 0.7
units per hour, from 5 to 8 am, it's 0.5, from 8 to 2 pm, it's 0.6, from
2 to 5 pm, it's 0.65 and from 5 to midnight, it's 0.8 units. Then when
eating carbs, I count carbs and deliver 1 unit per 20 grams of carbs in
the morning, and 1 unit per 15 grams the rest of the day. Both rates may
change if I'm really active, like when I exercise, I either turn on a
temp. basal that runs at 50% less than the normal rates for two hours,
or I unhook it completely. When PMS-ing, I often have to run a temp.
basal at 150% for a few days. My body also tends to change it's rhythms
every three months or so, so each quarter I tend to adjust rates
accordingly.

Something that hasn't been mentioned is how the pump hooks up. I'm not
sure about newer versions, but a little item called an infusion set is
placed somewhere on your body. It can be your tummy, legs, arms, thighs.
I only use my tummy. It looks like a little tabby thing with a small
needle. You put it in then remove the needle. A small canule is inside
you now, which is what allows the insulin to enter your body. Tubing
attaches to the pump and the set. You change the set every three to four
days.

It sounds complicated, but it's actually not difficult once you learn.
And your medical team will spend time teaching you the pump, how to
change the set, carb counting and any other training necessary before
they unleash you into the world using a pump, grin.

No pump is currently accessible in terms of a talking feature. Some
pumps have an audio feature which is a beep or chime that sounds
whenever a button is pushed. This is what allows a visually impaired
person to use the pump. It also means most of the pump you won't be able
to use because the menu is too complicated to navigate with beeps alone,
or because the audio feature doesn't sound for every function.

I have a Cosmo, which is no longer available. Every function has the
audio feature, but I don't believe any current pumps have the audio for
every function. The pumps I've looked at are useable enough even without
that audio feature, but I would say 95% or less of the pump is useable
by a blind user.

I'm one but many here, but I've still managed to successfully use a pump
for ten years, and I've yet to have the device malfunction on me
resulting in out of wack blood sugars, nor have I goofed something up to
the point I was screwed.

The only sighted help I use is when adjusting basal rates, certain
features like changing the time and to fill cartridges. Some on the list
fill their own cartridges, but I prefer someone with sight to do it,
though I've filled one in a pinch. Otherwise, I operate the pump on my
own, which is good since the only people I live with are my hubby, who
is also blind, and my son, who is ten-months-old, grin.

BTW, what part of Northern Ireland do you live in? I'm part Irish and
obsessed with Ireland. My hubby and mine's dream holiday is Ireland. And
I have a minor in history from university and my emphasis was in Irish
history and literature. We also named our son Declan. I know there's a
difference between Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland, but I'm
fascinated with it all.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of P
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 6:33 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Can Anyone Help?


Hi Everyone! I am a new List Member and am delighted to have found You
All. I am resident in Northern Ireland so hope I am permitted to join
and take part in discussions? I found this List while searching for info
on an Accessible Talking Insulin Pump. I am a Visually Impaired Type 1
Diabetic who is prone to frequent Hypos without warning and am looking
for ways to manage and treat my Diabetes. Sascha

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