[Diabetes-talk] Can Anyone Help?

Tue Jun 25 06:09:08 UTC 2013

It's pronounced: Deklin.

I wanted to spell it D E C H L A N, which is an Irish spelling, but my
husband thought that may be confusing for people.

It's Irish, meaning the good one. There was a St. Declan in Ireland who
was like the next St. Patrick. His church still is in Ireland; I think
Southern Ireland but may be wrong. My hubby has all the details, smile.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Danielle Antoine
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:35 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Can Anyone Help?

Bridget,
How is your son's name pronounced?

On 6/24/13, Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com> wrote:
> One of the things I keep asking the two companies who make continuous 
> glucose monitors is to at least make the alarms different for high and

> low. There's no reason why beeps can't use ascending or descending 
> tones, and even have a fast or slow rate of beeps so we'd at least 
> know, going low, fast. It still wouldn't be as good as being able to 
> read the number but it would at least be the real life-saving part of 
> the device. And they wouldn't have to add anything extra to the 
> devices to make this happen. But alas, nobody's hired me as a 
> consultant yet. <laughing!> Veronica
>
> Watch the video as The Guide Dog Glee Club sings "Rehab!" Yes! Yes! 
> Yes! http://youtu.be/JvakJ5lk6Us Then find more music from Veronica 
> Elsea and The Guide Dog Glee Club at: http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>                 Veronica Elsea, Owner
> Laurel Creek Music Designs
> Santa Cruz, California
> Phone: 831-429-6407
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 2:51 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Can Anyone Help?
>
> With the pump, I am always having the Doctor or my husband adjust the 
> basal rate on my minimed from Medtronics, since I am losing weight, my

> blood sugars drop to around 60-50s so we keep adjusting them, as well 
> as, possibly, suspend the pump for a few hours here and there when I 
> can. But I have learned to go by beep methods, there are no talking 
> pumps yet, but they do have peeps you can learn to do.
>
> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in 
> Independent Travel! Cheryl Echevarria,
>
Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriat
rave
> l.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
> Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST -
> #1018299-10 FL CST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to
literacy for
> a blind child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
> https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria
Travel has
> partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her
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>
>
>> From: bpollpeter at hotmail.com
>> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 23:49:57 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Can Anyone Help?
>>
>> 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
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________
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>>
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