[Diabetes-talk] Another new pump with some promise!

Fri May 3 16:12:25 UTC 2013

Hi Folks, this is Bill Lewis in Wichita.  I want to share with you a big 
discovery regarding treatment of diabetic neuropathy.  Here's what has 
occurred:

For ten years I have had diabetes-2 and with it came increasing neuropathy 
in my feet and lower legs--tingling, burning sensation, sensitivity to my 
feet from weight pressure when standing and walking.  I was taking a 
prescription med that was supposed to reduce those symptoms but not very 
effectively, as it was turning out.

Early this month of April I visited the podiabrist for a quarterly checkup. 
I complained about the persistent neuropathy and its increasing coverage in 
my legs and right leg.  He suggested some OTC vitamin and herb 
combinations--in this case, two bottles of ingredients combined into 
cablets, taken once or twice a day.  They are not covered by insurance.

Having nothing much to lise, I figured except an initial investment of some 
bucks, I purchased two bottles each of two combinations, a two month supply.

Now, here's where I almost fell off my chair just thinking of this--all my 
symptoms are gone.  No more tingling, burning, pressure.  No tingling from 
my siadic nerve in my right leg or ankles or feet.  I have been on these 
cablets one month, so far with one more month to go, before checking back 
with the podiatrist again.

I took the bottles to my diabetes doctor who could see no negatives in the 
herb ingredients.  The only main vitamin he recognized was vitaming B-12.

I next went to a Natural Foods store that sells all kinds of vitamins and 
herbs.  The lady looked at these two bottles and said they are combinations 
of ingredients packaged together in concentrated form.  The products she 
sold for neuropathy were more individualized ingredients in much lower mg 
levels.  These are 150 mg pills.  She could see no negatives in the listed 
ingredients on the bottles, just more of them and in higher mg levels than 
the stuff she had on the shelves.

I don't know yet if there are any potential problems on down the road, so to 
speak.  I don't know if there are any problems interacting with my regular 
three diabetes meds--that is yet to be checked out.
Here's my question to you guys:  what have been your experiences with meds 
and vitamins and herbs used for your neuropathy?  Please share them with all 
of us here.   Frankly, so far I am flabergasted and very impressed.  Here in 
the first week of May I am still symptom-free, as I take all my meds and the 
new bid cablets.   --  Bill Lewis

-----Original Message----- 
From: Veronica Elsea
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:26 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Another new pump with some promise!

Hi everyone!
I thought I'd share this with all of you, especially my fellow researchers.
<grin> I just found out about a new pump called the Snap.
It's made by Asante, a company not too far from my house. Ahem! Hint hint!
They are just beginning to roll it out, starting in the east, Maryland,
Washington DC, western Pennsylvania and New England. I think I have that
covered. I know New York isn't in the initial group. The rest of us should
be brought in during the summer.
Anyway, the pump. It uses only prefilled Humalog cartridges. They're working
to add Novalog and other insulins. So the disposable part of the pump holds
the cartridge and the battery. The cartridge holds 300 units. So one thing
right off the bat, we wouldn't have to worry about low battery alarms we
can't read. When you snap the cartridge into the pump, it's self-priming,
which also includes removing all of the air bubbles. So no worries there.
It's not a touch screen pump. It has five buttons, I think. I went to the
web site and did find the manual. In prowling through it, I discovered that,
wait for it, wait for it, yes, keypad beeps. Apparently it has quite a bit
of audio feedback to let you know when you've cancelled something or backed
out of something, when something has completed, etc. There is an audio bolus
feature as well.
I haven't yet figured out a few things like whether meal boluses are figured
into insulin on board. I also don't know its system for how often basal
insulin is delivered. But it's a very light-weight pump.
The only thing I don't like, okay two things. First, it has its own
proprietary infusion set, only one. I couldn't quite figure out what sort of
cannula it was. So I'd have to give up my beloved Cleo's. Second, if you
want a long temporary basal, it bugs you with alarms every six hours. Like I
want to be awakened in the middle of the night just to be reminded that I
have a temporary basal set. Sheesh! So I have my list of questions and will
be contacting them for sure.
The web site for the pump is:
http://www.snappump.com
And the phone number for the company is:
Asante: (877) 244-8402
Anyway, I was sure happy to discover that there's some improvement for us
here coming soon. I still wish I could use the T-slim though. This afternoon
I sat down with my sighted hubby and it looks like it would be almost
impossible to adapt this pump using templates. Now, what we have to do is
convince sighted people that they need a Siri in this pump. Great for
driving! Hey Slim, I'm munching 30 grams of carbs as I drive. Yes. Confirm!
That would be a cool way for us to get access, wouldn't it! <grin>
Anyway, stay tuned!
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

_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Diabetes-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/wlewis19%40cox.net 