[Diabetes-Talk] G5 question

Mon Feb 13 20:55:46 UTC 2017

Jamie,

Duncan is doing well. Still in NICU, but medically, nothing is wrong; he's
just working on eating orally. He's consistently doing 67% at each feeding,
but they want him at at least 80%, so he's close. Hopefully it won't be much
longer. This is usually what keeps people in the NICU the longest, the
feedings, and for some reason, infants of diabetic moms can struggle more
with eating orally. But Duncan is improving every day, and they are
surprised how well he's taking to bottle feedings considering he was early
and an infant of a diabetic mom. We try nursing when I'm there, but the
majority of his feedings are bottles, so hoping once he's home and we are
together all the time, he will be able to adapt to nursing as well. I'm
pumping around the clock, which is tedious, but I want him to have breast
milk even if we can't actually nurse. I'm producing a little lower amount
than I should at this point, only about an ounce each pump, but something is
better than nothing.

The insulin on board feature is annoying. I was not aware of it actually
until I was pregnant, and we upped my basals, and I got an alarm one night
because I had used my daily amount of insulin, but I needed more.
Fortunately, my husband can sometimes use magnification for certain things,
so he was able to change the amount. But yikes, 500 sucks. I've had a few of
those over the years, and they really are not fun. Has your doctor ever
written a script for an insulin pen just in case the pump has problems? I
have pens on hand just for cases like this, so I can get my sugars down
quickly. Fortunately, it rarely happens, but when it does, I want them down
ASAP. And fortunately, I'm sensitive to insulin, so I usually drop quickly.

I do place my cannulas on my backside, but I usually stick around the tummy
area. I place it all over, top and bottom and sides of my abdomen. I've
never done my legs or arms, finding that placement annoying for me. Do you
have scar tissue that causes problems? I know it happens for us diabetic
lifers, but so far, in 31 years, I've yet to develop this problem. I use the
inset, and my canula is a 3. I've played with a lot of infusion sets in the
past 13 years, but it's been some time now. Wondering if anything new is
out. I'm transitioning between my OBGYN endocrine and my regular endo, so
once I do, I might take a looksy at sets again.

I plan to get a Dexcum too. Just waiting for things to settle around here.
Hopefully in a couple of months I can initiate that process. I have
Medicare, but also insurance through my husband, so hopefully it won't be a
problem. I'm not super tech saavy, so hopefully I don't struggle too much
with it, grin.

Glad you're figuring things out with the pump. I know how frustrating it is
in the beginning, especially when switching to a new one. Again, if you ever
need to speak with me or ask questions, feel free.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 12:44 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jamie Gurganus <jamielgurganus at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] G5 question

Hi!  How is the baby doing?  

I just came from a visit with my diabetic educator to review my blood sugars
and go over my issues with the pump.  I think I almost have it down. We
figured out where my confusion was and practiced going through the menu.  I
also have the Animas rep visiting me on Wednesday, because I am having
issues with the infusion sets.  For some reason, the Insets don't go in
properly and leak on me.  I have given up using them for fear of having
another 500 blood sugar.  I hadn't had one that high since going on the
Dexcom almost three years ago.  My Dexcom kept alarming me in the middle of
the night that I was high, I would give a bolus and then wait.  I should
have gotten out of bed and checked my blood sugar, but I didn't.  By
morning, I was over 500 and couldn't give any more insulin due to the
Insulin on Board feature being on.  Fortunately, my husband uses a Novapen,
so I was able to take 20 units to get it down quickly.  It still took all
morning for that to happen.  And, I had my daughter turn off the IOB feature
for now.  

So, I am using the Inset 30, but I can't twist around enough to insert one
in my backside.  So, I am trying the Contact D  that is the little metal
thumbtack looking thing with a pigtail.  I hope it works.  I wish I could
continue using the Ultraflex set that I used for years with my Accucheck
Spirit, but they may not be in stock in the near future.  So, I need to
figure out how to make the Animas products work for me.  I really like
working with Animas, and they have been so helpful with sending me
replacement sets when I go through three just to get one to insert
correctly.  I'm not sure what I'll do when I run out of Inset 30's and have
just the box of Insets left though.  I ordered a three month supply with two
boxes of 30's and one of the Insets.  Since they can't accept a return, I
can't order new sets until I am almost out of the three month supply thanks
to my insurance.  I'll see what the rep says on Wednesday.

I did get discouraging news today from my Dexcom supplier.  Insurance won't
pay for an upgrade to the G5 until my receiver is out of warranty in August.
And, since I just replaced my transmitter  on Feb. 3, I can't even get the
G5 transmitter.  So, I guess I'll do what I am doing now for six more
months.  I really wanted to be more independent with the Dexcom than I am
now.  I have to rely on my kids too much, and their busy schedules has me
planning when to do a quick blood sugar to calibrate it or change the
sensor.  Insurance companies really cause us a lot of headaches, but I know
that we can't afford to be without them.

Take care.  I hope Duncan is doing well and home with you.

				Jamie

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 8:37 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] G5 question

Jamie,

How are things going with the pump? I can still call you at some point if
you wish, things are still just a little hectic around here. Is the prime
and rewind going better? Let me know if I can do anything else or answer
other questions. Will do my best.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 6:03 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jamie Gurganus <jamielgurganus at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] G5 question

Tom,

     Thanks!  This does seem like it can be managed!  I have my high alert
set at 180, because I feel awful if it is in the 200's.  So, mine does go
off more than usual, but I do watch what I eat.  I will get it all figured
out, just like the Vibe.  I'm still working on mastering that!

				Jamie

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom Ley via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 7:21 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: TALey at ups.com
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] G5 question

Hi Jamie,
Glad you had success with your upgrade request, and very quickly, it seems. 

At church I make sure I plug my ear buds  into the iPhone, even though I may
not have them in my ears, to prevent unexpected alarms and Voice Over
announcements disrupting the people around me. The alerts still play but
just through the ear buds, not on the iPhone speaker. This also works when
sleeping. I think the below 55 alert always plays over the speakers, even if
you have your ear buds plugged in, the same way the alarm clock on the
iPhone works. But, if you are really 55, you need to be disrupted (smile).
That is a serious low, at least for me. 

The alarms options such as sound and vibrate, sound only, etc. on the Dexcom
G5 app can be changed any time, as well as the level when the alarm is
triggered. , and this is separately controlled for each type of alarm. I
think all of us probably have our alarms configured differently, to fit our
lifestyles and diabetes health and safety needs. So, you will need to work
with the alarm settings over the first few days or weeks to find what works
for you. 

One time I chose to set my high blood glucose alert to 220 to avoid so many
disruptions from the alarms. That worked to prevent so many alarms, but my
A1C was not as healthy when it was next measured. So I lowered it back. I
decided it was up to me to behave differently to keep the alarms from going
off, as if that wasn't obvious to everyone. Sometimes though we just need a
break from having to think like a pancreas! 

Hope this was helpful.

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 8:53 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jamie Gurganus <jamielgurganus at gmail.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] G5 question

Hi all!  My insurance has approved an upgrade to the G5, since I really want
to be able to input my own blood sugars via the phone app.  However, I am
quite concerned about the negative reviews that I am reading about regarding
the inability to silence the alarms.  From what I read, it is with the
latest update that took away the mute feature for the alarms.  As much as I
want to be able to independently manage my Dexcom, is it worth having the
alarms going off with no way to silence them at night or in church or
meetings.  Thanks for your experiences.  I may consider staying with the G4
unless they change the alarms.  I can't close the app during church or
meetings like many do, since I need the Dexcom to notify me of lows that I
don't feel anymore.  

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