[Diabetes-Talk] Animas Vibe, I'm live!

Wed Mar 15 23:30:59 UTC 2017

Hi Jamie!
First, it seems like all of the modern pumps assume you'll be taking them
out to look at menus and such. It's just funny that this one which
specifically says, used when pump is hidden in clothing and they make it so
soft and slow. Way too many extra beeps too. And I too have to get used to
the smaller cartridge as I'm like you in that those 300 unit cartridges
lasted me a week. And we'll see what I end up doing with the alarms. Today
at lunch I tried my luck at using the easy carb feature. It's a matter of
counting and hope I got it right but you know, it is faster. And my trainer
didn't leave me any extra anything. <grin> Those battery caps are expensive!

But I haven't tried using the KNFB reader on anything but the home screen so
far.

As for the waist-it, it's a soft velcroe strap which has a soft cotton
pocket in it for the pump. It's designed so that the tubing can come through
one side. I don't wear dresses all that often any more but I did when I
first got them. I do like the fact that the pump is secure while you're
dressing and undressing or doing other things like that. It does keep the
tubing out of the way. I bought them from a company called Unique
Accessories. My Disetronic pump, I wore in my bra. But the Cozmo was heavier
so I switched to the waist. But they make things you can wear on your arm,
your thigh, your leg or in pouches that clip on to stuff. They also have
pump tea shirts which have a pocket designed for the tubing. They even sell
pajamas.
The web site is www.uniaccs.com 
The two women who founded this company are very nice on the phone as well.
One of them was my first pump trainer back in 1991.
I also only change the tubing when I change the cartridge. I met someone who
did an art sculpture out of all the leftover tubing he had. It was pretty
cool. 
But so far, other than moments when I get the cannula into a dud of a spot
like this morning, my BG readings seem to be much steadier on the Animas
than on my old Cozmo. Even though I have to wait till the end of the process
and listen to the motor, I'm glad I am able to make use of the smart bolus
features which as much certainty as we have on many things today. <grin>
Anyway, thanks again for the nice feedback. Betty and I are doing okay so
far.
Veronica

"Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on
iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
To learn more, visit:
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
Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 4:04 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Cc: Jamie Gurganus
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Animas Vibe, I'm live!

Veronica,

     I also think the audio bolus is  not as quick to use like my Spirit,
but it is the only way for me to give a bolus.  I also can't hear it without
taking it out of my pocket when out in public or even when my family is
talking at the dinner table.  But, my friend who is sighted and has the new
Medtronic pump is finding the same issue.  He said that he has to take his
pump out of his pocket to navigate the menu just to give a bolus on it.  So,
sighted or not, we are all having to take our pumps out of our pockets to
use them!

And, I couldn't hear Beethoven at all when at the store or with a coat on,
so I changed all of my alarms and alerts to vibrate.  

I haven't found anything except my kids's eyes that can read the screen for
me to tell me what an alarm or alert is saying.  I don't have the KNFB
reader.  I just keep track of when I change my cartridge and expect a low
cartridge alert in about 3 days.  I'm not used to that, since the Spirit
cartridge lasted a week for me.  I also have to change my infusion set every
two days, but I don't always change the tubing.  That uses a lot of insulin.

What is the waist-it?  I don't recall getting one with mine.  I have been
keeping my pump in my pocket since I started on one over 19 years ago, so I
only have clothes with pockets in them.  Dresses are fun though, and I
either tuck my pump up top or strap it to my thigh.  I don't wear dresses
very often though.    I do have to use the clip on certain summer shorts.
It's all good though!   I wouldn't be without one now.

				Jamie
  -----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 1:09 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Animas Vibe, I'm live!

Hi everyone!
Thanks so much for the responses and suggestions. I did manage to get my
Vibe into a new Waist-it that I hadn't opened yet and other than noticing
the extra weight of the pump, made life more comfy for me. By day three, the
thing driving me the craziest is the darned audio bolus. Man it's slow! I
also can't hear the little beeps if I'm out in public. I tried it on vibrate
and found it even slower. I'm actually about ready to try just using its
easy carb feature. But I've now changed cannulas a couple of times. I can
only wear mine for two days and this morning I landed in a bad spot and up I
went. Oops! I wouldn't mind if the user could control where the default
started you when entering blood sugars so I could start at 100 rather than
80. <grin> And I wonder who decided to have it default to starting at 4
hours for a temp basal. Start at 0 and let me decide. Sheesh! 
As for the KNFB reader, perhaps it makes a difference which iPhone you have.
I have the 7 and do find the KNFB reader works better in other documents as
well. But this morning I checked my cartridge level again. It's really
helping me to have one little exciting benefit like this. Incidentally, my
new pump is named Betty. It's short for better than expected. <grin> Now I
just have to call Animas and straight out my account. It looks like when
they lost my order they lost track of my pump upgrade and payment I'd given
them. Ah, life in the modern world!
Thanks again for all the support and company. I really appreciate it.
Veronica

"Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on
iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
To learn more, visit:
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
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 6:42 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Animas Vibe, I'm live!

Veronica,

I wear my pump with the clip on the back attached to my waistband. However,
about every six months or so, I need to replace the clip as it starts to
break. On the Animas website, they have some other options for devices to
wear the pump. I prefer the clip despite it wearing down easily though.

I tried using my KNFB reader and it did not work but maybe I need to try
again.

Glad things are going well so far. You get used to the extra Ok's
eventually, grin.

Keep us updated.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2017 7:15 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Animas Vibe, I'm live!

Hi everyone!
Pant pant! It's amazing how much mental work is involved here. But I am now
up and running on my Animas Vibe. 
The very first time I filled a cartridge, one of the O rings busted. My
trainer said she'd never seen that before and took a picture of it. Oh boy!
But things went better than I was afraid they might go. I have everything
set up, thanks to my hubby. I've now filled my first cartridge, done a
correction bolus, figured out how to handle temp basals, the easy carbs and
of course, the audio bolus. It's kind of nice how it divides up the whirring
sound of the motor so you have a sense of how much insulin has been
delivered. The only thing I'm still trying to sort out is how to wear this
pump. It doesn't fit in the Waist-it that held my Cozmo because there is a
giant seam right where the audio bolus button is. So for the moment I'm
trying out the clip on the back of the pump. We'll see how it behaves during
certain activities. <grin> I did make one really, and I mean really cool
discovery. I actually used my KNFB reader to read my home screen. As long as
things aren't too cluttered, I was able to read how much was left in my
cartridge. Now that was exciting!
Life will be really cool if I can keep that up! I still get just a bit
nervous about which things need an extra ok and which don't. And I'm already
kind of sick of Beethoven. <grin> So now I'll just see how the rest of the
day goes, calibrating my Dexcom and one more meal. 
Anyway, thanks for hanging with me through my negative anticipation. Now
we'll just see when the breath holding stops. <lol> But any hints on how you
are wearing this pump would be appreciated.
Thanks so much.
Veronica

"Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on
iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
To learn more, visit:
http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
                Veronica Elsea, Owner
Laurel Creek Music Designs
Santa Cruz, California
Phone: 831-429-6407

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