[Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Omnipod and Vibe Plus

Fri Mar 17 12:42:25 UTC 2017

Veronica,

     I'm still confused about this audio bolus limit, since I don't seem to
have this issue.  Mine is set for 1 unit per button push, and I take 4-6
with each meal.  Last night though, I took eight units, since my homemade
taco bravos always require a little extra insulin.  I've never had it not
allow me to give any of these amounts, except for the time that I went
through several infusion sets and primes when first learning how to insert
them correctly.  The alarm went off that I exceeded the maximum daily
insulin amount, so I had to have my daughter increase that amount for me to
be able to take any more insulin for that day.  

And, guess what happened last night?  My alarm went off that my battery was
low!  I jinxed it by asking everyone about it.  I consulted my notes from
when I trained with the rep and had my son confirm everything I was doing as
a back-up.  It was pretty simple.  And, I did think it was strange that it
takes you back to the home screen after confirming the battery and
date/time.  If it wants you to do a prime/rewind, it should take you right
there instead of hoping that you will remember to do it.

As for hospital stays, my endocrinologist told me that it is hard to be a
diabetic in the hospital.  I was able to keep my pump on me after having
surgery a couple of years ago, but  they had to have two nurses there when I
took any insulin.  It is for liability purposes, since nurses have to
document any meds that are given.  Since they weren't actually giving it,
one nurse would document what I gave while the other was the witness.
And, it was hard to wait each mealto have a blood sugar done, since I did
not have my meter with me.  That is one thing I will bring along the next
time.  The endocrinologist did come to see me at the hospital and changed my
basal rates to a temporary one while I was there.  And, I told him that he
needed to insist that my IV be changed from a 5% dextrose drip to just
normal saline!  No wonder my blood sugars were sky high!  I only had one of
the hospital doctors question my ability to manage my pump.  She wouldn't
discharge me until the diabetic educator visited me to make sure I knew how
to run the pump.  I am pretty sure that the diabetic educator let her know a
thing or two, since I have been an excellently controlled diabetic and pump
user for 18 years!  The nurse let me know that everything was OK for my
discharge!  Some people are just so ignorant as to the capabilities of
people who have a disability, especially blindness.

I am just impressed with how much you do with this pump in such a short
time.  Take care!

				Jamie

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 9:37 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Omnipod and Vibe Plus

First, Jamie, using the smart bolus isn't what limits the number of button
presses with the audio bolus. That's just a flat out limit, 20 presses. I
have mine set to half a unit per press. Where I'm having trouble is the
stupid scale. Having the 5 notes is really distracting and so far I'm almost
always blowing my count as the scale starts over especially if I'm at a .5
when it does. And the second note of the scale doesn't always play, which
throws me off sometimes. So I'm trying to make up tunes for some of my
common amounts. It's just crazy. The scale would work out if I had the
amount per press set to .1 units but if I did that, I'd have a two unit max
and umm, no thanks. <grin> As for the OmniPod, it was the other pump I was
considering. The biggest threat is that they are threatening to go to a
touch-screen remote. And the rep told me that it would come out before any
possible iPhone app. The OmniPod people were flooding my inbox with stories
about Johnson and Johnson considering selling off the Animas division and
offering me special trade-in prices if I switched over. Sheesh! The Snap
pump is gone though.
As for the low battery, the only tricky thing is that you'll get the same
beep if the pump is suspended. And with my Vibe at least, you no longer have
the ability to change alarm sounds. When I tried that ten years ago, the
only sounds you could change were for alarms I didn't want like testing
reminders, not for the things we want like cartridge and battery. And
according to the manual, we have 12 hours after the battery is removed
before losing time and date. What strikes me odd is that if the pump
requires a prime rewind after every battery change, why don't we just land
on that screen after we okay the verify page? When I took the battery out
and tried putting it back in, after verifying, it came up on the home screen
and the first time I tried to do anything, it coughed up an alert about pump
not being primed. Dumb!
And Eileen, I'm so sorry to hear about your hospital experience. I have had
those in my past as well. Now whenever I need to take my pump off, I don't
stop or suspend it. I just get a cup or something and place the end of the
tubing in there, letting the insulin drip in. That way you don't run the
risk of getting bubbles and when you're ready, you just connect and go. In
fact, having started this new pump on Monday, my Cozmo is still sitting,
okay lying on the dining room table running, just in case there's a problem.
Eventually I'll admit it needs to go live with the Animas people and save me
500 bucks, but I'm giving it a week. But when I had surgery in 2013, they
were so stupid about my pump that I gave it to my husband to keep for me.
That way as soon as he appeared, I got it back and just put it on. I didn't
tell them and nobody ever checked. Never mind that they kept hiding my meter
and then expecting me to test. It's really a shame that medical staff has
seemingly no interest in learning about something new or different. 
So I hope you're feeling better now and onward we all go! Thanks again, all
of you.
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: Thursday, March 16, 2017 7:00 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Cc: Jamie Gurganus
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Omnipod and Vibe Plus

Thanks Tom!  All of this information has been very helpful.  I'm glad to
hear that the pump beeps when waking up to alert me of needing to change the
battery.  I  have a spare lithium battery waiting for my first battery
change.

Because I don't use the smart bolus and carb/ratio features, that is why I
can bolus any amount with the audio bolus.  I do still miss the ease of use
of my old Spirit pump, but I think the Animas Vibe is the best option for a
blind user these days.  And, I have to thank you for telling me about the G5
mobile app.  I really love the independence that I gained from getting the
upgrade.

				Jamie

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom Ley via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 8:17 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: TALey at ups.com
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Omnipod and Vibe Plus

Jamie, 

In the March 2017 issue of Diabetes Forecast, a publication of the American
Diabetes Association, I found the following information. If you use NFB
Newsline, I recommend reading this issue because it contains their annual
consumer guide about all things related to diabetes, meters, pumps, CGM,
insulin pens, smartphone apps, type 2 medications. I absolutely love the NFB
Newsline service! Here's what I found. 

Omnipod
The Omnipod by Insulet is still being manufactured. The unique feature of
the Omnipod is that it is a patch pump, without tubing. Unfortunately, as of
now, it is hopelessly inaccessible. They are working on a hybrid closed loop
system that will use an Android-based device to integrate the Dexcom data
and the pump. Android is getting better in terms of accessibility, so
perhaps in the future, if the stars aling, we could use a system like this.
Their hybrid closed loop system won't be available for two years minimum, it
seems. 

Animas Vibe Plus
According to the article I read, the Animas Vibe plus has been approved by
the FDA, but no launch date is set. It will incorporate the Dexcom G5 Mobile
system, and according to the article, use an app to get the Dexcom readings
and to deliver insulin boluses. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the
article, but so far, I'm not aware of any pump that allows you to bolus from
a smartphone app yet. If that app is as accessible as the Dexcom G5 Mobile
app, then that would be great. 

Tom

Dexcom advertises
-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk

I received an e-mail from Dexcom the other day that has me a little
confused.  The subject line is "A Special Promotion from an Insulin
Partner".    It is advertising the Omnipod tubeless insulin management
system.  I thought the Omnipod was discontinued.

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