Diabetes Blog Week, Day 6 - Diabetes snapshots. Inspired by the Diabetes 365 project, let’s snap a few d-related pictures to share today. Post as many or as few as you’d like. Be creative! Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures. Or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.
This morning I was trying to think how pictures can show my Diabetes Life. After much thought and some false starts, I decided to show my Diabetes Museum for which I am the Master Curator in our household. Who knew when I started this journey 20 years ago that I'd have amassed such a collection.
As you can see, it's quite impressive amount of stuff.
Actually, this is more than just my collection, I'm also the Master Curator for my husband's small collection, which he started a mere couple of years when he was diagnosed with Type 2. Although a small collection, it's interesting in its own right. There may even be one piece that you've never seen before.
Before I start:
Interesting Random Fact
You can see that the Profiles still WORK!! The batteries seemed expensive at the time (N type), but given the number of years (since 1988-89) they're still going, much like the Energizer Bunny. And certainly value for money I should think. Amazingly the tests are still comparable to the newbies on the market!! It's the workhorse of the whole group, if not a little on the clunky side.
See how many pieces you can identify. My daughter's Easter Rabbit is demonstrating my current set up. See descriptions below if you can't...
JAMIE'S MUSEUM
Ping Days (Jan '10 - Present)
A. Animas Ping pump (Jan '10)
B. Inset II infusion set
C. Animas cartridge (and assorted pieces)
D. One Touch Blue test strips
Minimed Days (purchased in 2004, but used 2007-2010)
E. Minimed Paradigm 512
F. & G. Inserters for MM512 (hated them)
H. Reservoir and tubing for MM512
Meters
I. Animas Ping remote (Jan '10)
J. Bayer Countour Link (link to MM512, replaced BD meters)
K. BD Medtronic Minimed meters (purple came with pump, clear was replacement)
L. One Touch Ultra meter (rarely used - turns out I like 'em simple)
M. One Touch Ultra 2 meter
N. One Touch Ultra
O. Lifescan OneTouch Profile (only one is mine, my very first meter).
Assorted D stuff
P. Humalog insulin
Q. Occusion tester (not proper name, but used once to test for occlusion on the MM512)
R. Lantus insulin (cartridge for insulin pen)
S. Test solution (probably never used)
T. Various pokers and lancets (don't have 'em all anymore)
U. Some insulin pen needles (can't remember for which pen)
V. Syringe (I still like them better than pens)
HUBBY'S MUSEUM
My husband is blind, which makes this collection rather unique. In Canada, there are no talking meters approved for use (or at least up until a year ago or so, I'm not so sure about now). Only the Profile with a very expensive talking box and the Accuchek meters were available. The Accuchek could have a beeping feedback turned on. Read here for a blog post about adventures with this beeping meter.
W. Lifescan OneTouch Profile
These were used when I first became diabetic in the late 80s, and up to a couple of years ago, was one of the only meters that were fully accessible for the blind. It gave audible feedback with an add-on machine (see Item Z below). I don't think they make those strips anymore, or that machine for that matter. The Profile is off the market now. But even up to a year ago, finding strips were becoming a bit problematic (and now probably aren't available at all).
X. Accuchek Compact
Gave beeping feedback - count the number of beeps to get your results. You can read my Beeping Blind Man post that I wrote a while ago about this adventure.
Y. Bayer Contour
Did not give much audible feedback , but it was the first one he got
Z. Touch and Talk
Saved for last is the most unique item in the group which was manufactured for One Touch, but one had to buy it separately (and as with all accessible items was very pricey). You'd plug it into the Profile, and it would tell you when the meter was ready for the blood, and would read out the results. Pretty cool really, if not a little archaic in the age of talking meters that are available in the States. My husband was lucky enough to receive it from another group member.
Jamie's MIA D stuff
Meters - I still use my green One Touch Mini sometimes. It's just missing in action. Also missing from the group is the Asencia Breeze meter (the model from maybe 10 years ago) that used a disk of strips. It was awkward and unreliable. I also found myself running out of strips as each disk only held a few strips. It found it's way to the garbage too.
Various insulin pens. I hated them. I hated the distinct funky insulin smell they eventually got when some insulin leaked into the housing. I also resented how many times I'd have to haul them out, so when I got my first pump, I hoofed out those pens. I kinda regret that now for this post, but well, whatever.
Well there you have it, the A to Z of D stuff in pictures.