Thanks guys! I didn't know there was a group for it. I'll definitely be checking it out. I don't like the way you select the dosage. The pen doesn't have a spot to indicate that you are on the right dosage and it twists easily so I am afraid I will move it while I am injecting. I honestly am not even interested in taking it but the doctor keeps giving me higher doses of insulin and I have gained 10 pounds in the past couple of months despite a higher level of daily activity and eating healthier.
Unfortunately it is easy to get in a vicious cycle of taking higher doses and that then contributes to weight gain. Have you tried significantly lowering your carb intake? Also it sounds like you developed some insulin resistance so perhaps your doctor can suggest another type oral medication for IR.
I use Symlin and love it. I’ve used it for years though. Never has helped my weight that I’ve noticed, but helps my stomach and BGs. Everyone is different, some love it, some hate it. Try it, if it helps, use it, if not don’t use it. It does help get rid of the insulin munchies, I do love that part of it.
Zoe, I've always had a high resistance and I haven't been on the pump very long so we are still working on fine tuning my insulin dosages. They think the Symblin will help so we don't have to keep increasing it all the time. I'm just glad they only changed my basal rate this time and not everything like they usually do. I'm at a 1:5 carb ratio as it is. I do limit my carb intake and also exercise daily.
That's rough, dealing with IR as a Type 1. You might want to read Using Insulin by John Walsh so you can control your own doses and not have to rely on your doctors to change each step. Are you positive for antibodies? Congrats on getting your A1C down, by the way.
I'm not sure about the antibodies but I go back in two months so I will ask about that. And thank you!!
I was just wondering how they determined you were Type 1, since your insulin resistance sounds more like type 2.
I don't know I was diagnosed as a kid. I also typically have glucose levels over 250.
I was doing alright on the insulin pen but since I have been on the pump it's been a while finding the perfect dosages. I've only had it three months and I know it takes time to get it just right.
You really want to get your numbers down, Nichole; staying in the range of 250 on a regular basis is a set-up for complications! Do you have a good endo and/or cde to work with? Three months should be enough time to get your pump doses tweaked. I encourage you to read Pumping Insulin by John Walsh so you can learn to tweak your own doses.
I don't do it on purpose. I am working on it. I just started seeing a doctor for it. I love my educator. My endo is good but I can't understand her through her accent. :( They said it will take time and it's different for everyone. I don't feel comfortable tweaking it by myself yet but I will. I also just started using the dexcom as well.
I really think that the only thing that needs changing is my carb ratio because I'm typically highest when I eat.
I added some cool pump tunes over on the Animas classic tunes page, in case anyone is interested!
Anyone use Tubeguard??? I found it one day while searching the corners of the internet after my toddlers foot got caught in my pump tubing and wondered if there was anything out there to organize insulin pump tubing. I cam across this but, never heard of it before. Then again I have only been pumping for 2.5 years..... I am looking for feedback to avaoid being a tripwire for a toddler, yo yo for my pump and catch all for dressers and doorknobs.....
I don't really know what it means that an endo office "doesn't support" a pump. I would contact Animas itself and they will hook you up with a trainer in your area. Supplies are done by UPS so it doesn't matter where you are in the country.
I actually did everything through Animas since I don't see an endo. They went to my doctor's office and gave him the contract/script to sign with beginning basal rates listed. Animas also contacts your insurance and pretty much walks you through getting a pump.
If your doctor says that he or she does not support the pump, it likely means that the office is not trained on how to use that particular pump and also CANNOT DOWNLOAD THE DATA. That in and of itself is vital information. You will not have trouble ordering supplies, but please consider that your endo will not be able to download your data for you. I would ask if you can do the download yourself and bring it to your endo or cde to analyze together. As far as training, I would expect to go it alone if you don't have a rep in your area. Start with a call to animas to determine if this is indeed true. Your endo may just be ... lazy...
I didn't think about uploading data, because I don't have (or want) a doctor to do that. But doing it yourself is surely workable and people on here can help you with the software. You should be able to get the pump you want. You live in a city where I'm sure training is available from Animas.
I would ask them what are the medical reasons that the Ping is not appropriate for you? What pump do they recommend for you? Perhaps there’s a good reason for them steering you away from Animas and perhaps not.
I would argue with any endo that does not provide good clinical medical reasons why specifically one particular brand of pump is not good for you. Not supported, refusal to prescribe, convenience for them because of software is not medical justification in my opinion. You’re the one who has to live with disease and manage it. 200 unit reservoir vs 300 unit reservoir, insulin to carb ratio increments are valid reasons in my opinion,.
You can download reports at home, make sure you are willing to learn all aspects of programming your pump yourself and realize that your Dr’s office may not be able to provide
Oops,forgot to finish. If your endo’s office isn’t as familiar with your pump you’ll have to be proficient at programming it yourself. Hopefully most people are but it’s easy to forget how. Pumps they use most often they can assist with programming others they don’t know how so much.