So I've been pumping with my first pump (the Animas Ping) since late afternoon on Friday, making today day #4.
I have to say I'm diggin' the insulin pump! Since hooking up, my blood sugars have been more or less perfect, minus a few (not drastic) lows actually (a few 60's and 70's)My doc has me checking 6 to 8 times a day for the time being.
We still have some tweaking to do with my basal rates, but I go back to my doc in about two weeks so she can upload my BG readings and such. Seriously though, Wow. Blood sugars for the most part have been staying between 85 and low 100's. Whoohoo!
It's taken some getting use to as far as being hooked up to tubing, what works for me, etc. I decided I do not like my arm as a site. Too difficult. I changed my first site last night, put it on my stomach but not high enough so the tubing is getting a bit kinked but luckily no occlusion alarms yet ;)
I suppose it'll be trial and error for a bit, and definitely had - um - fun trying to change out my inset last night *insert sarcasm here* but all is good.
I'm a happy pumper :) I haven't felt this good in a long time!
good for you. I am scared to death of the pump, actually of losing the control and relying on a machine. kinda got a technology phobia. been on MDI (multiple daily injections since the '90s and just don't like the idea of having to learn a new way taking insulin. I would love some input on the learning curve you are going thru being a new pumper. if my sugars were as stable as what you described, the first thing i would do is head to the Woodlands and go to Grimaldi's for pizza! GUILT FREE. My doctor wants me to try the Omnipod which has no tubing but the thought of having the inset in my skin for days on end freaks me out. Did you have a site reaction when changing out your inset? Thanks... Go Texans!
Hey there, I was totally against the pump too and very scared too. But after talking to my fiance and my doctor, decided to go for it. It's so easy, and so fine tuned to what my body needs because my daily basal rates are set in the pump. I can bolous for meals from the pump itself or the remote. When I need to bolous I just plug in my carbs and voila it tells me to the T how much insulin my body needs and how much is on board already in my body. My blood sugars are fantastic! The inset gets changed out every 3 days, and overall the process so far is just so much better than MDI's. I changed out my first inset last night, and it was actually quite comical and frustrating, BUT I can see it'll definitely get easy and like the back of my hand. No site reaction at all, and it's virtually painless (I find MDIs to actually be more painful.) Oh and Grimaldis is awesome, but unfortunately I have Celiac Disease so no gluten for me :( and yeppers, GO TEXANS!
quick question on the screen of your pump in the picture it says -
Insulin: 171U...... is this how much insulin that thing has on hand? and i'm assuming when it gets down to zero you have to load more in??? like a gas tank.
I could only imagine doing pre meal, post meal, and maybe 1 hour after meal bolusing instead on 1 shot/all or nothing approach as with MDI's along with the constant stream of insulin coming in all the time. can you pre-program it for a certain amount at a certain time or is it all manual.
I was on MDI for over 20 years but I've been on a Medtronic 530G w/ CGM since the end of June. It was the best decision I've ever made!
The pumps are fully programmable for Basal insulin to match your body's need when not eating. I currently have six different time periods set up. If things are set up correctly, there should be no need for bolusing after meals.
Most (all?) pumps also have Bolus calculators built in so that all you need to do for meals is enter your BG and Carbs and the pump calculates the insulin requirement based on preconfigured Insulin to Carb ratios and Correction/sensitivity Factors.
The pump have a reservoir that you load with insulin with enough to last (usually) three days. Then replace with a new one (and fill with insulin) when you change your infusion set. Most pumps hold 200 units, some can hold 300.
The elimination of long acting insulin allows far more adjustability with scheduling meal and activities.
marky, brboyer did great in answering your questions :) I personally (right now) have 2 basal rates set up, and once you get the pump you have a training session with a certified diabetes educator who programs all of your stuff for you based on what yours numbers have been and your diabetes doc says. So the doc will give the educator what they want your basal rates to be. Everything is pre-programable all is built in, so like brboyer said all you do is plug in your carbs and voila it calculates it for you. With the pump I have (the animas ping) it calculates how much insulin is on board (i.e. how much you have circulating in your body from any previous bolousing) and takes that info factor when calculating your carb to insulin ratios. I am not sure if other pumps do that? Basically, all pumps do the same thing - the one you choose just depends on personal preferences. For me, it was between the ping or the tslim. Omnipod was not an option as it was not on my insurance and I had been on a vgo (for type 2) and I ripped off the vgo several times. If you rip off a pod by accident, you're out that pod and that money. Anyway,ultimately I chose the ping over the tslim. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have, feel free to inbox me anytime. The transition to getting a pump can feel overwhelming and even scary, but to be quite honest I am very, very happy with me decision!
now that you are a seasoned pro... how well did you first infusion site heal? just curious. the thought of a tube inside me for 3 days straight freaks me out!
now on to my next question. how is the diet going? i need to loose weight, my six pack abs are slowly morphing into a keg! are you going lots of green veggies and good fiber choices, no red meat type or gluten or dairy type of thing.
