I used to have problems with lows like that once a month, and for me it was girl stuff not the pump.
I would consume coke, juice with sugar, glucose tabs and things like pop tarts and nothing but nothing would bring the low up for about an hour.
It was not fun, but in my case it wasnt the pump it was mother nature!
It really appears, from the way you described your history on the pump that you programmed a 35 unit cannula delivery instead of a 3.5 unit bolus. The second rewind you described could have brought the menu to the Fill Cannula setting instead of the bolus setting. The number there are set as ##.# instead of #.##. This is the same as what appears to have happened with several others using this confusing MM menu.
I have used the mm for about 10 years with only one issue with deliveries, and I am anal about managing my insulin and T1D, and that had to do with an accidental cannula fill instead of a bolus.
This is info, if this is what happened, would be in the carelink data.
I hope the MDI works for you so you can get back on track and take power over your T1D again. Getting stung like you describe is really unnerving to say the least.
Although, the Animas/Ping pumps have had similar reports of overdosing, they are still making a reliable medical device, like MM, and all are accountable to the FDA for it’s performance and safety.
Don’ give up on the MM though, the Revel (723/523) software has changed the menus a bit to make is much more difficult to overdose using the fill cannula menu.
This definitely sounds really scary, but I think it’s an important reminder that whenever using a technological device, failures can happen. Heck, I’ve had “failures” using insulin pens (i.e., not getting all the insulin I dialed up). I really like (maybe even love?) my Revel pump, but I have to constantly remind myself that I cannot just forget about it and completely rely on it to be perfect. I constantly check it, confirm basal settings, check how many units are left, etc. I constantly remind myself that the thing can fail, either from user error or because it’s a device that will never be perfect. No matter how much testing and quality control a company puts in place, electronic devices will NEVER be 100 percent perfect. There are too many variables.
I am NOT saying that you did anything wrong. I hope Minimed reports back their findings. After reading this, I am sure I’ll be checking my remaining insulin amount compulsively, which is probably a good thing!
If you read what she said, she said she very careful programmed 3.5 units and it appears the pump delivered 35 and NOT what she programmed - two very different things.
Although I agree with you that these companies are supposed to be accountable to the FDA, it is still their responsible to report things to the FDA. The pump companies are the ones that are testing the pumps returned to them, not some outside source. I returned my pump to Animas in Jan and Animas still has not reported it to the FDA. There have been a lot of keypad problems on pumps reported that were returned after mine was but apparently Animas does not like to report life threatening problems. When you are counting on these companies to police their own companies and be honest, that is a problem with the system because they weren’t doing it before and I doubt they will do it in the future. I know that Animas has not been honest with either me or the FDA with my pump.
My dtr (11) is using Animas since 2009 without any sort of problems. I think all this discussion it’s really veruy interesting.
And, quoting MyBustedPancreas, “After reading this, I am sure I’ll be checking my remaining insulin amount compulsively, which is probably a good thing!”
From a patient safety perspective, this is a very important point you make - the companies, not the FDA, are testing the pumps when they are returned after an incident. It seems very odd to me that a medical device that can literally kill you if it malfunctions is left to the company (which has a vested interest in NOT finding any issues), rather than some 3rd party, to test after a serious incident. Why is this? Why aren’t the pump companies required to have testing done by an outside entity that has no vested interest in the investigation outcome? Am I missing something here?
Thank you loads for your reply - and yep it sounds very like my experience…so glad you are ok too xxx
I admire your bravery - maybe its just early days for me yet…
helz xx
In the 22 yrs of menstruating whilst having diabetes I’ve never had any serious lows caused by my cycle - I’m the opposite - my BS raise a little…so I’m sorry to hear you had trouble there 
Hi S Woodward …
Thanks for your reply…
I definitely only bolus’d for the 3.5 - thats what is showing on my carelink feedback too
I would also describe myself as a bit anal about my diabetes and ‘geek’ like - I have always been careful - I’m still the same, even now that i’m back on MDI - my levels are stablising really quickly…and yep the whole experience was unnerving…
Thanks for your comment…
I agree - and I’m lucky that I was and am such a compulsive tester and checker…
Thanks Mybustedpancreas x
My understanding is that although Animas can be affected by electromagnetic fields it is much less so than Medtronic. The Animas motor and electronics are encased in lead so this reduces the effect.
Helz,
What happened to you has happened to many others, it is good that your overdose happened during the daytime. I commend you for letting us know about your experience, and hope that you are have continued success with MDI.
Don’t listen to anything that Woodward says, as he is always deflecting blame from Medtronics onto the user (Steve, do you work for the company?). As for all of the other second guessers, there are only 400,000 or so insulin pumps in use, and if you do any on-line research you will learn that the US FDA has received numerous complaints (they had a large conference on this issue in March 2010). The odds are not one-in-a-million! If you do your research, you will realize you cannot trust the manufacturers, FDA, etc. to keep you safe. If you think I am trying to scare you, the answer is YES, as everyone is not as lucky as Helz.
If there are so many others, why are they not posting and talking about this?
Since the patient has no interest in the actual company, they stand to lose nothing by speaking out.
And there are very few who are speaking out on this issue.
I dont think any mechanical device is foolproof, but I also dont see very many folks that are complaining about this…
just sayin.
Laura, I know from someone else that some of the people that it happened to are involved in a lawsuit and they are not able to speak up about it. One reason that the FDA started cracking down on pump manufacturers is because of the problems with pump malfunctions. Just because people don’t post on message boards doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen.
I get the lawsuit part, since being involved in one with a national bank.
But I would say, boy if that happened to me I would be posting everywhere even anonymously just to make a point about it… and not just a point but a warning as well. Plus you have a vast number of CDE’s, Pump reps, physicians and nurses who are pump users. You would think they would be unwilling to pump…
Some that know though, are currently working on new pumps for the market place.
Laura,
This is from a Wall Street Journal article/blog talking about the FDA meeting last year:
“Some 375,000 adults with Type 1 diabetes used pumps in 2007 and there were nearly 17,000 reports of health problems over the three years ended in 2009, according to the regulators. Makers are required to report problems potentially connected with devices to the FDA. Such reports don’t mean there is necessarily something wrong with a device or that it caused harm, but FDA reviewers found many reports “have not been thoroughly investigated and evaluated by manufacturers in determining causality and device failure,” according to the FDA. Of 310 deaths examined, for example, it said “the device problem was unknown and limited details of the event were provided” in 225 of the death reports.”
Yes, there are tragedies due to human error and the lack of quality training. However, as pump users we are putting our lives in the hands of the manufacturer we chose - so do your research and chose wisely.
How many stories like Helz’s do you need to hear before you think this is an issue? If Helz was overdosed while she was sleeping do you think you would have heard her story?
Well, I of course have no financial interest in any company and I think all of them have problems. But your argument that you wouldnt hear is not true either because anyone with concerned family or friends most certainly would take up the cause.
One would think. Unless you have absolutely no one in your life who would care.
There would be no reason for family or friends not to make an issue.
You’ve still got other issues to deal with like the infamous dead in bed, which no one has yet to figure out.
I’m just saying you have maybe four percent with a problem, and most likely looking at any kind of device (pacemakers, things like that) you’re going to have that kind of percentage. Nowadays we’re even bombarded with drug warnings: “may be fatal in some cases.” Those are just as creepy.
Just curious…what about Europe? Since they seem to approve new pumps and such, much quicker than here, is there any record of incidents from over there? You’ve got all the pumpers here mad because we take too long to approve, so I’m wondering what the record would show from Canada or Europe? Just askin.
thank you John K. That was my thought at the time exactly “what if”
I am still on MDI - I have been offered a replacement pump since the whole episode and I just won’t do it…I wouldn’t feel safe
I am now pregnant and feel that with injections at least I know how much insulin is in my system…I don’t have as much variety with basals etc but my hba1c is 6,5 so Im not doing too badly…
I’ve still not heard back from Medtronic but I know my pump was sent from the UK to America months ago now…I’ll ask at clinic next time im there.
Thanks for your words of support xxx