New Pump Update

Diabetes Technology Insulin Pumps
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SO, I posted a while back with some pre-pump questions, and I sincerely thank everyone that responded! However, now that I’ve had it attached for a couple weeks…I have some more questions.

With MDI, I had such good control (once I woke up and corrected for dumb DP). I just got used to the timing that my bolus would kick in, what foods to give at what times and what my wait time was. I’m struggling because, with the pump, I tried first to just do the same exact process: bolus. Wait the usual time frame. Eat. But, instead of with MDI, when I could see it start to kick in on the Dexcom…I don’t see it kick in with the pump. It almost always rises and is such a long, drawn out process. By the end of the “4 hours” or so, I usually level out to where I would’ve been…but I’m just wondering if there’s a different system I’m not aware of with the pump? Waiting longer?

I also had a slip where I suspended due to a severe low in the middle of the night, and I just was so low and tired that I just fell back to sleep. I woke up with the Dex screaming and topping out at 480 - I forgot to resume basal. Is suspending manually a no-no? I don’t have the CGM hooked up yet (another question I have below) so it doesn’t do the automatic suspend and resume. Would it be better to just do a “Temp Basal” for a set time?

My doctor 1) took two weeks to “train” me on the pump. and 2) said I would need to wait a few weeks before being “trained” on the CGM. I understand it all being overwhelming with the data, but I currently have the Dexcom. I know the rules of not treating based on SG alone and only double checking with BG. Does anyone have experience of just…doing it themselves? Is it against the rules at all to just do it without the training? Other than the Medtronic training and web information. Is there an insurance requirement to have an official training?

I have always struggled with laying on my Dexcom. I know I can and that it won’t “hurt it”…but I just can’t bring myself to do it. So, I avoid sleeping on that particular side. With the pump site, it’s not as uncomfortable to lay on since it’s so flat…but does anyone ever have any problems with absorption or anything with sleeping on the pump site directly?

I think overall I do love the pump. It’s different, for sure. And I have worse control so far. But I’m hoping that’s just a work in progress :slight_smile: As always, any information or suggestion is helpful!

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If your basal isn’t right, your bolus will have a harder time of it. That’s my guess for why your bolusing is weird.

Try doing some basal testing to make sure you’re dialed in.

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As @Timbeak48 said, it takes a while to get dialed in - and that requires careful basal testing, etc. My experience with the pump has been BETTER and faster absorption, not the other way around – but it took a bit of tweaking to get to that point.

With my pump, rather than suspend when dealing with a low, I set a temp basal (my pump has a temp basal of ‘off’ option). That prevents forgetting to resume after suspending it. With a temp basal, I just set it for a set time and it goes back to normal when the time expires. Sure, I could guess wrong on how long to suspend, but after experimenting a few times, I have a pretty good idea of how long I’ll need to recover.

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Good advice on this: instead of suspending, use a temp basal–just crank it way down, all the way to zero if you really need to. That way it’s on a timer and will automatically resume. I do this pretty often when my CGM wakes me with an overnight low. If it’s only in the 70s and no down arrows I’d rather just go back to sleep than have to wake up enough to eat something. Igot this tip back when I was using “suspend” for exercise and always forgetting to turn it back on again.

ETA: I see I’m just echoing @Thas on that but that’s how you know it’s good advice!

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Good advice being given here. As a side note, my son recently transitioned to the pump (5 months ago), and it took a couple of months to really dial it in. Once dialed in, it is like magic, being able to skip meals and sleep in was worth the price of admission.

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