Annie,
Another thing to keep in mind is to find out if you have a diabetic support group in your area. Also look for a diebetes trainer that might have access to different pumps that could let you see the various pumps available and their features. Pumps vary on their features and are not all the same. Good luck. Hank
Hi Bradford,
It is good to hear that there are many good choices for pumps; it puts less pressure on me to find the “right” one. And I know that my needs might change over time that could make me choose one pump over another at a different point in time. I guess I will just have to take a leap of faith with one of them!
I am glad to hear that the ladies are ok with both the pump and the diabetes. I was talking to a male coworker about it who is a) very upfront and b) very critical/analytical. He seems to think that it would be a problem to any guy “who wasn’t shallow enough to only focus on your body”. That stung a little. It was like him saying that men fell into 2 categories: those that only cared about my body and would overlook the diabetes because of it, or those that would find diabetes to be a problem. I’d like to think there is someone out there who understands the seriousness of diabetes, but still think that I’m worth it. He also thinks of us as “sick”. I told him that I can’t think that way, that if I can keep my blood sugar in a good range then I can live a healthy life.
Anyways, I am still trying to get used to the idea of having type 1. Some moments, it still shocks me. I know that if I can be at peace with it, then that peace will rub off on others 
Thanks, Hank!
I took a look at one of the medtronic ones when the rep was here. I also will see the Animas rep soon. Part of me wonders if I should wait until next year when Roche releases their tubeless version. I was also told that Medronic will release a tubeless one as well (not sure when).
Hi Natasha,
I’ve done some basal testing, and it is pretty good for most of the time. It may be too high in the early evening. I will have to talk about it with my CDE first I do know that I need something that can extend the insulin release, and that is what I’m the most interested in.
I am glad that your son has had 2 years of a wonderful time with Omnipod; it gives me more confidence to try it
Hi HPNpilot,
Thanks so much for the list of low carb snacks! Mmm the pickles with cottage cheese sounds weird and good at the same time I will print off this list and put it on my fridge for reference!
Yes, I’ve also suspected that perhaps my residual (?) beta cells might be helping me out with my morning readings. I definitely need insulin though, more than a lot of people who are in the initial stages of honeymooning. (I take only 4 units of Lantus at bedtime, and a carb: insulin of 25:1. )
I think I’ve been developing it (slowly) for 2 years! I’ve had a crazy number of symptoms (will have to write more about that later). I went in 2 years ago to student health (I was a post-doc at the time) and was told that my sugar was “high…but did I just eat a meal?” No followup. Finally, I went in this July and told my primary that something was wrong, and to test me for diabetes and hyperthyroid.
That sounds good and reasonable regarding my insurance’s likely response to wanting to switch back to MDI. Yes, Insulet has a 45 (?) or 30 day money back period.
ps I love avacados, too! My Taiwanese friend told me to make a yummy blenderized drink with avacado, milk and a little sugar
Your co-worker is a little too simplistic and binary in his thinking. As Bradford said, someone worth dating will not find the diabetes a barrier. You WILL find someone interested in your body AND your mind.
I don’t like to think of diabetes as a “disease” either, but rather a manageable (with work!) chronic condition that is the end result of an autoimmune process. It should be irrelevant to people’s dating/relationship decisions.
Hi HPNpilot,
Lol, I’ve been meaning to ask you…are you an engineer? From your first message, I’d been wondering that. And now that you use the word “binary,” I can’t help but wonder more Of course, it could be another profession like a mathematician, computer scientist, or (ha!) pilot.
Thank you for your encouraging words. Before you found out you had type 1, do you remember what you thought about people who had it? I remember when a coworker got diagnosed. He was on his honeymoon and had a seizure and that is how he found out. I remember thinking what a pain it was that he was measuring his food so carefully, and how high maintenance it seemed that he did not going out to certain restaurants that didn’t post nutritional info. I really didn’t get it. It didn’t seem like a big deal to me, but it also seemed strange. But I didn’t think of him as sick. Nor did I think that of my cousin’s ex wife who also happened to have worn a pump. I didn’t get to see them very much, but I remember my aunt saying that Sarah “could never live alone because of the diabetes.”
I do want someone who understands the seriousness of it, though, and who would be with me “in sickness and in health”. But something could happen to him, too, so it isn’t just a one-sided deal.
lol! Yes, I am an engineer. Is it that obvious ? I have a PhD in electrical engineering and work in the Research division of one of the world’s largest computer companies. So you were right on two counts. Flying planes is a hobby.
In answer to your question, I don’t know that I thought anything in particular about it. I didn’t really know anyone with type 1. I do remember one kid in elementary school with diabetes who passed out once [This was in the 60’s when the state of treatment was primitive compared today - no meters, just urine tests, and pork or beef insulin]. Certainly no judgmental feelings about it.
You are right, something can happen to anyone. And people with diabetes are living longer and longer and well into old age.
As someone who was just able to take the marriage vows in 2008 (after being together for 18 years), I think that people who get married early in life, before they have experienced all the things that can happen to you, have no clue how awesome the vows “for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part” really are . If they did, they would be more in awe of taking it … :-).
Jack
Hi Jack,
I seem to have a weird 6th sense for engineers! I remember being at a dance recently, and after only a brief introduction asking the guy “You must be an engineer?” and the answer was yes! My friend Rhonda seems to think I have good rapport with engineers because I’m friends with many of the ones upstairs at my work (I also had a bunch of friends in college who are engineers).
I also have a PhD, but in biochemistry. I work for a big biotech in R&D. Sadly, for some reason that is a turn off for the men that I’ve been meeting here on the West Coast. You can be smart without a PhD and not-so-smart with one, duh! And that also makes my diabetes team think I will be an expert in everything diabetes, which is NOT the case. In fact, it was the symptoms of having problems concentrating, remembering, thinking clearly (along with others) that led me to seek help. Not surprising since my A1C was 14.9 (= 384 mg/dL)! I am still not quite where I was cognitively, which worries me. Did you notice these symptoms in yourself?
I’ve thought about trying to do a DOE on myself. We had Six Sigma training this summer (which is a bit of a blur since my blood sugars were still really high).
Congratulations on your wedding! That is so wonderful to have a partner through this! I agree that sometimes it takes time to really reveal the nature of a person. Everything in life has tradeoffs, and sometimes a later marriage has more security because of the people knowing who they are and what they want.
I can certainly say that of my own marriage. I met my former husband when he was just starting his MD/PhD. We got divorced at the end of his graduation. I think his major drive to succeed professionally compromised our marriage. That is a danger of being married to a young professional.
I believe the stress of that (and a few other major things that happened around that time) triggered my diabetes. I had a lot of guilt over that, feeling like I didn’t take care of myself and that is why I got diabetes. But I know that isn’t true, and that I actually did all of the right things at that time. I grew a lot as a person after that happened, and made a lot of bold choices.
Anyways, I didn’t mean to ramble on (or overshare). I actually need to test my blood sugar right now, lol! I think I may have overestimated tonight’s supper bolus when I went out with a friend…
Wow, what a great list, mind if I put it on my blog at www.healthergy.net?
BTW, we have haging touble counting edamame, it seems if we get the shelled then its no problem, but if we followup directions for the unshelled, she always ends up going low… do you eat shelled or unshelled? it seems asian restaurants always have the unshelled, so want to know how to count both!
Hi Natalie,
This list comes from the Naomi Berrie Diabetes center FAQ, located here:
http://www.nbdiabetes.org/?page_id=138
See “Tips about Carb Counting” and you will find several documents, including this list of low carb snacks. There is another list of snacks with 15-30 carbs too.
I don’t know if these are copyright or not…so I don’t know if there is a problem posting on your web site. I don’t eat edamame myself so I can’t answer that question.
hey well krav maga is a style of martial arts/ self defense... think ufc style fighting, very intense workouts. Also my krav maga gym has hot yoga, but i have not actually done it... i know it gets fairly hot but honestly i wouldnt worry about the insulin but then again you never know till you try it.
I have met several girls who had a pump, although only 1 of them was not trying to hide it lol. I dont see a big difference but maybe thats because i have one. Let me tell you 1 thing about guys, do you think it will weird them out more that you have a cell phone looking thing attached to your body, or when they see you pull out a needle and some clear "liquid" and inject? honestly its gonna have to get to that point 1 way or the other, they WILL learn you have diabetes with or without the pump.
The benefits of the pump far outweigh the cons, at least in my opinion. Even if your small you can put the omnipod on your lower back or like other fit women ive seen on your arm like i do. Or your leg if your going sleeveless. You really forget its there.
I know your probably worried that a guy will feel it and think your weird if yoru at a club dancing or something but just say right off the bat when they discover it that its your insulin pump for your diabetes. Ive never had problems when saying that, and you think guys are superficial? Ive met plenty of girls like that without giving me weird looks so im telling you it wont be a big deal. The biggest factor in a relationship and meeting people is your personality not your pump. Especially since you have a body to boot, well i think you will do fine.
Let me know if you have more questions im here to help, glad i found this website its cool to talk to other diabetics lets us know were not alone in hard times, every diabetic goes through problems like yours in the beginning so once you get over that, it will be smooth sailing, well kinda lol.
hi annie! i'm so sorry for the late reply.. i haven't checked in for a while!
yup, they allowed me with no problems. i told my endo that the pump was irritating my skin and my sugars were in control before going on the pump as well so there was no issue of losing control once i changed from pump to pens. i've been on pens since 2006/2007 i think and i'd like to get a pump again, but i'm waiting for something that is flatter, detachable, etc... :)
I'm on the omnipod and love it!! Check it out!