Hey All,
Tonight, I received a surprise. Not a good surprise. My PDM started yelling at me, and I don't like being yelled at, so I removed the batteries instead of following the directions on-screen (which told me to call customer support). Then I tried to reset it with the little black button (plus paperclip) below the battery cage, and then it started on an endless loop of displaying the OmniPod screen, then a white screen, then off. Repeating forever. So I called customer support and they told me I probably messed up the insides by using rechargeable batteries (which I totally didn't realize was a problem), and they were nice enough to offer to send me a new PDM free of charge, but it won't arrive til Tuesday because of the poor timing of my little fiasco.
My main question is, who has had a PDM error and had to go back to MDI recently? I honestly hardly remember the procedure (Lantus/Humalog). Can't get a hold of my endo right now, but I sent him an email. I haven't done MDI in like 7 years, so any advice until I can get a hold of him would be much obliged!
Also, I've read of some people receiving shipments of the new pods in the US, which is awesome!! They don't make you pay for the newer PDM right? I certainly hope not!
Thanks,
Mark
I had a PDM failure about a year ago....it started beeping and woudn't reset after removing the batteries or pushing the reset with a paperclip as directed by customer service...so I had to switch back to MDI while they overnighted a new PDM.
I phoned my CDE and she instructed me to use Lantus at the same number of units as my pump was delivering basal (I hope you have these numbers recorded on paper or in your computer downloads!) . Bolus is just as on the pump - inject rapid insulin per the carb count divided by your I:C ratio and correct with your ISF ratio.
I hope you have all these factors written down or in your computer (from pump downloads) as you will need them to reset your PDM when the new one arrives.
In my case, I had them on my computer and my diabetes center also retains printed copies from my last visit in case I lose my own data.
Someone should be available to cover your endo to help you - call their service. If you dont have long acting insulin on hand for backup (Lantus, Levemir, etc) the Dr's office can phone in a prescription to a 24 hour pharmacy for you. You can also get by on your pump insulin until you get long-acting, but you will have to inject every couple of hours or so to keep insulin in your system. You do not want to go for more than the insulin duration period 3-4 hours or so) without any insulin as you could go into DKA...
HPN pilot, whenever i see you reply to someone, i breath a sigh of relief ok its covered well, you are so educated and informed about your D , you reply in a clear concise way that gives just the info necessary info
markeeezy, what a bummer, i hope you are coping alright, there should always be a doc on call and a 24 hour pharmacy to help in this situation, best of luck, amy
First, I hope markeeezy got what he needed to keep going until his new PDM arrives.
The first pump failure is indeed scary.
Amy,
You are very kind to say that, but I am still a newbie here. In fact, today is the 2nd anniversary of my diagnosis. I remember the day well... I was very sick, dehydrated, tired, and scared to death. It has been like drinking from a fire hose the last two years to learn all I needed to know. The folks on tudiabetes have been a great help in that regard - there are so many experts here who have been dealing with this condition for decades. In fact the parents of kids with diabetes, like yourself, Lorraine, and others have been an inspiration to me because if these kids can get through this, then I can too.....
My PDM hasn't fully failed yet, but I do get "stuck button" alarms often from the device. A hard tap on the side fixes it so far. I haven't called Insulet yet, but since the new pods/PDMS are coming out soon, I guess I can put up with it. I was a little put down that they didn't seem to redesign the PDM at all on the new setup. I hate the buttons. Diabetics have issues with fingers in their later years, and the buttons are starting to be annoyingly hard to press for me.
wow, i thought you were a lifer, i would say you are doing very well, are you an engineer, you seem to have that take it apart and handle it mentality! honestly though knowledge is power, learning all you can helps you feel like you have more control... and also accepting you do not always have all the answers is healthy to!
Yes, I have a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. :-). When I was diagnosed, the endo said "Don't worry ... you'll apply the same analytical skills you use in engineering to diabetes. " And she was right....
Thanks to everyone for the advice! I luckily had all my settings in the computer from a month ago when I went to the endo last, so I was able to get everything in order. But let me just say, I do NOT miss MDI!!! Holy moly, I exercised this morning and not being able to suspend/lower my basal rate during and after was very nervewracking. I've already had a few lows since then... not having the control that a pump gives you, after having used one for so long, is quite unnerving.
glad you are ok! makes you thankful for your machine ha! best wishes, amy
jacob wants to be a civil engineer, i think he has what it takes, he has always done well in school and is organized and responsible and he is planning for the long haul, impressive at 14! ( good qualities for a diabetic as well) he is in a drafting program at the local tech hs and loves it. so someday his diabetes management skills should bypass mine, but at 14 he isnt always thinking, ok i have this on board, i stacked all this insulin because i am starving all the time maybe i should retest before closing my eyes for the night.... so he has trying not to be helicopter mom watching over! blessings, amy
that is so neat to hear! I'm a doc ( pediatrician) so it helps me take care of my daughter kennedy, but my dad is an engineer, and he really uses his engineering skills helping take care of kennedy, pratically combusting food to get exact carb counts!!
i'll send you a message, he is well, hope kennedy is also! amy
