Due to my pump going out of warranty in like 2 weeks I am thinking about cutting the cord and going back to MDI until I can afford a new pump.
My insurance covers levemir at a lower co-pay so I would be on that. I would have to talk to my Dr. about dosage but everyone on here only seems to be on like 10-18 units for both shots. When I was on Lantus I was taking around 28-32 units once a day at night. My basal on my pump is between 20-24 depending on the day.
Does Levemir work that much better then Lantus?
How long do people use there pumps out of warranty?
I have a $2000 deductible then pay 30% so a new pump would be like $3000 out of pocket:(
Im a little nervous about going back to MDI. Last time I did for a weekend my BG stayed around 300 the whole time!
Any input would be great, thanks
Also another reason for coming off the pump is every time I order from animas it is a huge headache, their customer care seems to have gone way down from when I first got my ping.
Hi Adam I know of people using their pump a lot past their warranty went out. the pump can still work, but if it is damaged, you have a problem. if you decide to keep the pump, always keep levemir and novolog (or whatever short acting u use) pens around the house, so you are prepared for the emergency.
i went on a pump vacation last fall, for about a month. my basal rates on pump were around 23 units, and my doc told me to start safe, with 10 units in the morning and 10 at night. i had to increase especially my morning dose, at the end, when i went back to the pump, i was on 15 units in the morning and 10 at night. of course, that is only my experience, and you will have to try it out yourself. my doc told me that generally you need more basal insulin while on pens than when doing it on a pump.
good luck!
SC
I used my omnipod out of warranty for several months it still works, but I got a new one so that my 4 yr clock would start I used to use mdi with lantus. I had my Dr switch me to levimere for my back up, so that I would not have the 24 hr lantus in my system, when I did not want to put on a new pod in the evening I hate th 1 1/2 hr check you blood alarm when I want to sleep! I seam to need wY more levemere than I do lantus. I'm going to discuss this with my endo at my next appt. Back to you, won't you have to pay all out of pocket for your other pump supplies until you reach your deductible anyways?
I was thinking about getting a new pump at the end on this year when im closer to meeting my ded, then I wont have such a big bill smack me in the face. Im probably just gonna stay on the ping, just a little worried about being on a pump that is out of warranty. I don't think I will stay with animas, probably go with T:slim
I started out on lantus and then after about 6 months switched to levemir. i like levemir much more than lantus-no stinging at injection site. I found that I had to up the dose of basal when I switched to levemir from lantus, as it did not seem to be as strong.
I'm sorry you have to go off your pump. Good luck, I am sure with some time you'll be able to have good bgs with MDI.
Well, everyone's experience is strictly individual, of course. I have never had a pump and consequently have plenty of experience with Levemir. For me, it works like a charm -- smooth, even, and predictable. I can't offer thoughts on dosage since I have nothing to compare it to. However, reading this and other threads, the consensus seems to be that folks often need somewhat more, compared to the basal delivered by their pumps. But as with every aspect of diabetes, the only dependable guide is your own experience, i.e., trial and error. As always, the key to doing that safely is to start with less than you think you need and creep up on it slowly.
I would like to encourage to recheck your policy and ask if there is a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Waiver. Many insurance have this written in the policy, but some representives are not familiar with it, and you have to know to ask for it. It is the new way "consumer driven" policies are being written unfortunately. Your policy might not have one, but it is worth the question.
I'm still using my beloved Cozmo pump 2 1/2 years out of warranty. I have a newer Medtronic pump collecting dust because after a couple of months it drove me crazy.
Good to know. I know its not a ticking time bomb and at the 4 year mark it blows. I was thinking of using it until the end of the year then getting the T:slim. Part of me wants to take a break from the pump anyway.
I don't see any reason to stop using it, and even if you had an issue, I suspect Animas might work with you to try to address it outside of warranty (after all, they want you to get a new Animas pump when the time comes).
Strongly endorse the t:slim you're considering, I've had mine for two months (first pump, was on MDI before) and am super happy with both the pump and the customer service. In fact, while I'd give the pump an A, the customer service gets an A+. I may just have gotten lucky with my rep and the various other Tandem folks with whom I've engaged, but as best I can tell, the company has really internalized a customer service ethos.
