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I've been sensing and feeling connections between my cognitive ability and my memory retrieval ability in relationship with the level of blood sugar in my blood stream. So this type of article fascinates me.
One of the reasons I strive for as normal blood sugar as possible, is that I just plain have trouble thinking when it's high. The higher, the worse it is.
Glycemic Index: New Way to Count Carbs?-Trustworthy, Physician-Reviewed Information from WebMD
More and more good research on this says that it is the way to fly. Or at least eat.
Insulin Effective for Early Type 2
Insulin Effective for Early Type 2
Insulin Pumps as Effective as Shots for Treating Type 2 Diabetes
I'm finding it MORE effective.
Did my second basal test. It drove me nuts, and I think wore me out.
Went without eating from the time I got up until 12:30. That's as long as I could stand.
HOWEVER, my blood sugar stayed pretty constant the whole time.
I'm tired!
I've been on the pump now, for almost a week. I've seen a huge number of improvements.
I actually almost enjoy the gym.
Problems? Hmmm, can't think of any. I was dreading site changes, but after doing it twice with no problems, that isn't an issue. yeah, I carry around this box, but on the other hand, I don't have to give myself injections all the time.
I do a lot more blood testing than before, but I think that will start tapering off some.
I've done my third site change and it all went well. I'm very very pleased with my decision.
Even yesterday without sleep felt pretty good.
One of the less charming aspects of pumping is fine tuning basal rates.
Basically, you have to stop bolusing -- and eating -- and check your blood sugar every hour. I started last night at 8:00 -- so the test officially started at 10:00. So far, I've managed to make most of the testing times -- at night they do let you go every other hour.
Actually my pump trainer has guessed pretty good. Right now, the rates are running good. I think the problem occurs in a few hours from now -- around 8:00 am. I'm not sure if I can make it that long without food, but I"m going to try.
I cannot believe how much better I feel already.
Everyone at school has been commented on how much better my color is. But the best part, is that I have energy to do my work.
I LOVE MY PUMP!
Today was wonderful, I felt good all day, except for a brief carb overload at lunch -- I'm going to try delaying fruit by a half hour first, to see if that fixes it.
We're tweaking the sucker now. Doing my first basal test.
I LOVE MY PUMP!
In honor of my father, who named his airplane Wilbur, and also his oxygenerater, I've named my pump Orville and the Palm Pilot Wilbur.
It was funny, because I didn't think anyone would get Orville at all. But I didn't want to name it Wilbur ... funny that way. But then again, I use the Palm Pilot almost as much as Orville now, so Wilbur is perfect.
A lot of people still won't get it but then they won't matter
My pump trainer has been super. I need to compliment both Animas and her for her hard work.
She had originally contacted me back the day the shipped the pump, Friday 15th. She had scheduled me 2:30, which was a bit of an issue, but set me up with another trainer to show me the pump on Tuesday, who could do it at 4:00.
That worked out beautifully. I had time to get home and relax for a few minutes before we trained. That trainer did a super job making me feel comfortable.
However, the main trainer is the person who has been on the phone, and setting things up. We've got a pretty good routine started -- I send my daily logs to both her and my doctor every day. Got to love technology, though it's frustrating. I don't know why some days Acrobat will give us the graphs and some days it won't.
But just wanted to thank her and Animas for making this a pleasant experience.
I just lived through my first site change. It wasn't too bad. This is the part I dreaded the most.
Don't have to worry about not changing my sites often enough. I woke up itching.
I still love my pump, and I still love the Palm pilot software that comes with it.
We have some tweaking to do yet, but I'm already seeing quite an improvement. Didn't crash at the gym yesterday and even did my favorite -- elliptical trainer.
The first thing I did, when my doctor suggested I look into the pump, was do a web search on insulin pump. One of the first and best resources is the Insulin Pumper's site.
I joined, and then sat down and read about 3 months of archives.
That immediately ruled out Minimed. I dont think a week goes by without someone complaining about them. I have not noticed that with any other pump company. (Maybe Distronic, but that's okay, the FDA isn't letting them do anything in the USA anyway).
Then I sat down and looked at some websites comparing the pumps. Deltec Cozmo and Animas had almost the same features I was looking for. Very adjustable flow rates, water proof (we have a pool), etc.
I was invited to a support group demoing EasyManager Plus and even though the rep wasn't that good at demoing, I could see that the software put Animas over the top for me. Like I said in my post about EasyManager Plus, I'm a Palm kinda of girl.
After 3 meals on the pump, I'm sold. The Palm/Pump/Desktop model is flexible. Much more flexible than I think the MiniMed Paradigm model is, and more flexible than Cozmo.
So that's why I made my decision.
Well, I broke down this morning and ordered it, along with a night shirt and a t shirt from Animas. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
It's been 24 hours now, on the pump and things are going super. I'm still worried about changing the infusion site, but I think that will be fine.
And man it is nice to eat breakfast and dinner without injecting!
Last post on all of this....
So Cigna has the paperwork and they decide to sit on it and see if it hatches anything
They claim that they only pay for pumps for Type I, Level 2 diabetics. NO ONE has every heard of a Level 2. Not the doctor, not anyone on the insulin pumpers list, and an internet search turned up nothing.
So, I agongize over that a day, and decide to just bite the bullet. My health is much more important than money -- can't make any of money if I am not healthy, so I call up Animas and want to order one. The guy I was talking to about it is OUT! Scream.
Finally, first thing, Friday morning (Aug 15), I leave him a message to the effect if I don't hear from him by noon, I'm calling Deltec and order a Cozmo. He returned my call, we got it ordered and on the way.
That afternoon, the local trainer calls me and offers me an appointment on Thursday afternoon. I've got to dump my last period class off with a teacher friend -- super lady -- but its doable.
Get the pump on Monday morning. Pulled it all apart when I got home, starting watching the video tape. Oh, and dealing with no A/C at the same time.
Best news of all, get a phone call on Thursday, a different trainer, she wants to know if we can move appointment later. YES! YES! No dumping children off on teacher friend.
So, we do the training on Thursday, and I'm a pumper.
Posted by me on the pumper's list.
It's my first morning after the pump.
Last night, I was so tired, so overwhelmed by the events of the last weeks, when we finished pump training, my response was "well", and a neutral one at that.
I had been very anxious all day being without any type of basal insulin. I was expecting a whirring, clicking little beast, and it was absolutely silent. So that was weird. I was just numb tired.
It was so bad, I couldn't really think last night, yet at the same time couldn't sleep -- I have a myriad of sleeping disorders (sleep apnea, restless leg to start), and bad nights -- the ones with no A/C just mean more bad nights, even when the situation gets good.
However, after taking a sleeping pill I was finally able to shut down and sleep. Alarm clock at 3:00, quick test and rolled over and back to sleep. Wasn't sure if I needed to do anything, it was 82, but I felt fine -- felt stable.
Woke up at 4:30 -- I've been doing THAT a lot lately, and managed to stay in bed until 5:00. However, I don't feel groggy like I usually do. It typically takes me a good hour before I can function. BS is at 85, typically I wake with sugar between 120-140. Bet that's a primary cause of the grogginess.
Pump doesn't bother me at all to sleep, but then again, I'm hooked up to a CPAP and humidifer, so how bad could the pump be. I think I do want to get a couple of pajamas, and a couple of pairs of cotton pants for around the house. On the thinking stage.
I really like the following (and this is the Animas software):
Being able to put in food in the database, and it tell me exactly how much bolus I need.
Being able to put in BS in the database, and it tell me how much correction I need.
And it putting that straight in the database.
I also like the reports, and my doctor did too, but that's the statistical voyeaur in me (I've actually formerly been accused of that). I would like a tad more information in the reports.
I'll let you know how the day goes.
Well, I'm in love with a piece software. Okay, the user interface is cluggy as all heck but it is similar to the user interface on the pump itself. Once I started programming the pump, the interface made sense, but I STILL want to graffitti my numbers!
Now that this is out of my system. And darn, I didn't tell today's trainer the whole truth. What actually pushed me over the edge from Deltec to the Animas pump was the software. Yeah, the Cozmos is cute, but the Palm/Desktop EasyManager software is something that I can use.
First, I was already hooked on the Palm, and really liked the Diabetes Pilot (and you can actually graffiti your numbers with it, plus edit the fooddata base). So moving to Easy Manager wasn't hard. I actually started playing with EasyManager before I went to the pump.
I'm not a paper person. I lose paper. (You should see the desk right now, in order NOT to lose paper, it has to stay on the desk, where it first appeared -- and even then it's chancy.) So running around with a Palm pilot that I can backup on a regular basis (I have one of those fancy little cards I back up to + the desktop) is right for me. Again, that pushed me over the edge.
I really love being able to hook the meters to the software (I use Freestyle) and I love the fact that the software works with several meters. Here's the great news -- and one of those really weird, head scratching things. Freestyle had sent me a new meter about a month ago and for a week, it wouldn't talk to the EasyManager. For some weird reason, it started talking today.
And so now, the big question. I've already spent $29.99 on the upgrade, and I think $89.99 for the Therasense software and cable. Do I spring $159 for the IR port, and when? Now, or wait a while.
According to the Diabetes In Control Newsletter
Dr. Richard Bernstein will be on National Television this Saturday on the CBS
Evening News at 6:30PM CST. The Diabetes Diet Wars is heating up.
We've been without A/C now since Friday evening. We had it briefly on Sunday night. Can't sleep in the bed, too hot, tried sleeping on the floor, too much reflux.
This is NOT good.
My pump and probably about a month's worth of supplies came today. Was really happy to see it all.
Can't wait until Thursday!
Hit a low at the gym again, and I'm getting tired of either being too low or two high.
I started having trouble with controlling blood sugar as soon as school was out. I started getting wild swings almost immediately.
About the end of June, my doctor suggested that I look into the pump. I started researching it on line, calling the insurance company about it, etc.
I wanted to know exactly how much it would cost me, how would it benefit, all that stuff. One of the best resources was the insulin pumpers list -- mentioned them last time. Also, all the individual pump websites.
I did however, get lots of different stories from the insurance company.
All and all it was interesting and I narrowed my selection down to Deltec Cozmo and Animas. The only significant difference I saw between the two, was battery type.
Animas one, because I met one of their sales reps at a support group. I suppose Deltec would have one if I had met them first. Animas had a form in my hand, me filled it out, and off to the doctor's and insurance company almost immediately.
The first delay in getting paperwork together on the pump, was caused by lack of communication. I was still in a -- hmmm, do I want to do this stage ... and do I want to do it now, or do I want to wait until January when we might get new insurance.
This was back in the beginning of July, so the school board hadn't met etc.
Well, a few things happened in my life that let me know I wanted it NOW, but I hadn't told the doctor yet. So he was sitting on the paperwork, thinking it wasn't a priority.
Once I communicated with him and let him know that yes, I wanted to go ahead, NOW, he got on board and got with it.
So we submitted it and waited. For some reason, everything got to the durable equipment management company and they okayed it, and even recommended full payment. Well, Cigna hadn't heard of it, and weren't budging until they got their paperwork.
That all happened in the wrong part of the week, so more delay.
Very frustrating.
And the doctor had a feeling that Cigna wouldn't approve from his knowledge.
However, the pump company person I was working with kept saying they would.
I'm starting the insulin pump on Thursday. I really can't wait!
If you need information on insulin pumping I really recommend http://www.insulin-pumpers.org (or the one for the country of your choice).
They have been supportive.
I'm going to tell my battles on this in short spurts. I think we can all take it that way better.
Still waiting on insulin pump. I am purposely not posting about this process, but will when I have pump in hand.
I'm not as tired. It will be interesting to see how things go when school starts.
I got my report letter from my school this weekend
I am STILL waiting on the pump, but at least it seems that everyone has the right paperwork now.
Yahoo! News - Walking Helps Type 2 Diabetics
We hear this so often now. But it DOES help me.