Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark on May 22, 2012 at 5:36am

I am interested in know the answer to this one, too. I am switching from a Cozmore, which did offer the ability to program a set basal pattern for each day of the week. It sure had some really cool features. Too bad they are quitting the insulin pump business.

Permalink Reply by MegaMinxX on May 24, 2012 at 4:27pm

Yes ! You can set 3 different 'patterns'. The Standard, A and B.

On your MM, go to Basals - Set up - Patterns, and set it 'on'. Then you just program an alternate set of basal rates that meet your needs. If you are low at 7-8am, you would want a lower basal rate starting around 5-6 am. Once they are setup, you can switch between them whenever you want.

Many people (including me) find that BG rises by just getting up in the morning, and even more with caffeine. For those that get up the same time every day, that can be set as part of their basal pattern. But since I vary the time I get up, especially on weekends, I will do a small bolus when I get up, without eating carbs, to account for it.

You'll have to experiment, and decide how predictable your wakeup time is, and if there is a corresponding rise in BG. Good to hear you have CGMS, as that can really help with the experimenting !

Permalink Reply by Mark on May 25, 2012 at 8:14am

Can you program the pump to switch from Standard to A or B automatically on weekends, or, do you have to manually tell the pump to switch to the other pattern on the weekend?

Permalink Reply by MegaMinxX on May 25, 2012 at 8:00pm

Mark - you have to switch manually.

There is a temp basal, that can be set for up to 24 hours, and that will 'automatically' return to the 'active' pattern at the end of the time period. I tend to use that more often than the A/B patterns. My variations are more activity related, than what day of the week it is.

I use my A/B when I am experimenting with changes to my basals. I keep my standard as it was, and make A as a 'copy', and then change the time periods that I think need more/less. Then wait several days with the 'new' pattern and tweak again as needed. If I decide the new A is now correct, then I move those settings to the standard. If it's worse than it was, I just go back to the original standard.

But everyone is different, and some find A/B patterns that are repeatable for certain days / situations.

Permalink Reply by shoshana27 on May 26, 2012 at 5:27pm

what do you mean by BASAL PATTERNS?

Permalink Reply by MegaMinxX on May 26, 2012 at 6:46pm

Hi Shoshana,
if you have a MM pump, then either you or your medical team set up your basals, which is the Standard 'pattern' - which refers to the basal rates and times ranges.

When delivered the MM pump option is set to have only 1 standard pattern.

But if you go to the Basal settings, you can turn 'on' patterns, and then you'll have Standard, A and B.
Then you can set up different 'schedules' for Pattern A and B, with different basal rates at different hours. Some people use a different pattern for
- work days vs non-work days,
- some women use different patterns for different days in their cycle
- active vs less active days
- sick days

Once A and/or B pattern is set up, then you can switch between the patterns under the Basal menu.

Many just use the standard, especially beginners. 15+ years ago, my first pump was MM 507 and it could only do 1 pattern. I think multiple patterns was added when MM 508 or 512 came out.

Permalink Reply by shoshana27 on May 26, 2012 at 7:30pm

THANKS MEGAMINX...I'LL CHECK IT OUT.