Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by smileandnod on April 18, 2012 at 9:29am

Hi Shirley, I'm excited for you to be taking this step to feeling better! :)

I'm type 1 diagnosed at the age of 27 about 25 years ago. I stayed on injections until I went on the OmniPod about 7 weeks ago and I absolutely love it. I hope your experience is as positive as mine has been. OmniPod Customer Service has been great - I've called them at 10pm at night and at 7am on Sunday morning and have always gotten a timely response and a sympathetic voice.

My transition to the OmniPod was fairly easy because I had been on insulin and counting carbs for so long that I already had a good understanding of that part. It sounds from your post like you may just now be going on insulin and I'm assuming just learning to carb count since you were on pills before?

If you're new to insulin and carb counting, your biggest learning curve will probably be with the carb counting. Once you get used to it you'll be fine. I would strongly recommend a little purse sized Calorie King nutritional content book - it has the carb counts of almost every food you can think of, as well as restaurants, and it's so easy to stick it in your purse and go.

Another suggestion would be to watch the online tutorial for getting started on the OmniPod website. I watched the tutorial several times and read the manual that came with my PDM before my training visit to ease my nerves a little bit. It helped alot because the training just steps you through it exactly like the tutorial and manual.

The PDM is really easy to use and it tells you what to do every step for putting a pod on - super easy.

As far as questions for the trainer, based on my own questions when first starting just recently, I'd probably ask:
(1) How do you know when and for what purpose to use a "temp basal"? When you use a temp basal, how do you know how long to set it for?
(2) How do you know what % and for how long to extend an extended bolus?
(3) When should you "suspend" the insulin delivery?
(4) What should I do if I change a pod and my blood glucose goes up? How do I know if it's bad site absorption or the pod? How long should I wait before I pull the pod off and insert a new one?

If you're new to carb counting and/or insulin, I'd probably also ask:
(1) How do I adjust my I:C (insulin to carb) ratios?
(2) How do I know what my insulin correction factor is?

I would also strongly suggest the book "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh. This book will explain more completely everything to do with controlling bg and using a pump. It's a good reference to keep also; I refer to mine whenever I have a problem.

Sorry for the long response but I believe that information is power! Read and learn as much as you can and it will make for an easier adjustment. I'm sure other folks here will be chiming in to help also. Good luck! And be sure to come back here with questions when you get started... the people here know more than my CDE and trainer.

Permalink Reply by MooseDroppings on April 18, 2012 at 1:00pm

Thank you for the long response. LOL. I appreciate all the questions you gave me. I'm going to look for "Pumpin Insulin". I hate to admit it, but since being diagnosed I have had the mentality that "since I can't see it I don't have it", but with the developement of severe neuropathy, and poor vision I am seeing the error of my ways and hope to correct these bad habits. I am thankful for finding this site because I am gonna need all the help I can get.

I have been on Byetta which helped for a while and then I used Lantus slow acting for a couple of years and that wasn't working either.My former Dr had me on Metformin, then Actos Plus Met , and several others, but they always made me very ill. I could not eat or even drink water without getting sick. My daughter in law thought I was bulimic or something; the plus side of that was I lost 65 lbs. I believe I should have been on insulin long ago.

I have learned some about calculating the carbs, and I do have The Calorie King Calorie Fat & Carb Counter, and the Complete Book Of Food Counts.

Thank again for all your help. I'll post again when I have the training and let you know how it goes.
Sincerely,
Shirley

Permalink Reply by Jim on April 18, 2012 at 1:07pm

Good luck with pumping, Shirley. I think most people see a significant drop in their BG readings and greater control with pumping insulin, once you get your settings regulated. Since you've never been on insulin at all, as opposed to moving from shots to a pump, it could take some tweaking of your settings to get things regulated. The most important thing that you must know is how does it feel when your BG gets low, and what should you do about it. High BG can kill you slowly, but low BG can kill you fast. No joke. Remember, this will be a process, especially at first, but an insulin pump works much more like a normal pancreas than either shots or pills, so hopefully you'll begin to see some positive results soon. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your trainer, and the Insulet helpline is a great resource, as well. Good luck! You are taking a big step toward better health!

Permalink Reply by MooseDroppings on April 19, 2012 at 5:27am

Thank you Jim. I was on Byetta for a couple of years and have been on Lantus 24 hr for about a year but they just didn't do the job. I was running over 200 with both.
I have had my BG bottom out only twice in the 10 years I have been diabetic and both times I hit the floor before I could take measures to avoid it. Thankfully hubby was home both times and I was only able to holler for help and he knew what to do.
I am trying to get into the habit of checking BG more often now rather than after I start pumping.

Permalink Reply by Jim on April 20, 2012 at 6:29am

I was on a combination of Lantus and Novolog before I got my Omnipod. I found my control was much better, and my insulin use dropped significantly once I started pumping. Quick-acting insulin is like what your body produces, and the slow-acting kind will never be comparable to a basal dose of the quick-acting. My A1C dropped significantly the first two months I was on the pump and has remained much better than before.

Permalink Reply by MooseDroppings on April 20, 2012 at 11:41am

When I was on the Lantus I was up to 90 units a night and still the lowest BG I had was 179, and I don't even want to think about what my A1C is right now...it's really high. I am excited to start pumping because I know it's going to help and I will feel much better.
The trainer is coming 4-26 so I'll be a new me before long. I have been studying the book that came with it and trying to absorb as much info as possible, and have the questions ready for her.
Wish I had done this long ago.