Insulin Pumps

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/27/2003 2:40:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,

jimbrown@... writes:

Do you feel completely recovered from your TP now?

Good luck and best wihes.

Hi Fliss, thanks for writing to me about insulin pumps. I wish I knew

something about them before I make a decision on which brand I am going to buy.

I

will keep searching and maybe soon I will know which one would be right for me.

I will try the site you wrote to me about.

I am totally recovered from the TP/ICT. I have other health problems that

keep me ill most of the time. I have chronic Hepatitis B. I also stretched my

stomach by eating too much food last November and now I am only able to eat

small portions every two hours. I believe it was a mental thing my eating so

much at one time. When I had cp I couldn't eat at all for six years so when I

could finally eat I went hog wild. I was on TPN almost the full six years.

Eating very little at a time reminds me of the terrible days when I had cp. That

was a nightmare. But hepatitis B is really bad. I don't have any stamina.

I am so tired and weak and have body pain most of the time. If I didn't have

hepatitis I would feel great since my tp surgery. It is amazing how much my

life changed when I had my sick pancreas removed. If I didn't have hepatitis I

am sure that I could do anything. Take care of yourself and I hope you have

a good day today. Shirley

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/2003 12:12:44 AM Eastern Standard Time,

hhessgriffeth@... writes:

My endo is recommending either the Metrodonic Mini

Med, or a newer one made by Animas.

Thank you Heidi for the good information on the insulin pumps. I will talk

with my endo about the ones you told me about. I will also join a diabetes

group. Do you have the site for the group? Hopefully I will see you there. My

endo suggested I start using a pump since I eat every two hours and need to

inject insulin every time I eat. I feel that my days and nights are all about

my

bs. I sure could use an easier way to inject my insulin. It is a full time

job checking bs and injecting insulin every two hours from the time I awake to

bedtime. I am exhausted!!!!LOLOLOL

My endo called me yesterday and advised me to think about a pump for my

convenience and she is going to send me some brochures advertising two or three

pumps. I will let you know if she is suggesting the pumps that you mentioned.

I

don't believe that she has a lot of knowledge about pumps though. Her job is

mainly as a scientist at a teaching hospital here in Cincinnati. She goes to

clinic one or two days a week. I really like her and she is so easy to talk

with. The first endo I went to when I found out that I was a mild diabetic

was very good at his job but he was very rude. He wanted to prescribe oral meds

for my diabetes and I nicely asked him if oral meds would cause my islets to

work too hard. He really became angry. So much for him. I wish he didn't

have such a rude attitude since I know that he is a good doctor. Maybe he

doesn't know anything about diabetes when the pancreas is removed and the islets

are transferred to the liver.

I will be getting in touch with my endo in two or three weeks if I decide

which pump is best for me. If I cannot decide then I will discuss the pump with

her in January which is my next appointment date. I really don't know

anything about insulin pumps. Do you have to wear the pump near your waist? If

so

how do you button pants etc? All of my clothes are already tight around the

waist and there is no room for a pump there. Sorry to ramble Heide. Thanks

again. Shirley

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

I'm a type 1 brittle diabetic, as a result of my DKA last spring, and although I

don't have my pump, yet, I'm scheduled to go in January to make

arrangements for one. My endo is recommending either the Metrodonic Mini

Med, or a newer one made by Animas. One of the other type 1's in my local

diabetes support group uses the Mini Med, and has for several years, and

she's really happy with it.

Have you thought about joining an online diabetes support group and asking

your question there? You can usually get some good feedback from one of

those groups. I had planned to do that myself next month.

Also, if your doctor will substantiate that the pump is medically justified,

most

insurance companies will pay for it. I know that my Endo said that my BC/BS

would cover the cost of mine. Have you spoken to your Endo about this?

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments and advice are personal opinion only, and never

should be substituted for a professional medical consultation.

Shirley wrote:

Can you give me the names of the insulin pumps that some of you are using

and how much you like them, how easy they are to use etc. I don't know

anything about insulin pumps and since they are so expensive I want to try

to choose the right pump the first time around. Thank you for your help.

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

You wrote, " I am going to go from an insulin pen to an insulin pump for

convenience... Giving myself insulin every two hours is a constant job that I

don't

want to do. Can you give me the names of the insulin pumps ... "

I understand the issue about giving insulin every time you put a piece of

food in your mouth. I actually am trying to schedule an appointment with an

endocrinologist to obtain information re: conversion from pen to pump. Since I

had

serious oral surgery last Monday, my blood sugars have been out the roof. I

have tried switching insulin vials / pens cartridges and sites, but can't bring

my blood sugar level under 200. It was over 350 for two days. My HgbA1C

standard has just been jeopardized, not less my general health. Accurate control

would be better achieved with regular insulin dosing from a pump, I'm sure.

Re: what's on the market: Friends tell me that the http://www.medtronic.com/

Wireless insulin pump is the greatest.

Let me know how it goes.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org

Pancreatitis Association International

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

You wrote, " Have you thought about joining an online diabetes support group

and asking your question there? "

I wanted to pipe in that Medicare allows for 16 hours of Diabetic Education a

year from an RN/CDE and an RD/CDE. Take advantage of this if anyone does have

Medicare. (I know this comes with disability, so I was timid to bring it up)

The other option is to get a hold of your local or State PAI Rep and see

about organizing an impromptu diabetes training class with one of the drug reps

or

the minimed rep. We are planning one soon for Indy. They will do it for free

with adequate notice. They are required to provide this inservice education

and are always looking for interested folks. If you want more information on

this let me know. When I spoke to both the Medtronic's Rep and the Animas Rep

they said they only needed four or five folks. It would be a great way to get

together.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org

Pancreatitis Association International