Well I see you have found your way to my "follow me" page. I have decided to take all of you with me through my experiences with my new friend Minimed 507C. I call him "Charlie" after my grandpa who is also diabetic and could probably use a pump as well.

Well it has been about 3 weeks now and the pump seems to being doing its job. I am on a more even keel as far as my blood sugars go. This is most likely the first time that they have stayed consistantly in the 90s and 100s in years.

It is very nice NOT to have to eat at any particular time and it has been nice to sleep in a couple times and not have to worry about waking up with a 500 blood sugar.

I have had to change its site ever 3 days this they tell me is to prevent infection. I have to tell you the first time on my own was terrifying. I was so nervous and I managed to pull out the insert after it had been put in so as you can guess I had to re do the whole process. Needless to say I had to lay down after it was all over.

The next few times were better although there was another incident where I pulled out the insert and had to start over yet again. It is the anxiety of getting everything together and placed just so and not spending an hour doing it. I am sure as time goes on it will get better.

As I said on the front page, I am not used to having something connected to me all the time. This is going to take some time. I have had family and friends say to me "well it isnt that bad and at least your in more control" I can see they are trying to make me feel better about it but the fact is they are not having to carr it around. I guess I feel like with the shots, I did that in my own privacy and then it was done I went on my way but with this it is always on me. It is a constant reminder. You would think that after 30+ years of having diabetes that it would not be such a big deal but I have found that it is for me.

Another adjustment to get used to is the cost. While I have Medicare to cover 80% the 20% is no small amount when you consider the monthly rental for the pump and all of its supplies. I have looked into supplemental Insurances but they are outrageous in price. I do not see how those with fixed incomes can afford medical nessesities. I had considered buying the pump outright thinking it would be cheaper in the long run, it turns out to purchase the pump the cost is \\$6500 no, this is not a typo. six thousand five hundred dollars I could not believe it. So for now we will go a month at a time.

2-7-2001

It's official, I love the pump!!!

While i had major reservations about it at first, It truely has become a good friend to me. My control has never been better and i am actually getting back to my normalroutine of things. I am not as tired as I had been and that sluggish lazy feeling is starting to fade.

Now, I am checking blood 8 times a day now i know that sounds like allot but considering I have not had a major insulin reactions since i started and no real control problems it really is a small inconvieniance. I should in the next few weeks be able to stop the 3am check which will be nice.

I had surgery on the 5th of February for neuropathy in my wrists. I cannot tell you how nice it was not to have a big ordeal with adjusting a shot with no eating after midnight for surgery. I didnt "have" to eat so there was no adjustments to be made. My blood sugar stayed in the 70s the entire time.

So, this is my update for this month. Check back in March to see what happens next. I cant wait to find out myself!

4-3-2001

Well, I thought I would share with you some wonderful news. I had a hemaglobin A1C done last August this is BEFORE the pump and it was returned to me with a result of 10.5 YIKES we all know this is a BIG no no. but as you all know I was having a terrible time with my control at that time and was taking about 8 injections a day to try and gain some kind of control in my life and my diabetes.

WELL....... I am very happy to report that after 3-4 months of being on the Minimed pump I now have the pleasure of sharing with you a result of 6.5 can you believe it!!!!!!! I was thrilled. I cant remember the last time I had a 6.5 I am still enjoying the freedom of no injections learning more about counting the carbs and enjoying daily control. no more guess work what a relief.

Well I had to share I hope that anyone wanting info on the Minimed will visit their site www.Minimed.com they are a wonderful comapny and they have really help me with my control.

8-27-02

Well it has been well over a year since I went on Minimed 507c and I still love the freedom and control it has given me. I am still holding a 6.5 on my A1C which has helped in controlling my Retinapothy and keeping any other complications from arising. Its only flaw, making you feel so good that you get lazy about checking your blood. This is a bad thing. I have had to get on myself about this a couple times. but the control is SO good that I dont have the energy loss like before the pump, I am not sick to my stomach like before or the head aches, the freedom to count the Carbs and be done with it is wonderful as well.

Since I went on the pump I have urged others who have diabetes to get one. I recently came in contact with a friend of mine who is also Diabetic and we grew up as children going to camp together and being really good friends. I had asked her about having one and she was very hesitant. I was able to tell her all the things that was bothering her, you know the being connected to something ALL the time, What will people think when they see it, the usual. I am hoping that in time she will come around and give it a try.

My son has been Diabetic for 5 months now he will not get a pump until next March but he is so ready for one. we were very prepared for his diabetes and he was able to go on to do all his Scouting and camp outs but I have to tell you that If he had been using a pump it would have been so much nicer for him and me. I would have been able to worry less. He attended Diabetic Camp this past summer and there were allot of kids usuing the pumps they make them waterproof and everything now so there really are no limitations. Anyway I know it had been awhile but when you have a teenager you know it is always run run run, and I am thankful that now I can do that freely.

Take care everyone. Til Nextime!!

7/7/06

WOW.... it has been way to long that I have been in here updating. As you can see my last update stated that my son would soon be going on the insulin pump. He did and it has been a God send. He has been diabetic for 4 years now and has yet to have a severe insulin reaction. he is driving now and I have to say I feel much more confident in his control due to the pump. Now, I am a realist, and know that a pump is not a guarantee that he will never have one but it certainly helps to avoid one.

I have since upgraded from my 507C to a Paradign. I do like its compatablity with its glucose monitor and I also like the bolus wizard, that is very good for those calculations on the now and then high blood sugars. As I have stated in the past the pumps only downfall is that you have the capability to gain weight. When all you have to do is count carbs it makes it easy to eat things in larger amounts AND things that you would not normally eat. This is only because control is so much easier with the pump. My A1Cs are still in good range and I feel great most of the time. (aside from other issues)

Paradign has a new pump out now that allows continuous glucose monitoring. While the idea is great is DOES involve a whole other set of infusion and my insurance does not cover that. As it is it does not conver the infusion part of my supplies, only the resivoirs (no i dont understand why one thing and not the other especially since one cant work without the other but......) Should insurance ever cover all supplies I would consider the newer pump for glucose monitoring for my son more than myself, I think that would be an awsome benfit to him driving.

3/8/2009

OK, OK I know this is getting to be rediculous. updating every 3 years is not good. but I should have allot to share dont you think? I am still using the paradign pump, I am not using the added features of the glucose monitoring system as it is an added cost I simply cant afford. I did take about a years break from wearing the pump due to finances but have since gotten back on track so to speak. While off the pump my control as you can guess was not so great, very LOW lows and very HIGH highs no real control. I was using the long acting Lantus and humalog for meal times and while that can work for some it is simply not something thst works well for me over a long period of time. My pump is set to adjust my basil rate differently throughout the day, Lantus will not do that, it is just a steady rate for 24 hours +/-. I need a little more between midnight and 7am in order to wake up with a good fasting level.

My son who is now 19 still uses a pump. He is still using a 508C the pump itself is in good shape and helps to keep in better control. It would be nice to have a newer version fror him but Insurance does not assist much in this area. He does wsell though and I sleep better knowing that he has one. As I have said in the past, while having the pump is a blessing, it can also be a hinderance, you really have to have this on you 24/7 it is allot to accept. some days it is just to much but I have to be thankful that there is a way to control the diabetes. There are many diseases that simply do not have the drugs or tools needed to make life easier. Dont get me wrong, life with diabetes is not easy but it can be managable, you can go on with life like anyone else IF you use the tools.

Well I hope I have not bored you or anything like that I hope you will come back and see further updates and remember if you use a pump I would love to hear from you. I have no one to compare notes with so it would sure be a help to me.