Category: Diabetic Issues

I feel the need to explain my not holding my breath.

Shortly after I was diagnosed, I realized that hypoglymcia was a real problem when you were dealing with tight control and saw that Therasense was coming out with a continous glucose monitor.

That was two years ago.

Last year, Therasense submitted a PreMarket application to the FDA. Yes, LAST YEAR. They were bought by Abbott, and while we hear things about their technology through doctor’s conventions no other news has been out.

Minimed has a continous glucose monitor that your doctor can put on you and retrieve the information about 3 days later. On their website they mention the soon availablity of the Guardian system. That’s been on their website for almost a year. We still haven’t seen the Guardian, and we also know that it will not actually display the information realtime. It will have alarms and you’ll have to down load it.

So I am no longer expecting a CGMS any time soon.

There are lots of issues with CGMS, I guessing one of the big ones is the sensor since the infusion set is the biggest issue when it comes to pump reliablility.

Real Gains but Practical Limitations to Glycaemic Control With

I was on MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) for almost a year. This study sites the reasons I went to the pump.

I couldn’t get my HbA1c better than 8, I lost control when my schedule changed — which happens fairly frequently. If I went to a workshop, had a long weekend, etc. I lost control.

Also, I kept gaining weight no matter what I did.

Going to the pump solved all those problems.

June 12, 2004

Nateglinide Reduces Both Post-and Interprandial Glucose Levels

I think we’ll be seeing more of these kinds of studies.

To start with, the motto of the insulin-pumper’s group is YMMV — meaning Your Milage May Vary.

SimpleChoice : : Innovative Insulin Delivery Products For Diabetics

Frankly, I hate fewer things more than I hate these infusion sets. I actually sent half a box back to them.

Why? Well to begin with, there is always an edge that has no adhesive. If you are not careful, you catch that edge on your clothing and you pull the whole set off. Yep, did it twice.

Second, their adhesive melts when you get in a hot tub. That’s even more annoying because the whole set slides, pulling the cannela out. Of course, you don’t know until the cannela is halfway out, and you are wondering why your blood sugar is too high, until you started getting pinched by the almost out cannela.

ARGH!

Also, it takes two hands to disconnect.

Did I mention I really hate these things?

Oh, and there is no room on the sides of the plastic connection system to put tape down to keep the site down better.

Did I mention I really hate these things?

Oh, and it’s THEIR A1C kit that takes 10 days to get a result.

I won’t be trying them again.

As I said in my “Minimed” post, pump users are passionate about their pumps.

I looked at all the pumps, and narrowed down to Minimed, Distronic and Animas fairly quickly.

Customer service was what finally helped me make the decision. I looked at over 3 months of insulin pumpers digest, and Minimed was complained about weekly. From supplies service to customer support, there were complaints. And this was about a month before the water debacle too…

I also looked up the pump manufactures on the FDA Maude Database. This database lists all equipment failures. It’s pretty interesting if you are a data voyeur.

I believe one of the reasons that Cigna is denying my pump, is because I selected the Animas — but that’s okay. The education I’m getting from the pump trainer is almost worth it.

Last post on all of this….

So Cigna has the paperwork and they decide to sit on it and see if it hatches anything After 3 days — maybe that wasn’t bad, they come back and deny the request.

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.

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.

It can be REALLY REALLY frustrating.

Doctor told me today, that I should think about going on the pump. So I did some research. I’ve spent most of the last 3 hours on the phone researching this….

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