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First, Medtronics is finally selling a rubberized skin for their pumps. I picked up a black one since I am used to black, not purple. The purple still shows.

Second, I have called and asked for a screen protector. I have now badly scarred two pumps. Animas came out with one shortly after I scoured that screen with sand at a dog trial. That was so bad I couldn't read the screen and they had to send me a new pump.

I found the screen protector on Ebay, shipped from Texas. It scared me because you had to spray the pump and protector with soapy water but it is working well.

I tried cutting down a couple of iPhone dry protectors but they came right off.

Wish Medtronics would sell one.

Sent from my Windows Phone

Apparently I passed their tests – I’ve been admitted to the insomnia program and the first appointment in on Tuesday.

Best news – I have met my deductible so there is no out of pocket costs.

I had four options.

Go to training on a Tuesday evening (three different dates, two different locations), or the 4^th option – training virtually.

Guess which I took?

It was great. I had set up the pump in advance and was pumping with it. Morning of, went through the sensor training. When it came time to do the training, I had everything out and ready to go. She had me watch the movie again (and I think I’ll watch it during the next few sensor swaps), and walked me through the sensor insertion.

I love. You don’t see the needle at all.

I was always suspicious of the SofSensor Insertion and wondered if that caused some of the issues.

I’ve had two days of treating lows (and weight has gone up), so I am setting a new Basal Rate – I am currently running Basal Rate A, so I set a new Basal Rate B, which is .05 lower than Basal Rate A.  That way if I find it is too high, I can go back to the old rate easily.

I think I did this before, and didn’t remember why I set a new rate.  The weird part is that the standard basal rate is actually lower than these.

Endo didn’t remember either.

I’ve been on my new pump for almost 24 hours, and it is working well.  SofSensors are finicky as always and can’t wait out and I’ve been trained on the Enlight Sensor.

I’m liking the purple more than I realized.  I have been wearing the pump out – why not when you have a Diabetes Alert Dog – and have had some positive comments.

I do have screen protectors ordered from Ebay and will review them when they come.  For right now, I have tried a cut down iPhone protector – doesn’t work well, and have used the plastic that came on the meter – stays on. 

That is my one problem with the Minimed pumps – their screens scratch easily. 

I will freely admit, I rarely watch a TV show when it is aired.  My husband calls it push to pass after the Indy races I watch.

I didn’t see Undercover Boss until Saturday and I am surprised that the diabetes community hasn’t said anything about it.

It was on the Hudson Group that has those convenience stores in airports.  The CEO has Type 1 Diabetes, and the first store he visited had a lady working there with Type 2 and carpel tunnel syndrome.  He even showed her his insulin pump.  Think it was a Metronics but not sure as most of the pump was in his hand and not visible.

I have been blogging about Express Scripts since October when they changed their formulary and dropping the insulin I’ve been on for over 12 years.

I put in a complaint with the state board of insurance (Texas), and the response:

    We can do whatever we like, charge whatever we like and do it when we want to.

Oddly enough, they stated in their response that I had contacted them in January (No, I contacted them in OCTOBER!) And they claim to have a process to cover my choice of insulin. Of course, they don’t mention that they offered to sell it to me at full-cost.

The letter from the State Board suggested I complain to TRS-Care. And of course, I’ve complained to anyone I can call. My district, the state, etc.

Confession time, I’m a bad pumper.

I have been pumping over 10 years, at least 5 different models. You put a new pump in a box and send it to me, and damn right I’m going to put it on after I’ve read the manual and done the online training. I already know more than the training when it comes to the standard stuff.

Sensors are another thing but I do have 7 sofSensors that need using.

Besides the pump is purple. Every other pump has been black. There was a clear one that went back once, but that’s the only exception – Thanks Alex, for the suggestion.

Anyway today was change everything time, and I put the new pump in service. Calibration ended a few hours ago. I was wrapped up in a project. Dog was in the back yard taking break. Pump started making a new noise – I checked and it had just put itself in Threshold mode even though I’m using it “off label”.

2 ½ servings of Peanut M&Ms, and I’m slowly going back up. And sick to my stomach.

It’s a side effect of weight loss – but I do have an endo appointment soon and I will probably do some tweaking on my own.

Besides, its purple.