We have an ID-10-T problem here.

I feel like an idiot. A few weeks ago, I just took my Lantus shot once a night and Humalog according to my sliding scale before each meal. It wasn’t perfect at least according to my A1C but it made sense to me.

Now with “Master P” (my pump) I am totally confused. I bought a carb counting book and have been really good at only eating things on it and not snacking in between meals or trying to psyche out the pump and my machine (they seem to know all). But I cannot figure out why my BG reading suck!

So I have the Paradigm (this is the only pump I know about so if all the others have this feature then I apologize for stating the obvious) and there is the feature on it called a Dual Wave Bolus. Seems like a cool idea I mean at least it sounds cool right? Anyhow, after I enter my BG and the carbs I am going to scarf down, it asks me…

“Yo G! So what do you want Master P to do? You want 50% of the insulin now or 36% now and the other 64% later? Oh yeah and let me know do want that extra 64 over the next half or an hour and a half or 5 hours or what? Talk to me G, YOU TELL ME cuz man, I’m cool with whatever!” He is a very hip pump.

I stare at the screen like a kid watching a Sponge Bob marathon and have no clue what to do. My Pump Trainer told me “You just have to figure it out!” as she quickly skipped away on another call or something. So I guess, I try different combinations, I pray, I cry, I get pissed off, I toss a coin, I try and I try and have yet to get it right.

On a side note, my night time basal rate seems to be set. I have been testing at 2AM in range and waking up also in range so I guess that is something. But I just want to know NOW how to do this. Isn’t there a chart or a diagram or spreadsheet or something??!?!? I am so annoyed because I cannot stand to feel dumb. I am not the sharpest tool in the shed but I know I am not a complete idiot but right now, I feel hopeless.

Well, I am going to a Normal Bolus day today and screwing the Dual Wave thing to see what that does. I will let you all know soon.

I gotta go, Master P is complaining that I don’t have any bling on him. I hope the Groovy Patches I ordered will chill him out!

Blooper Time

I really wanted to wait to post something with some substance to it but I had to share what happened last night.

I changed out my infusion set last night. I pulled out all of the little pieces, grabbed my insulin, a diet pepsi (for mental clarity), and laid them all out on the coffee table ready to start anew.

Reservoir filled? CHECK
Infusion set connected? CHECK
Chose a site, cleaned with IV Prep Pad? AFFIRMATIVE
Loaded “Quick-serter” device and removed paper to reveal adhesive? YUP
BAM! We are in, the site looks good, doesn’t hurt, and um… oh crap.
I forgot to prime.

My wife looks at me like "What the hell are you doing?." I just cracked up and said, “I cannot be the first person to do this.”

On a good note, I went to bed with a 120 and woke this morning with a 105 (I slept through my 2AM alarm) so it looks as though my night time basal rate is pretty good.

Well, back to the lab.

So far, so good.

Well it has been 3 days now and all is well with "Master P" (my pump)
I changed my infusion set today and it is sore a little. Actually it kind of hurts. Not like the first one I put in Thursday. I am not sure if i should change it. I am concerned becuase as soon as I put it in, I remembered that this was an area I used for injections and I was going to try and avoid those for a while. I am a little concerned about absorbing issues. I will see about this tomorrow I guess.

I have made some adjustments but all and all things are okay. I think all of the "don't get frustrated" advise really helped. I know it is a major leaning curve and I will get it down. One thing I did learn is that I suck at Carb counting! I am tempted to only eat prepackaged food so I do not have to guess but I am sure my wife will not let that happen!

Not much more to report. I am loving it a whole lot. I am going to send back the unopened boxes of 23" tubing and replace it with 43" and other then that, I am going to keep plugging away!

More updates soon.

First Pump Post

So it is official, I am a pumper as of 6:15 PST. Crazy!

My Minimed rep was totally cool and we hit it off right off the bat. We went over all the basal and bolus options and how everything works. It was great and I am totally excited about this. I do have some questions that I forgot to ask so I am counting on you OC for some help.

1. If my infusion set comes out early (which I expect happens) do I have to fill a new reservior and dump that insulin or what?

2. I went with a 23" tubing and I am wondering what you guys use and why. I already had a lot of fun changing into my pajama's! The other option I have is 43"

3. Do I need to keep an infusion set and reservoir with me at all times?

I am sure I will have more questions soon but let's start with these shall we?

I guess I should join the Insulin Pump web ring now right? I am so amped right now!

My wife and kids gave me a pump birthday present. It's a t-shirt that says "Change happens, courage reacts" (which was that sweet little saying that has stuck with me since I heard it) on the front and "One 'bete' at a time" on the back. Sweet.

Thursday's the Day

After receiving my pump two weeks ago and following 3 phone calls to the corporate offices, I finally received a call from a person at Medtronic and have an appointment to finally get going on this pump. I have read the manual a couple of times and went through the handy dandy CD-Rom twice. I purchased a food scale, carb counting book, new measuring cups and spoons, and have also read the manual on the BG machine that comes with the pump.

I am so excited, nervous, scared, and a bunch of other feelings that I cannot quite understand.

Do you guys have any suggestions about questions I should ask or other things I should do prior to the appointment? I would love to hear your thoughts about this. I am prepared to be extra patient during the adjustment period since you all have stressed that it will be difficult. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Thanks OC!