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Hello, new to the forum

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liklejojo

Well-Known Member
Messages
94
Hi everyone,

I'm Jo, I have type 1 diabetes, I've had it for 14 years now, I was initially controlled by injections for 12 years, but for the last 18 months I have been on an insulin pump, which I love apart from the unpredictable hypo's and when the cannula's kink.

I've never been on a forum like this before, I'm always trying to pretend I don't have diabetes, but here I am, ready to chat and share experiences and hopefully learn a few new things.

Can't wait to chat to you all x
 
Hi liklejojo,
Welcome to the forum.

There are some experienced pumpers here and an Insulin Pump Board. Post any questions you have. Look forward to your postings.
 
hey jo,
welcome to the chat! its great you joined.
i'm going on a pump tomorrow. you mentioned you get unexpected hypos through, is that due to the pump?
hope you find lots of helpful posts.
cr741
 
hi cr741,

Thanks, it's great to talk to other people who are diabetic as I've never really spoken to anyone before.
I think they've said I have quite a sensitivity to insulin so I do tend to go hypo quite easily, not just because of the pump.

On the pump you're supposed to anticipate doing any strenuous exercise etc but it's not always possible when your hoovering or going on a spontaneous walk - it's these times I go hypo.
If you know that your going on a run etc then they usually say to lower your basal an hour before.
Don't worry though, were all different and you'll find what way your body wants to do it when you get your pump Yey! are you excited?

Jo
 
hey, yes jo i am very excited!
it will be useful as i do alot of dancing and i find it annoying when i keep having to eat loads before dance. i know you can reduce units if you dance after a meal, but i never know how much dance we are going to do and if we don't do very much i hate worrying if i will go high. i usually find i have to eat in between classes and it is annoying when ive just had lunch lol. this way i can choose to eat or not by reducing basal. i am currently using lantus background, for the pump i have to use novorapid like i do for meals, but will having novorapud for my background instead of lantus make a lot of difference? i know it will change because it will go in at an even rate instead of just being released slowly so it should be lower. (sorry, lots of questions, hehe.)
thanks jo
cr741
 
I love dancing, I don't do as much as I used to though, lazyness really. You should find it easier on the pump, but as frustrating as it is, it will take a while before you get into the routine and suss out your basal's, even now 18 months later and I'm still playing around with them to get them just right, so stick with it you'll get there.
Going from lantus to novorapid shouldn't be a problem, I was previously on levomir and I think it's similar. The only thing I would advise (and I'm sure your nurses have told you the same) don't do too much in the first week, take it slow (hypo's are more likely the first week) and have the lucozade at the ready
Jo
 
hehe aww thanks jo. you have been a big help.
 
Hi Jo

From another Jo and pump user as well..


A lot of people think that once you've cracked your basal that's it for ever more, but alas you will always find that you have to tweak your basal once in a while to maintain control.. life changes so do we..

I know what you mean yes in the main we can use our pumps very proactively with control, but there is always a time that we end up using it in a reactive manner..

I'm sort of lucky in the proactive stack, as well the adjusting an hour before doesn't work with me, as it either rockets my levels or sends me hypo... When I take the dogs out I turned my pump down just as I leave for the house this works perfect for me then turn the pump up about 30 minutes after returing..

Another thing I've found that if I'm driving distance's that not only do I need to set a 40% TBR decrease, but I also have to set another decreased TBR over night as it seems to have a second inpacted... Strange old thing is this diabetes malarky...
 
Hi Jo,

I know what you mean, I was stating what the nurses tell me as I don't want to give anyone false or altered information, but in truth any major exercise I do I have to disconnect my pump, i just don't tell anyone lol.. other than that its like russian roulette with the hoovering and walking haha

I'm still trying to work my nights out, I aim to go to bed about 9mmol otherwise I wake up hypo, and when I lower the basal I wake up high.. utter maddness but better than not having a pump hey.

How long have you been on the pump? and had diabetes?
 
Hi Jo

I've been pumping since June '08, and a very good grounding in researching pump therapy, I started to reserch in 2004, then in 2005 started my fight for funding so well grounded when I actully got my mits on one :lol: I started my diaebtic career way back in 1989 :shock:

You'll love my consultant who's a great believer in there's no right way or wrong way, the right way is what works for you! As when I worked in kennels, I used to turn my pump off for an hour before break, then turn it back on have a chunky kit-kat without a bolus, as I found this was the easiest and nicest way of maintaining my BG avoiding an hypo, and didn't get a high off the kit-kat.. He wasn't phased, it worked and that's all what mattered..

You be surprised how many pumpers either zero there pumps for a period of time, or detach them to maintain their control, my friend has there's set to zero delivery for several hours at night, other wise gets hypo's...

I'm pretty lucky, as I've had my basal pretty well sorted for a long while now, just needing an odd tweak every now and then to main it.. So generally go to bed with a with about around 5mmol/l
 
Wow thats fantastic, I absolutely love your consultant and your way of thinking, it's spot on really, your the only one that know's what's right for you at the end of the day, it's just the fine tuning isn't it. I'll get there eventually. At least it keeps life mildly interesting ey! That's why I was thrilled to find this forum as it's good to hear that I'm not the only one meddling every 5 minutes and disconnecting myself. Actually that just reminded me have you ever woken up and found you've disconnected yourself from your pump? got up at 4am last night and I wasn't attached so I've no idea what I was dreaming or doing for that to happen lol
 
So far nope not woken with it detached... My pump does have teeth marks in it, where Ellie my German Shepherd decided to be helpful and put it back on the bed next to me when it fell over the edge!

Ellie my German Shepherd takes the night shift hypo watch, Jones our German Shepherd/Corgi cross takes the day shift

Yep I agree that we are the only one's that know what our bodies are up to, and our consultants and DSN's are there to supply us with the knowledge, idea's etc that we ned to take control..
 
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