Medtronic Paradigm Veo - Beginner

Thought I'd better point out that one sensor costs around £55 and is licensed for only 6 days. I've had a free trial of the sensor and thought it was great. I'm hoping that Medtronic will again offer a free transmitter with a box of 5 sensors. I just missed their last offer and don't want to pay out almost £500 if I don't need to.

Hi Claire,

I started on the veo in October, I was straight onto insulin on my first day without a saline start. I think different hospitals have different processes depending on where you are? (I'm in Edinburgh)

I'm not going to beat about the bush but the first 2 weeks for me were extremely hard work! Physically and mentally tiring with 2 hourly testing, up through the night, fasting or carb free meals to test you basal rates. And dealing with daily tasks like my toddler running wild around me lol

But the hard works pays off! 3 months later and my hba1c is down 1.3% and I've still got to get the fine tuning perfect so cant wait to see the result in another 3 months time!

It really is so flexible, I couldn't imagine my life without it now.

As I'm a new pump user too, feel free to get in touch as the support can be welcoming at the time!

Good luck!

Ash

P.s I'm using the contour next meter, carelink and the mio infusion sets so same equipment as you are

Gosh, 120 Mios and reservoirs? I recently had to get written permission from my DSN to order 60 instead of 30 because the hospital said some people were stockpiling them and they were now limiting orders to 3 month supplies. As I have to change my set every 2 days, 30 wouldn't last me 3 months.

I find the Mio is great. I had occasional problems but when my DSN watched my technique, she showed me a better way of taking off the blue needle guard.

I was given the next link monitor and the Verio IQ, to see which one I preferred. Both were good but I decided on the Verio as it has a clearer screen - well, at my age I need all the help I can get!

I attend Gartnavel, what about you?

I thought you were in Scotland @ClaireCissie since we all seem to get given the Veo with no other pump choice! It's a fab pump though and so exciting starting the pump! I have such a fab relationship with it now compared to struggling along with MDI for 20 years!

You have been given a large quantity of supplies! It will need its own cupboard space lol I only get 3 boxes of each!

As @dancer has said the mio infusion sets are great but can cause issues if you don't get the technique right. To begin with I had the tubing clipped onto the inset before I pulled it back so it was actually pushing the cannula up the needle hardly leaving any exposed and had a few "curly cannulas"! Ketones kick in very quickly on the pump as it relying purely on quick acting.

Have you got the 180 or 300 sized pump? You will get used to it. I keep it in my bra during the day and just rolls about the bed at night lol you can get some nice covers from www.ipsox.co.uk, also make it a bit more comfortable to wear in your bra!

Keep us updated on how you get on

ClaireCissie said:

Thanks for your time getting back to me! @shedges I really appreciate hearing the reality of things! I practice ashtanga yoga twice a week which is quite demanding and I will aim to keep this up at least in the second of the 2 introductory weeks so I'm ready to integrate into "normal life". I have always found exercise to be more hassle than it was worth with my diabetes. If I exercised to vigorously I could end up with ketones after a 1 hour body attack class, then plummet into a hypo a couple of hours later, which resulted in binge eating and just a general frustration which followed exercising!! So I'll make sure not to cut out my yoga at first.

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Hi @ClaireCissie. The situation you have described with exercise is exactly what happens to me when I train anaerobically (so at a high heart rate). I have learnt through blood testing regularly before, during and after exercise that I am not rebounding off a hypo during exercise. This is one of the fundamental reasons why I decided to pursue the insulin pump (I actually had the go-ahead given to me today so equally excited!). Fingers crossed you will find a way of accomodating your yoga into your routine now with an insulin pump.

ClaireCissie said:

Hello everyone!

I am 23 and was diagnosed with T1 10 years ago this February. I have been on a basol bolus regime for at least 7 years and feel quite confident with carb counting but unfortunately can't seem to get my diabetes under good control. My last HBA1C reading was at 8.5% (I think) and for this reason I have met requirement for pump therapy. I have just been offered the opportunity to move onto insulin pump with 3 other people which I am very grateful for. My "go-live" date is the 9th of February and I have technical training in 2 weeks time. I have chosen the Silver Medtronic Paradigm Veo and I am very excited to get started. I am looking for any information or advise from any pump users out there about what to expect? If there are any significant disadvantages from the off-set? How it will affect me when driving, out drinking etc.? Anything at all would be much appreciated!

Thanks
Claire

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Hi
i am going to start my training on the 17 feb.
i've been type 1 for 41 years and no what you mean about gaining a real good BG . I wish you all the best with the pump .I am the same and would also like to hear other peoples experiences when starting out .
let us no how you get on
Good luck

Hello again! Well I have been pumping for 2 weeks now. I felt the benefit from my 'saline start' but appreciate this isn't an option for everyone. I enjoyed the freedom of getting use to handling the pump, adjusting and deciding where to wear it and generally getting use to being attached!!! We are best buddy's now!!! I was nervous about my insulin start, more fear than nerves, but I soon relaxed after the first 24 hours when I realised that although variable....I could manage my blood glucose readings, I had pleanty of practise as my BM's Swung from high to low whilst waiting for my Lantus to leave my body. I have adapted well to the regular BM testing, including through the night (evening BM levels depending) but being honest I have taken sick time from my job, as I work long shifts in a busy, stressful and demanding job- I just can't face trying to deal with both at this time! (Luckily my managers are supportive) my BMs are starting to settle and have been busy adjusting my basal patterns, and now have variable carb ratios! I have gained pleanty of practice with changing my line (Minimed quickset) and have encountered trouble shooting, blood on insertion (I replaced the line), bubbles in syringe!! (Always use insulin at room temperature!!!!!) and knowing the best place to position the line ( not on waistband or too close to upper abdomen as it rubs against the bottom of my rib!!! When sat down) I find it easier to insert whilst standing. I do love my pump already, I was prepared for the hard work- and trust me it is!! But I already feel the freedom of no injections! I know this is just the beginning of a long road but I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity and I only have one chance, my hospital works on a 6 month trial basis!! So I am giving this 110%. Good luck for your first few days and weeks and to those other forum users who are approaching the life of pumping x

How has your first day gone @ClaireCissie?

Oh I know! I had sore fingers after 2 days as I was really bad for thinking I "felt funny" and when the nurse told me my hypo symptoms can be different I constantly thought I was hypo but the more testing the better at the beginning! It always helps starting along with others, swap numbers as well so you can share different experiences.

i'm quite surprised you are using temp basals already? We just kept correcting with bolus and changing basal rates as part of our basal testing but every clinic may be different. I really advise purchasing the pumping insulin book by john walsh, it helped me so much to get my basals right.

0.6 levels of ketones can be quite normal when at a fasting level, above 0.6 is when you have to treat. I worried about ketones a lot when I first started as on the 5th day my ketones were 2.8!!! Turned out I was coming down with the cold as well so didn't help at the start. Ketones do come on very quickly which is why it is always advised to carry your ketone meter and an insulin pen to correct should your pump fail for any reason.

I probably only got my basal settled after about 2 months but my daily routine is constantly different with my job. I guess it might be easier if you follow the same routine to spot trends.

Hope your 2nd night goes well! Tomorrow I'd imagine you will be learning about dual and square wave bolus? These work great for me!!

Ps some tea tree cream on the area where your last set was attached can help reduce "that itch"!!! Lol xx