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Pump tomorrow !

Riri

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,174
Location
Mid Wales
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
The conservative party, people who are cruel to animals and aggressive people
Hello all, my pump fitting date has arrived and it's fair to say that I'm a bit nervous. Saline for 1 week and then insulin from then. I hope I remember to ask all the questions I need to ask! Can anyone tell me how often the had to speak to their diabetic team when they first got fitted as i can imagine needing quite a bit of support from then initially? Also, do people get offered different canula sets when they first start or do people tend to try what they're given to begin with to see if it suits? Here's hoping it all goes ok and thanks for previous support and advice from all of you.
 
Hi Riri

I am not a pumper or insulin user but there are many that can continue to give you support.

I hope that all goes well for you and your new friend!!

Regards

Doug
 
Using a pump is not as hard as you might think Riri. One of the first things I did when I got home with mine was make a cup of coffee , have a sarni, bolus the insulin (using the carb ratio set by dsn) and then have a read in the manual on how to alter the basal rates and carb ratios.

Don't worry, you'll be fine. Most of the infusion sets are easy to put in especially the ones with an inserter.

The Veo is a nice pump. Enjoy
 
You should get an assortment of different infusion sets if you see a Medtronic rep but if you are just seeing a dsn to start you off, then she might just give you some Quicksets or Silhouettes to see how you get on.

There's a few pumpers on the forum who use Medtronic so just shout if you need any help and not sure what to do.
 
Thanks peeps. Well it's fitted (ok with saline for now) but I'm finding itok and not too intrusive at all - it's early days (hours) but I like it already. It was a lot to take in and you wont believe it when we conducted the self test it came up with an error - apparently for a new pump they had not seen this happen before. So I ended up with the nurse's spare pump whilst a new one has been re-ordered for me!!!

I thought I had taken everything in but tonight it doesn't seem quite as clear. I have one question which is - when you change the infusion set on day 3 is it then that you also fill the insulin reservoir as well. I think what's puzzling me is, will there ever be a time when the infusion set and re-filling of reservoir happen at different times? I'm only on a small amount of insulin - around 30 units a day.

Next challenge - sleeping !!
 

Hi Riri, I used to change both at the same time in the beginning, but I found it a bit annoying to have to estimate how much insulin to put in the reservoir to have enough for just 3 days. What I do now is do the two separately. I will do my cannula change every 3 days, but I fill up the reservoir completely and just go with it until it's empty. Usually that's about 5 days, so most of the time I will change the reservoir and just connect it to the existing cannula (don't forget NOT to fill the cannula at the end though!!!)
 
Just read this - not sure I fully understand. I thought you'd just fill up the reservoir on every day 3 but I guess your wasting insulin then - is that right ?? Sorry - sooo many questions.
 
Riri said:
Just read this - not sure I fully understand. I thought you'd just fill up the reservoir on every day 3 but I guess your wasting insulin then - is that right ?? Sorry - sooo many questions.
Click to expand...

Don't apologise for asking questions changing to a pump is a big change and I know exactly how difficult it can be at the beginning!

You're not necessarily wasting insulin by changing it every 3 days - as long as you can estimate fairly accurately how much insulin you use in 3 days. I usually filled it up until the number 2 on the reservoir (I guess that's 2 ml?) and sometimes I had a lot left after 3 days and sometimes I didn't. I guess I just started doing it because of convenience. Takes up a lot less time to just fill it up all the way and let it run out (makes set changes quicker too because most of the time you either just have to bang in a new cannula and sometimes you only have to fill up the reservoir and reconnect it).

Hope that helps a bit it's basically just down to personal preference!
 
Hello

Welcome to the pump. I love my pump got mine fitted in Jan and it took 2 years to convince me to wear it. I was under the view of 'wearing something 24/7. But now if anyone tried to take it off me I would be crushed. I cannot remember how I survived on my injections as terrible at testing blood etc.

Good things to note about the pump:

  • * when leaving the house for a longer than a 24hrs always carry spare vival, infustion set & cannula in case of any error msgs as if it stops pumping insulin in it goes very bad quickly.
    * I found it hard placing my pump somewhere less uncomfortable and insight - until I decided to stuff it into my bra, brought a lightly padded bra and put it in there can't even see it (take the clip off if you do this)
    * test min 4 x times it actually gets exciting when you see good results
    * buy a bra pouch from medtronic as better as can be sweaty otherwise - not great
    * change pump every 3 days - this is not because having the cannula under your skin is a foreign object to your body (eg splinter) and by day 3 it will start to feel abit sore and itch plus changing sites prevents damaging tissue on you stomach - nothing like injection damage. Also, having insulin warm for too long affectives how insulin works therefore changing the insulin to fresh room temp will help your sugars
    * i use silhoutte infusion sets as goes in on a slant plus the quick infusion set kept kinking and the insulin wouldnt flow - it depends on the person but as I am a size 10/12 the nurse thought I didnt have enough fat around my middle and sometimes can affect it. I went away for a weekend and it was horrible changed it 5 times all kinked and had to come home as not taken enough spares or pens
    * always carry pens in case it breaks
    * try get carb count right buy carbs and cals book as if you do it wrong it will affect it either up or down
    * when you eat out if I were having spag bol and garlic bread I would look at the portion size give myself 30g and then once I have finished eating give myself another 30 or 40 grams depending on the size as if your anything like me 'my eyes are always bigger then my belly' - MADE THAT ERROR A FEW TIMES and get up hypoing
    * Be careful when you drink as my sugars drop badly through nite this is because your liver is filtering the alcohol as opposed to providing you with gluagoan (sugar) that it naturally gives off to everyone - hang overs are bad

    Sorry for ranting hope that helps
    x
 
Big help - thanks very much. Riri x
 
How are you getting on now Riri? Have you gone live with insulin yet?
 
Hia, all ok with the pump itself but the sets have been a problem. The quick sets didn't suit me but on the sillouhettes since Wednesday and they seem to b ok. I do find them tricky to put in (2 spoilt last night as I didn't get the hang of opening the the inserter mouth before taking it out) but I'm sure this will improve. I wont be on insulin until the 15th Nov as my husband has to be away quite a bit between then and now. Still liking the pump and all my ratios have been keyed in so I will be all set to go very soon. It will be interesting to see how much changes we have to do - probably quite a bit of insulin adjusting in store.
 
Hi Riri
i have just read your artical on the pump, I wonder how it is going with you, I have been a type 1 diabetic for 50 years and I am just about to go on to the ACCU-CHECK SPIRIT INSULIN PUMP, I beleive that you do get all the support from the hospital/diabetic nurses. My friend Paul who is also on the pump and he has been using it for 4 years and never looked back, he has had diabetes for 20 years.
I too am looking forward to getting the pump which has been ordered and awaiting to arrive at my home, I have then to let the diabetic nurse know that I have received it and then she and the pump rep will go through it with me.
If you would like to go to the web site www.palingswickhouse.co.uk and look for Kevin Baum you will see the diabetic hostel I lived in and some pictures of me and pictures of the hostel.
I hope all is going well with the pump, what pump are you using?
Kev
 
Hia - my pump is the Medtronic veo pump. I really do like it as its very easy to master. I hope all goes well with your pump - keep us updated of progress and I'll do the same.
 

Are you replacing the boluses with injections? i practised with the remote part for 2 weeks before i got my pump so i was used to the bolus wizard etc, and i tried cannulas before i got the actual pump which helped.

You may find your BG's are really really good at first, i had a sort of pump honeymoon where my BG's were almost perfect, then it subsided and i had alot of tweaking to do! alot of hard work but definately worth it!

Good luck when you go live!
 
Riri said:
Hia - my pump is the Medtronic veo pump. I really do like it as its very easy to master. I hope all goes well with your pump - keep us updated of progress and I'll do the same.
Click to expand...

Hi Riri
I have been told today by Roche that my pump will arrive tomorrow at my home address (1st November 2011) I have been told by my diabetic nurse today that she is going to have me using insulin staight away and not starting off on saline with the pump :shock:
The question I am asking my self is she doing the right thing by putting me on insulin with a new pump I know very little about, :mrgreen: I think I should of done a week on Saline.
I look forward to all of your comments, I dont have a date to have the pump set up yet

Kev
 
Hi all
Got a call from the DSN today, my pump appointment to be fitted is 25th November
going onto insulin straight away the DSN said no saline, will keep you up to date with how it is going. :wave:
 
Hia all - Wednesday is d day for me - I switch from saline to insulin. I did have a bit of a panic this morning as my silhouette inserter jammed. My husband eventually got it to release. Does anybody who has a pump already carry a spare inserter as standard ? I would go and buy one but I'm not sure if you can?
Good luck to all going on pumps in the near future and I'll keep you posted on how I get on over the next few days and weeks.
 
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