JoJoS
Member
I finally get my pump next week! This is after years of trying. I've been told that I'm likely to feel a bit rough for a couple of weeks, what has anyone else found. Any tips greatly appreciated.
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Starting Pump next week
- Thread starter JoJoS
- Start Date
novorapidboi26
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't have said I felt rough at all.....
obviously you need to start doing fairly intensive testing and adjusting of your basal rates and this does involve some waking up during the night to test......
I suppose everyone is different and depends on how your control is now and how you normally respond to fluctuating blood sugar levels....
I wouldn't go into this new journey expecting to feel rough that's for sure......exciting times ahead....
obviously you need to start doing fairly intensive testing and adjusting of your basal rates and this does involve some waking up during the night to test......
I suppose everyone is different and depends on how your control is now and how you normally respond to fluctuating blood sugar levels....
I wouldn't go into this new journey expecting to feel rough that's for sure......exciting times ahead....
JoJoS
Member
Thank you.
I can't wait to start!
I can't wait to start!
Engineer88
Well-Known Member
Mine would be to get a libre or CGM trail if you can, save a few finger pricks/waking ups.
D
Deleted Account
Guest
I wouldn't say I felt rough but it did take some getting used to be attached to something and a few weeks to get the basal levels balanced.
If you have a chance for a Libre (or CGM) beforehand, it might help with basal setting.
Part of getting used to the pump is working out where you want to put it.
I have found the Hid-In belts (http://www.hid-in.com/shop/multiway-body-band) best for keeping mine out of the way but relatively easily accessible. When I bought my first I was sent a discount code ... so I would buy one at a time.
Depending on your size and shape you may be able to store yours in your bra ... it takes a bit of trial and error for different outfits.
If you have a chance for a Libre (or CGM) beforehand, it might help with basal setting.
Part of getting used to the pump is working out where you want to put it.
I have found the Hid-In belts (http://www.hid-in.com/shop/multiway-body-band) best for keeping mine out of the way but relatively easily accessible. When I bought my first I was sent a discount code ... so I would buy one at a time.
Depending on your size and shape you may be able to store yours in your bra ... it takes a bit of trial and error for different outfits.
kitedoc
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 4,785
- Location
- Adelaide, South Australia
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
- Dislikes
- black jelly beans
My doctor started me off with a total daily dose on the pump of about 20% less than my total daily insulin injection dose.
He said that the pump would be more efficient in controlling my BSL so he was mindful not to overdo the pump dose. It was easier to ease the pump doses up than to use a higher pump dose followed by hypos and ups and downs in BSL as a result.
Getting the basal levels right is an exercise in science and art. I was doing lots of blood tests to see what was happening, including some 4 am and 6 am ones to see how well the basal levels were coping with the Dawn phenomenon. Also I would do a 12 hours morning/afternoon or afternoon/evening/night of fasting occasionally to check how my basal levels were doing. I did try a 24 hour fast but ketones started appearing at about the 16 hour mark and since ketones cause insulin resistance there was no point continuing.
Once your pump basal level is 'sculpted' to control your fasting levels the pump you can sleep in if you wish or skip a meal if necessary. It seems like a darned limpet attached to you and the pump tubing gets in the way at times. It becomes easier over time.
I always take spare insulin,, including a long acting one, cartridges/reservoirs, needle and tubing sets, a spare battery and some insulin syringes. That way if you are out and your pump runs of of insulin or malfunctions you have supplies and alternatives to use.
Guard your needle site obsessively. A tug on the tubing, a bump from someone or something may be sufficient to dislodge the needle, either to bend it in the skin so that the insulin delivery is slowed without the obstruction alarm being triggered, or you later find that the needle is out of the skin. You get used to automatically checking the site. I use some extra white sticky material around the needle site for extra protection from tugs and bumps.
Please take note of the instructions about what to do if you get an unexplained high BSL as a problem with the pump needle is often suspect number one. I find that if the needle site/connection is the problem and my BSL was risen up to 17 mmol/l plus I am usually ketotic. with nausea and aching of my body as the main symptoms. I got to realise very quickly how sick I could get with only a few hours inadvertently receiving little or no insulin. Having a plan for this possibility is I think an important part of pump training.
One other trap was that after some months I knocked my pump on something and only noticed later when my BSL was sky high that no insulin was being delivered. I did the usual checks and eventually worked out the the battery cap on my particular machine had failed/lose contact. Since the battery is rendered useless in this scenario there was no alarm. So keeping the battery contact points/caps etc changed/updated regularly was the lesson I learned from that.
I would not change back to injections for the world. Enjoy your insulin pump. Your patience has been rewarded !!
He said that the pump would be more efficient in controlling my BSL so he was mindful not to overdo the pump dose. It was easier to ease the pump doses up than to use a higher pump dose followed by hypos and ups and downs in BSL as a result.
Getting the basal levels right is an exercise in science and art. I was doing lots of blood tests to see what was happening, including some 4 am and 6 am ones to see how well the basal levels were coping with the Dawn phenomenon. Also I would do a 12 hours morning/afternoon or afternoon/evening/night of fasting occasionally to check how my basal levels were doing. I did try a 24 hour fast but ketones started appearing at about the 16 hour mark and since ketones cause insulin resistance there was no point continuing.
Once your pump basal level is 'sculpted' to control your fasting levels the pump you can sleep in if you wish or skip a meal if necessary. It seems like a darned limpet attached to you and the pump tubing gets in the way at times. It becomes easier over time.
I always take spare insulin,, including a long acting one, cartridges/reservoirs, needle and tubing sets, a spare battery and some insulin syringes. That way if you are out and your pump runs of of insulin or malfunctions you have supplies and alternatives to use.
Guard your needle site obsessively. A tug on the tubing, a bump from someone or something may be sufficient to dislodge the needle, either to bend it in the skin so that the insulin delivery is slowed without the obstruction alarm being triggered, or you later find that the needle is out of the skin. You get used to automatically checking the site. I use some extra white sticky material around the needle site for extra protection from tugs and bumps.
Please take note of the instructions about what to do if you get an unexplained high BSL as a problem with the pump needle is often suspect number one. I find that if the needle site/connection is the problem and my BSL was risen up to 17 mmol/l plus I am usually ketotic. with nausea and aching of my body as the main symptoms. I got to realise very quickly how sick I could get with only a few hours inadvertently receiving little or no insulin. Having a plan for this possibility is I think an important part of pump training.
One other trap was that after some months I knocked my pump on something and only noticed later when my BSL was sky high that no insulin was being delivered. I did the usual checks and eventually worked out the the battery cap on my particular machine had failed/lose contact. Since the battery is rendered useless in this scenario there was no alarm. So keeping the battery contact points/caps etc changed/updated regularly was the lesson I learned from that.
I would not change back to injections for the world. Enjoy your insulin pump. Your patience has been rewarded !!
JoJoS
Member
Thank you all for your help.
