Tag Archives: insulin pump

Timing the Change.

June 4, 2012 – 8:47 pm

This is shaping up to be a typical week for me. Only it isn’t. Sure, I have the typical work stuff, paying the bills, taking care of the dog and cat, etc., etc.

But there is one overriding thing invading my regular life this week. This weekend is the big ride that I’ve been training for most of this year. 150 miles over the weekend. 100 miles on Saturday, 50 miles on Sunday. It’s not a race, it’s just a ride. But let’s not kid ourselves. I’ll be trying to do as well as I can, at least for part of it.

Okay, let’s slow down. I have a lot to think about this week, and how fast I go is near the bottom of my list of priorities. One of the things I need to think about right now has to do with changing my infusion site. I’m nearing the end of the reservoir on my current set; I’ll need to change sometime in the next 12 hours or so.

At the same time, I know that I’ve been going about five days on each set. I know, that’s not within the FDA guidelines. I’ve talked about this before… I’m concerned about maintaining enough usable real estate on my body for as long as I can. One of the best ways I can think of to do that is to go longer on each infusion set & reservoir.

Anyway, here’s the rub: if I change tonight or tomorrow morning, and I go five days before changing, that puts me right in the middle of Saturday. And because my diabetes may vary, the middle of Saturday might be 10:00 p.m., or it might be 10:00 a.m. I do not want to have to change during my ride. So what do I do?

I think for tonight/tomorrow’s change I’ll have to fill the reservoir less so I’ll need to change on Thursday night or Friday morning. That way, I’ll be able to make my next change without the added pressure of the ride, and I should be able to keep that set in at least over the weekend. In addition, with the way I’m rotating my sites, I’ll be able to get that set in my leg, which has turned out to be a great place for when I’m on the bike. Way more comfortable than I had imagined it would be when I was strictly using my midsection.

How about you? Do you ever try to time out your changes so it will make things easier, or more comfortable, or for any other reason when you have something coming up? If so, let me know.

By StephenS | Posted in Pumps | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Diabetes Blog Week: Day 5– What They Should Know

May 18, 2012 – 7:40 am


 
It’s day 5 of Diabetes Blog Week, and today we’re answering the question: “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”.

Kind of a hard topic to put into words, but it’s a good exercise for me. Because occasionally, I’ll get this random, fleeting moment when someone asks about my diabetes, or someone is confronted with my diabetes, and I have a short window of time to say something insightful about it.

I need a diabetes elevator speech.

In business, or in real life (IRL), when you’re on the elevator and an important executive; or a potential client; or an inquisitive member of the general public steps in and asks about your insulin pump, you’ve only got a 20-30 second window to impress. So you go to your elevator speech. Something that briefly says who you are, what you’re about, and where you’re going. Prepared in advance, memorized pretty much word for word, delivered like a champion.

How to begin? Maybe I talk about how I’m a type 1 diabetic, which means my pancreas is messed up and doesn’t work properly anymore. And it won’t work properly again. No need to go into that Islet of Langerhans thing. We’ve only got a short ride, right?

Have to mention the pump. I have to have insulin to survive, and the pump works pretty well in place of the thing that used to serve the purpose.

There are the everyday issues. High BGs, low BGs, eating, exercising, measuring carbs, keeping the weight in check. That’s in addition to work, relationships, family.

And people realllly need to know that insulin isn’t a cure, and not everyone has the same access to care, drugs, and equipment that I do.

Ready? Here’s my diabetes elevator speech:

This? Oh, it’s my insulin pump. I’m a type 1 diabetic, which means my pancreas is permanently broken and I need insulin to survive. This thing costs a fortune, but it really does the trick. I worry all the time about the people who have the same curse that I do, and don’t have access to something like this to help them stay alive. Daily struggles? Sure, I’ve got them. Who doesn’t? But overall, I live a pretty normal life. And I’m not going anywhere for a long time.

That’s What They Should Know, Charlie Brown….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Disclaimer
I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Also tagged , , | Comments (1)