Diabetic Recipes
I am shocked at how quickly it happened. The first Friday in August, I met with a new endo. A week later my pump arrived. No hassles. No paperwork. No out-of-pocket costs. Bing, bang, boom...it was on my door step.
Last week, I met with the diabetes educator who trained me with saline. And as of 12:14 this afternoon, I'm pumping with insulin. I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm giddy. I'm overwhelmed.
I picked the Minimed Paradigm 722, because I'm familiar with it (my friend Lizzy has one) and because I want the CGM to go with it. Currently, my insurance company is not covering CGM, but my diabetes educator is confident that I can get it approved once I am actually pregnant. I'm tempted to buy one out of pocket and try to get it approved later, but I'm not sure I can swing it if it's not approved. I was considering buying a used one, but frankly, I have no idea where to find one.
I'm excited about the cool features the pump offers. I was using insulin pens and was told not to use less than 3 units at a time, because it's not that accurate. I'm excited that I can take as little as 0.05 units if I want. In fact, my basal is set to just 0.1 units per hour right now.
I was sold when I read about how bolus wizard does the math for you. Last year, when I was pregnant and constantly changing the amount of insulin I needed, I was going insane doing so much math. So, being able to just type in how many carbs I'm eating and push a few buttons is really priceless to me. Plus the ability to square or dual-wave bolus is pretty cool. I can't wait to eat pizza and try it!
I am a little overwhelmed at the idea that I have to wear this thing all the time. I worried that I wouldn't be able to sleep with it on, but while on saline training I didn't have much of a problem with it. I'm also overwhelmed at the amount of gear that goes along with it. One little pump comes in a pretty big box when you add in all the supplies. Plus the waste really just kills me. Is there a legitimate reason why the plunger can't be reused or at least recycled? And what can I do with all these used tubing sets?
The feature I am absolutely giddy over is the automatic test-your-blood -ugar alarm, set for two hours. I was getting really tired of watching the clock trying to remember when I need to test.
I'm sure my husband thinks I'm a little batty being this over-the-moon over an electronic device, but I just think this is awesome.
Rebecca,
I'm so happy for you! Do you really like it?
I'm switching over in a few weeks and I'm just so nervous!! Please keep us posted!
Mousie
Hi Rebecca,
I was thinking of switching to the pump as well. How does it compare to MDI? Is the insertion more painful than an injection?
Jenn
I'm excited for you - that's awesome. And wow, it sure will make all those crazy pregnancy sugars easier to deal with.
I've been pumping for 5 years now. Just switched to the 722. Yeah, it's great. Just promise, YOU WILL CHECK YOUR SUGARS continually. Either the CGM or your finger.
Prior to pumping, I did the morning, breakfast 2 hrs after breakfast and so on. Now, I'll check whenever I pass my meter in the kitchen (usually about 10 times a day) just to make sure everything okey dokey.
Rebecca, I was the same way when I started my pump/CGMS earlier this year. It is amazing at what a difference it makes in my peace of mind. I do check my blood more often than I used to only because of the alarms. But my A1C has dropped to 7.1 primarily because of the pump and how much more accurate it is. I love it and I wish you the best of luck with yours!
I too just started the pump not too long ago. I love the freedom of it, but hate the cost. I have a large health ins. company that I am paying $198.55 PER WEEK and I still have a lot of out of pocket expences. The think of the pump as a fake leg or arm and not a perscription so I have to pay 20%, which don't sound like a lot but with all the other supplies it is. Oh and the Medtronic co. wanted me to switch to the one touch ultra link but I decided not too becase of the size and it's a good thing I didn't, my ins. just told me it's not covered, but my strips are! Is there anyone else having trouble paying for pump supplies or am I the only one??
Anyway sorry to complain so much, I just wish health ins. could be affordable for everyone where I live in a state where it's the law to have health ins. but my friends still get denied cause they can't afford the high cost from the comany we work for (the company pays 50% so ya our health ins. is $400.00 a week!!) I say for that much money there should be NO CO-Payment for anything!!! Who is with me on this matter??