Just got my son's new bada$$ insulin pump!

[rudeguy]

Just came today. This thing is pretty sweet. The monitor that he uses to check his blood is wirelessly connected to his insulin pump that delivers his insulin. This means that he can check his blood and give corrections or boluses for the food he eats with the same unit. This is pretty convenient. The big upgrade is the software that the monitor interfaces with. I have used Animas' diabetes software before and its great. Also this starts his pump's 4 year warranty over, so no need to worry about the unexpected for a while.

We upgraded through Animas' upgrade program and it only cost $300. Not too bad of an investment.

pics are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/j.winklepleck/NewPump?feat=directlink


new stuff:

the old combo:

 

[ShawnD1]

Just came today. This thing is pretty sweet. The monitor that he uses to check his blood is wirelessly connected to his insulin pump that delivers his insulin.

Nice. I didn't even know such a thing existed. The people I know still need to inject insulin with those small needles. The fun never stops with diabetes

 

[dbk]

too sick...

 

[lxskllr]

Very cool. How does it interface with his body?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Insulin pumps, fun for the whole family!

 

[Dubb]

the "old" setup is the same gear I use.

make sure to update this post after a few months use with how it works out. I considered the upgrade but eventually decided it didn't seem worth it.

<I will edit this with specific questions in a bit>

 

[amdhunter]

My best friend went from checking himself manually and injecting himself to one of these pumps (although not so fancy, but it does have an LCD screen) and we watched him go from being super healthy to just messed up in 3 years time. He's been on insulin since age 3. (He is 34 now.)

Right now his kidneys are failing, and his eyes pop blood from glaucoma, and we all blame it on his dependency on that stupid pump he bought. He even tried the wireless one where it checks your blood automatically, and adjusts, but that was an epic'er failure.

Don't let your son become overly dependent on that machine.

 

[rudeguy]

Very cool. How does it interface with his body?

Through an infusion set. Think of an IV in much smaller terms. There is a small plastic tube (6mm) that goes into his body. That is connected through a long plastic tube to his pump.

This explains it a lot better:
http://www.animascorp.com/sites/default/files/inset/inset_visualguide/inset_eguide.html

 

[BassBomb]

My best friend went from checking himself manually and injecting himself to one of these pumps (although not so fancy, but it does have an LCD screen) and we watched him go from being super healthy to just messed up in 3 years time. He's been on insulin since age 3. (He is 34 now.)

Right now his kidneys are failing, and his eyes pop blood from glaucoma, and we all blame it on his dependency on that stupid pump he bought. He even tried the wireless one where it checks your blood automatically, and adjusts, but that was an epic'er failure.

Don't let your son become overly dependent on that machine.

Why does using the automatic machine as opposed to manual cause these problems? Was it not giving the right dosages?

 

[Dubb]

Why does using the automatic machine as opposed to manual cause these problems? Was it not giving the right dosages?

it's shens, relax.

 

[rudeguy]

My best friend went from checking himself manually and injecting himself to one of these pumps (although not so fancy, but it does have an LCD screen) and we watched him go from being super healthy to just messed up in 3 years time. He's been on insulin since age 3. (He is 34 now.)

Right now his kidneys are failing, and his eyes pop blood from glaucoma, and we all blame it on his dependency on that stupid pump he bought. He even tried the wireless one where it checks your blood automatically, and adjusts, but that was an epic'er failure.

Don't let your son become overly dependent on that machine.

CGMS is in its infancy and if your friend thought it was self-reliant, he was dreadfully wrong. There is currently no FDA approved continuous monitoring and correcting pump. The Mini Med is close, but still needs to be calibrated.

My son has been "dependent" on his pump for 8 years. Pumping, when done with tight glucose monitoring, allows for much better control.

 

[rudeguy]

the "old" setup is the same gear I use.

make sure to update this post after a few months use with how it works out. I considered the upgrade but eventually decided it didn't seem worth it.

<I will edit this with specific questions in a bit>

I will for sure update. Let me know if you have any questions. I've done way too much research on this kind of thing.

 

[lxskllr]

In practical usage, how do you think that would work out with ballet? Tight clothes, being flexy, and limited attachment points seem like they could be an issue.

 

[rudeguy]

In practical usage, how do you think that would work out with ballet? Tight clothes, being flexy, and limited attachment points seem like they could be an issue.

Just fine. There are plenty of athletes that pump.

The most common places to attach the sites are upper arms, upper legs, butt, tummy or sides...so the things you mentioned usually aren't a problem. You can always disconnect for a while if it really does get in the way. Pumps are great.

 

[Dubb]

ok, first, did they fix the UI issues the 2020 has? For me it has usability annoyances like

-not being able to loop scroll up to get to the bottom selection in a menu
-throwing an empty cartridge alarm reminder half a second after I enter the "prime the new cartridge" menu.

is the belt clip still metal? it's annoying to have to remove the clip to get through airport security without a pat down.

all I can think of for now.

 

[lxskllr]

I'll have to look into them a bit more. A shame about that whole skin issue. If it weren't for that, it could be all done subcutaneously. Visualizing it in my head, the outside interface is where I run into problems :^/

 

[F1N3ST]

My best friend went from checking himself manually and injecting himself to one of these pumps (although not so fancy, but it does have an LCD screen) and we watched him go from being super healthy to just messed up in 3 years time. He's been on insulin since age 3. (He is 34 now.)

Right now his kidneys are failing, and his eyes pop blood from glaucoma, and we all blame it on his dependency on that stupid pump he bought. He even tried the wireless one where it checks your blood automatically, and adjusts, but that was an epic'er failure.

Don't let your son become overly dependent on that machine.

Holy shit, I read your post and just feel terrible for that guy.

 

[Hacp]

Are you sure that blue stick is a pump? Looks a bit like something else to me .

 

[rudeguy]

ok, first, did they fix the UI issues the 2020 has? For me it has usability annoyances like

-not being able to loop scroll up to get to the bottom selection in a menu
-throwing an empty cartridge alarm reminder half a second after I enter the "prime the new cartridge" menu.

is the belt clip still metal? it's annoying to have to remove the clip to get through airport security without a pat down.

all I can think of for now.

You do still have to click through to get to the bottom of a menu. There is a home selection on the menus which I don't remember from before.

The warnings are approximately 60 seconds apart. Normally when I am changing the cartridge, I will get a "not primed" warning between the time I rewind and the time the pump wants the new cartridge. If I am prepared and have the new cartridge ready, I don't get any extra alarms.

The belt clip is metal. My son never uses it though. He just throws it in his pocket. I could have swore I saw some ABS holsters somewhere...I can do some digging for you if you want.

 

[Dubb]

I'll have to look into them a bit more. A shame about that whole skin issue. If it weren't for that, it could be all done subcutaneously. Visualizing it in my head, the outside interface is where I run into problems :^/

there's some downsides but in general I think it's easier/better than carrying around needles or pens. I take mine off to work out, shower, etc. I do know a few diabetics who really didn't like being attached to a gadget 23 hours a day.

 

[Acanthus]

Nice. I didn't even know such a thing existed. The people I know still need to inject insulin with those small needles. The fun never stops with diabetes

That's usually for people with type 2 (the needles).

This is for people with type 1 or juvenile diabetes, who produce no insulin at all.

 

[Acanthus]

CGMS is in its infancy and if your friend thought it was self-reliant, he was dreadfully wrong. There is currently no FDA approved continuous monitoring and correcting pump. The Mini Med is close, but still needs to be calibrated.

My son has been "dependent" on his pump for 8 years. Pumping, when done with tight glucose monitoring, allows for much better control.

This is true, the only way for the aforementioned things to happen to someone is they have had to have had radically high sugar for a long period (years).

 

[lxskllr]

there's some downsides but in general I think it's easier/better than carrying around needles or pens. I take mine off to work out, shower, etc. I do know a few diabetics who really didn't like being attached to a gadget 23 hours a day.

Right now I'm just in standby mode. I'm kind of seeing how things play out with my daughter, and trying to get a feel for what she wants. If it were for me, I think I'd prefer using syringes. I generally prefer the simple, less technical method where possible, and I think being connected to a box would get on my nerves after awhile. It's not really about me though, so I'll have to see what she thinks over the next year or so.

 

[rudeguy]

there's some downsides but in general I think it's easier/better than carrying around needles or pens. I take mine off to work out, shower, etc. I do know a few diabetics who really didn't like being attached to a gadget 23 hours a day.

Yep. Your daughter is going to have to want the pump. My son wore a test pump around for 3 days that was pumping saline before we decided. Talk with your diabetes team about it. I promise you that they will be very well versed in the pluses and minuses of pumping. They will also know your daughter's background. My son isn't a good eater, so intensive therapy didn't agree with him at all. He would have strapped a cement block to his leg to not have to get shots, eat when we told him....all that jazz. But its not for everyone.

 

[Gibsons]

This is one disease that I think genetic engineering can solve in the semi-near future, and I'm usually fairly pessimistic about such things. Just need to teach some other cell to read glucose levels and secrete insulin in response. And not have these cells get killed by the same autoimmune response that caused the problem in the first place. And not have them turn cancerous either, that would be bad. And make it affordable.

Piece of cake.