tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post5645958354472857573..comments2023-10-07T06:38:20.148-07:00Comments on Candy Hearts: A Family's Journey With Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease: Animas PING - Our Pump ChoiceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704298016041843194noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-83779104306506624552011-01-31T06:34:54.898-07:002011-01-31T06:34:54.898-07:00That was great Wendy! Nice thorough work. Thanks f...That was great Wendy! Nice thorough work. Thanks for sharing the site with me. I read with enthusiasm, though I think we still will wait awhile on an actual decision...AmyAmy@Diapeepeeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10155562802806704713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-86195915037574611242010-10-11T20:34:22.903-07:002010-10-11T20:34:22.903-07:00This is a great post! Great, great post and I thi...This is a great post! Great, great post and I think it is awesome that so many people are able to benefit from your knowledge. I love reading the comments and seeing how much your blog is helping others. AWESOME job, friend!!<br /><br />Jo was here tonight and she mentioned how great this post was too! She thought it was very helpful and I totally agree!!!!LaLahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17278430665049354027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-9193214662462469552010-10-10T08:46:23.320-07:002010-10-10T08:46:23.320-07:00OH, WendyP....I wish I could tell you that there w...OH, WendyP....I wish I could tell you that there was a magical way to prevent those low, low, low numbers.<br /><br />I suppose the closest you'll get is with a CGM that you learn to trust. I haven't had that experience yet, but there are plenty of folks out there who have.<br /><br />The lowest Sugar has been was 26 -- NO SYMPTOMS. NOTHING!!!!! You would NEVER have known. She was getting a routine check before lunch at school. <br /><br />I think it helps knowing that, even with the most vigilant management, those LOW LOWS can still happen. If you prepare your mind for the possibility and think about how you'll respond ahead of time, it will help when you're in the moment. <br /><br />For example, we never store juice boxes in the plastic wrap that keeps them together on the shelf at that store...we always take that off and put them individually in the pantry. When we see a 40 or below, the last thing I want to do is fight with plastic....it's just one little way I'm ready ahead of time.<br /><br />I used expired Glucagon kits for practicing...and I keep an insulin syringe taped to the current one so that it's always available.<br /><br />When I needed to give a mini-gluc a couple weeks ago, I felt prepared because I had reviewed it in my mind time and time again over the past 5 years. I remembered not to shake the vial -- instead to swirl to mix -- and then draw it up in the insulin syringe...1 unit per year of age for the mini-gluc dose. I remembered to focus on the fact that her symptoms were worsening instead of on the number I saw staring back at me when I tested. I questioned if I was doing the right thing, but felt I could proceed with confidence because I knew I had gone over the scenario time and time again in my mind.<br /><br />You're doing a great job, WendyP. Just keep swimming....one number at a time and always remember you're NEVER alone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16704298016041843194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-25532078099359307992010-10-10T06:03:15.229-07:002010-10-10T06:03:15.229-07:00So would you all say that your lower lows came lat...So would you all say that your lower lows came later on? After your honeymoons were over? Or are we just lucky that they haven't happened yet? I guess I am just wondering if, and fearing that, those 40's, 30's, and God forbid 20's, are inevitable and just around the corner or if I can somehow avoid them. Probably just hoping for the impossible huh?WendyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10472290024781009112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-68693695201440704472010-10-10T03:58:45.822-07:002010-10-10T03:58:45.822-07:00First Id like to answer Wendy Ps question. Its ac...First Id like to answer Wendy Ps question. Its actually found that pump therapy reduces lows compared to mdi. Lantus being a 24hr basal would not reduce lows but increase them. As it cannot be fined tuned or reduced at any given moment. The lantus provides a safety net for highs not lows. We did mdi for 2 yrs and we now have 70% less lows. LOVE Js Ping! IOB is so important and imo waterproof too. Who wants to tell a kid he cant shower or swim cause hes in the middle of a combo bolus or is high. LOVE THE PING!!!Alexis Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06671634676455946839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-59709012161808984462010-10-09T23:36:47.160-07:002010-10-09T23:36:47.160-07:00this is a great run-down!! when C began pumping 5 ...this is a great run-down!! when C began pumping 5 years ago, we weren't given a choice...minimed was it. it's been fine for us except for the water issue...that's when i think about exploring different options. this past summer, C's cute little pink pump took a swim...3 seconds, tops...i freaked...but everything was okay...whew!Nanhttp://www.mypumpgear.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-90527849100702588062010-10-09T23:19:19.378-07:002010-10-09T23:19:19.378-07:00Thanks for the love, my friends!
WendyP....
The ...Thanks for the love, my friends!<br /><br />WendyP....<br /><br />The simple truth is that lows just happen. They're a frightening side effect to insulin therapy.<br /><br />As you strive for tighter control, there's a delicate line between the comfortable low end of normal and too low. The pump doesn't know all of the outside variables, such as illness, physical activity, and carb miscalculations. <br /><br />Lantus is a 24 hour injection that provides a steady amount of "background" insulin. However, the pancreas naturally releases different amounts of insulin at different times of the day, and that's what pump therapy is designed to mimic.<br /><br />Unfortunately, our brains are brains and not the beta cells of a pancreas. Pumping involves ALOT of guessing to figure out the correct amount of basals, ratios, and correction factors at the correct times of the day...and it's all subject to change with growth spurts, stress, illness, whatever. When you factor in the outside variables, plus that fine line I mentioned earlier, it can set up the potential for lows.<br /><br />However, there's no less risk of "bad lows" on MDI....because insulin is fickle. Period.<br /><br />Sugar had HORRIBLE lows on shots. Passing out, combative, confused....they were HORRIBLE!!!! HORRIBLE I TELL YA!!!!! And guess what? They typically happened in the 60's. Sometimes the most symptomatic lows aren't REALLY all that low at all.<br /><br />I'm pleased to report that, since she began pumping, those horrific lows have decreased dramatically -- I think we've only experienced them 2 or 3 times since she began wearing an insulin pump almost 4 years ago. Pre-pump, she passed out and hit her head at least once a week.<br /><br />I hope this helps, but I know it's hard to wrap your brain around. Insulin just doesn't follow the rules....and, as parents, we're left to navigate a confusing maze in it's wake.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16704298016041843194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-22217312357897272662010-10-09T15:55:26.673-07:002010-10-09T15:55:26.673-07:00Awesome post! Thank you for taking the time to put...Awesome post! Thank you for taking the time to put this all together...it really helps newbies like me. :)Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703099150939801754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-37716393058470012122010-10-09T14:16:43.351-07:002010-10-09T14:16:43.351-07:00This is one of the most well thought out pumps pos...This is one of the most well thought out pumps posts I have ever read.<br /><br />Way to go Wendy!<br /><br />And to Wendy P...we actually have had less lows on the pumps rather than MDI. Good luck on your journey!Merihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752883120541646427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-55352948996757708922010-10-09T13:07:43.317-07:002010-10-09T13:07:43.317-07:00I have a question that I have asked the endo and o...I have a question that I have asked the endo and others but still don't feel like I have gotten a straight answer about. Maybe there is no straight answer. But here goes. It seems like those of you who are on pumps have a LOT more lows, I mean REAL lows, than we do. I don't know if that is because you are on the pump, or because you are farther along in the disease process. Is it because we are still honeymooning? Did you not have such low lows in the beginning? Does being off Lantus mean that you have less of a safety net? Are these 30s and 40s just inevitable in our future, or are they somehow a symptom of pumping? This is one of the things that is worrying me about going on the pump. Our lowest low so far has been 67. Why?WendyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10472290024781009112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-26656055233231346372010-10-09T09:06:07.876-07:002010-10-09T09:06:07.876-07:00We chose Medtronic because the integrated CGM and ...We chose Medtronic because the integrated CGM and ended up LOVING it anyway. We could TOTALLY use the .025...luckily we get a new pump in June and Revel has it! But, of course, we have learned to manage around it.....<br /><br />Amazing how we become so passionate and in love with our plastic Pancreas!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17009502794324247532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-1253001884324324132010-10-09T08:43:06.714-07:002010-10-09T08:43:06.714-07:00Agree and LOVE our PING!! Not so in love with Dex...Agree and LOVE our PING!! Not so in love with Dex (cgm) but can't give up on him quite yet. Animas also has AMAZING customer service!!Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07490374648906561675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565266366481013224.post-62198844412907530642010-10-09T03:18:30.011-07:002010-10-09T03:18:30.011-07:00HIGH FIVE and a BELLY BUMP from your BETA BUDDY gi...HIGH FIVE and a BELLY BUMP from your BETA BUDDY girl. We are Ping users and would NOT change a thing. It is the right choice for us. We have been using it for 3 1/2 years and we plan on sticking with it when our 4 year deadline with the insurance is up...we will continue with Animas. I also find the Dexcom CGM superior to the Minimed Guardian (or whatever the latest name is)...so the CGM option with the Minimed does not lure me at all. I would rather have a reliable CGM than have both devices married into one...if that makes any sense.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00895126112651188056noreply@blogger.com