I have several questions.

[Codayy]

Hello everyone! My name is Cody, and I just recently joined this website. It seems very helpful!

I was diagnose in August of 2005, so a little over two years ago, with Type 1 diabetes. I was first put on the needle, then changed to a Deltec Cosmo pump, then back to the needle. My first question is this: do you have a perference? To me, the pump seemed somewhat easier, but the old-fashioned syringes seem to regulate my blood sugar more effectively.

Also, I hear talk of this new OmniPod insulin pump. I checked it out, and it seems very interesting. I'm unsure how having a "bulge" of insulin on you will feel, though.

My final, and probably most important question, is: do you have any advice on how to better control your diabetes? I try hard, I honestly TRY. I don't blow it off, and I don't think, "I'll check my blood sugar later." But honestly, I forget ALL THE TIME, to check my blood, or even give shots at meals. I don't know what the problem is; because I obviously know I DO have diabetes. Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can try and fix this problem?

Thanks for everything.



-Cody

[Penny]

Hi Cody. You are in the right place for help. Everyone forgets their injections sometimes, I just take mine when I remember. You are 15, it is a difficult age for something that takes so much self discipline. Some of the younger type 1's on the forum are sure to have some good advice for you.

[RobiJo]

Hi! Welcome to DF. Cody, you will find lots of pratical advice around this forum. Read around and I'll be sure to follow your posts. I work with teens your age at camps in the summer and trust me you are certainly not alone with your questions/problems. Lots of folks will be happy to offer you some ideas and suggestions. I wish I would have found this site when I was 15.

What has your A1c been like lately?

[tanyatype1]

Hi Codayy! Welcome to DF. I was diagnosed July 13th /05 - just before you :) Why did you go back to needles after being on the pump? I like the fact that the pump sounds an alarm 2 hours after your last meal's bolus - good reminder. I'm on an Animas pump and would never want to go back to MDI. I think just having the pump attached to your body 24/7 is a good reminder too.

[xMenace]

You can get better control with pumping. I suspect you didn't get your rates right and didn't manage your D, nothing to do with pumping. We can certainly help you if you decide to go back.

The alarm can really help you test better. I was an awful tester under MDI but now I'm super-regular. Other than that, tie a string around your finger. They say around tthe age 18 you lose your teenage stunnedness, but I'm not convinced.:eek:

Welcome to this forum.

[Funnygrl]

I'm with John here.

I'm of the opinion that if you are getting better blood sugars with shots than the pump the pump isn't being used correctly either because of incorrectly programmed settings, too much snacking, boluses being missed, the wrong infusion set for your body, the wrong insulin type for your body, or inaccurate carb counting.

[KEVIN88GT]

Also I just googled OmniPod insulin pump..and that thing looks ridiculously big (i cant imagine playing hockey with that thing)

Give us an example or when you're having trouble with glucose levels... what are you eating and how good are you at counting carbs....

Also how old are you? Some younger folks while in school and dealing with the rest of the **** in their lives can be overwhelmed...

I too got diagnosed on new years of 2005. At first incorectly diagnosed I was diagnosed as a type 1 Jan 2007 and started insulin injections right after...in may I switched to the medtronic insulin pump and couldnt be happier... it took many months of frustration....and at times I still have an occasional high (after we hang out at friends and hit up the diner) but hang in there.... it's a trial and error process.... I'm a Registered Nurse and with the knowledge I had it wasnt easy for me at first...

[kgm0612]

HI Cody & Welcome to the forum. We're glad you found us and hope you stick around.

I did MDI's for awhile before switching over to the pump almost 2 years ago. I couldn't imagine switching back over to injections. I also agree with the others in that you probably didn't have the correct rates. I'd highly consider giving it another try.

I control my diabetes by following a low carb diet, testing often, and walking every night for exercise.

Karen

[Just Ducky]

Welcome Cody! I have to agree with the others re: the pump--it's worth giving it another try if you can be a little better about checking your BG's. That's the only way to get the basal rates right. :) Set alarms, do whatever you need to do.

As for the Omnipod, I have it, and I love it. The "bulge" isn't really a big deal--and Kevin, it's really not huge. Trust me, at 5'4" and 110 pounds, there's no way I'd be able to discreetly wear such a thing if it were enormous. You really can't see it unless you are looking for it.

Good luck Cody!

[Codayy]

Hi everybody. Thanks for your replies; they are appreciated.

I had a bit of a problem this morning. I wouldn't wake up, and was having convulsions. Turns out my blood sugar was very low. I don't know what caused this.

I have an additional question: would a carb-choice diet be more effective than the "eat what you want" sort of diet?

Thank you.

[RobiJo]

Hi everybody. Thanks for your replies; they are appreciated.

I had a bit of a problem this morning. I wouldn't wake up, and was having convulsions. Turns out my blood sugar was very low. I don't know what caused this.

I have an additional question: would a carb-choice diet be more effective than the "eat what you want" sort of diet?

Thank you.

You could have taken more insulin than needed, not eaten as much as you though, exercise from yesturday could have come into play (this used to happen to me).

A more limited diet could certainly help you understand your body and insulin needs. It's hard to figure things out when you don't know how much carbohydrates are in the foods you eat. It takes work and you have to be motivated to make it work for you.

[xMenace]

Hi everybody. Thanks for your replies; they are appreciated.

I had a bit of a problem this morning. I wouldn't wake up, and was having convulsions. Turns out my blood sugar was very low. I don't know what caused this.

I have an additional question: would a carb-choice diet be more effective than the "eat what you want" sort of diet?

Thank you.

Since insulin requirements are tied directly to carb intake ... yes dude.

[Charmed7]

When my son was diagnosed, I went through a class, and read a book about diabetes and how to manage it. Have you done any research? Do you have an endocrinologist team to help you? I take my son to a children's hospital and they have a nutritionist, a class about pumps, and a lot of literature about your body and how it works for diabetics. This could be valuable information.

I manage my son's diabetes by counting carbs and giving the correct amount of insulin at each meal. The insulin is based on how many carbs he eats. I've been doing this for four years now, so it's hard to forget to give insulin with food since it's every day all day. The one I forget is his night time shot before he goes to bed to cover him for 24 hours. I actually switched it to give it in the AM when he get's his breakfast shot.

You may find a pump will become more affective when you are counting your carbs and using the features (ie alarms and programmed food) it is all trial and error. If I were you I would start keeping a food journal with your sugar levels and your insulin injections listed. It is much easier to see patterns that way. If you are good with spreadsheets you could make one with all the information on it. And if you have any questions about counting carbs, let me know I can help you.

Also...when we make a change to my son's regimen at all, we become very consistant. He will eat the same breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 days until we know that everything is under control. Then we go from there.

Good luck.

Charmed

[panda1076]

Hi Cody,

I have been usign the OmniPod for about 10 months now. You can choose to have it alarm to remind you to check your BGs. I definitely use that feature when I am doing a basal evaluation and want to remember to test every hour or two.

It also has a "missed bolus" alarm. So if you don't bolus in X hours (however you set it), you will be reminded.

I also agree with Just Ducky that you it's easy to conceal on your body. I find it so irritating when people look at a picture and spread negativity about it's "huge" size when in person, it's really not big. Anyways...

If you feel that you are ready to try a pump again, I would definitely check out the OmniPod. I imagine it would be great for a teenager's lifestyle. It's easy to conceal on your body, no one will know what you are doing when you bolus (if you don't want them to know), and you get all the benefits of pump therapy including the alarms and reminders I mentioned.

I'd be happy to talk to you personally if you'd like. You can send me a private message if you want to chat further.

[Jak]

I don't blow it off, and I don't think, "I'll check my blood sugar later." But honestly, I forget ALL THE TIME, to check my blood, or even give shots at meals. I don't know what the problem is; because I obviously know I DO have diabetes. Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can try and fix this problem?

Cody, since this is your most important question, and since you have (or had) the Cozmo pump, are you aware that you can have the pump "alert" you when something needs doing?

I.e., You can set a reminder alert to test your bg level from 1 to 5 hours after bolusing, or at pre-set times during the day/night.

You can set a reminder alert to re-test after a too-high reading, or a too-low reading.

You can set a reminder alert about (possible) missed meal boluses.

You can even set a reminder alert to change your infusion set.

Aside from that, you have history screens that you can check if you cannot remember if you gave yourself a bolus, or how much insulin you gave at the time.

In reality, if remembering to test is your biggest concern, going back on the pump is probably your best bet. As others have mentioned, you likely just need some more fine-tuning to get better results.

Also, on the pump, it is easier to avoid the exteme nightime lows that you mention since you have greater control over insulin delivery at night.

The decision is yours, but considering your concerns, it's something worth considering.

Jak

[Alice]

Don't the OmniPod reps give you "pretend" OmniPods to wear for a while...to see if you are ok with wearing before purchasing? That might be worth checking into for comfort? I'm very interested in them...should I start pumping.

[panda1076]

I have heard of people doing a trial wear to see how it feels to wear it and sleep and shower with it. I didn't do it because my CDE did not have any pods to demo on me. But that was a year ago. It might work differently now. Definitely ask the rep if you are interested. They'll know how to hook you up with that I am sure. And it's absolutely worth trying it out first. But there's also a money back guarantee. I think 45 days. So you can't lose even if you order it and don't like it.