Pump Newbie!!

[jazzy1]

Whew!!! Am I glad I ran across THIS site!! After 18 years of injection therapy...I just began using the pump (Animas 1200) 4 days ago. So far, I love it. The day after I started using, my morning BS was under 250...I almost cried!! I have such a strong dawn...that it had almost become "normal" for me to wake up feeling crappy.

Anywho, so far, so good. There's only one thing that I haven't gotten the hang of...carb counting! At home, I do fine, but if I'm out to eat....I totally miscalculate! Two nights in a row, we've gone out for dinner. On each mornonh after, those morning BS are back in the low 200s!! :nerd: If there's anyone other there who would give me some carb-counting tips, advise, ANYTHING,...I'd greatly appreciate it!

[archimeech]

That's great Jazzy, on the pump. It took me about 2 1/2 years to figure out my carb counting and get my morning sugars down.
What I found best worked was to play with my night time basal(under supervision of my endo) until I got a sign wave that reacted to my actual night time hi dugar phenomena. It takes some getting used to, but you'll be better of for it.
How do you like the IR1200 so far, I'm on a minimed508 but want to switch to the animas pump as soon as I can?

[jazzy1]

How do you like the IR1200 so far, I'm on a minimed508 but want to switch to the animas pump as soon as I can?

I love it! It has so many useful features that aren't hard to learn. Before I decided on Animas, I did some research on other pumps. I found that the 1200 was more user-friendly, changeable pump covers, and fairly smaller than some other ones. The people at Animas were great! When i asked for info, they sent me a whole kit with a video, booklets, etc. The salesman wasn't pushy and actually encouraged me to look at other pumps. After I decided on Animas, they did all the paperwork for me (including gathering the info from my endo that the insurance needed), they set me up with a trainer who came to me on my own time to show me the ropes. The trainer even went with me to the doctor when I started! For me, the whole process from the time I contacted them to the time I actually started only took about 3 months. I actually had my pump and all the supplies for it in a month.

[duck]

Congratulations on getting on a pump! I am still on my Minimed 508 (I was offered the free upgrade to the Paradigm) because I like the larger reservoir, am familiar with it, etc.

It sounds to me like you need to have your basal rates for the time you sleep analyzed and calculated. If you can nail down when your sugars begin to rise (when the dawn phenomenon begins), you can adjust your basal rate accordingly to compensate.

Carb-counting while out: The best tip I can give is to learn how to visualize carb portions--ie, I measured out a cup of cooked rice at home, put it in a bowl and compared that to a balled-up fist (luckily for me, a cup of rice and my fist are about 1 to 1 ratio). When I am out and get something with rice, I do a visual comparison. Also do the same with breads, potatoes, etc. Check out www.calorieking.com and look up your favorite restaraunts and foods you would typically order, and memorize the carb contents. You'll get it under control.

[archimeech]

I am going to go for the IR1200 animas pump for 4 major reasons.

1. the size as you mentioned

2. It's the only one that is truly "waterproof"

3. Battery life

4. When I told Minimed that I was looking at other pump companies, they had their regional salesman call me. He was rather abbrasive, and tried to prove to me that their pump was better. also he called me at 9:45 at night, even though he was in the same time zone and knew exactly what time is was for me. There's no better way to get me to buy somewhere else than to have a pushy salesman piss me off.

[jazzy1]

Duck - I could be wrong, but I don't think it's my basal rate. There was some 'trial' testing before I went on the pump where I had to get up and test my sugars on the hour. I peaked at 4:00am every morning. The night I ate at home, the next morning, the BS was great!! I know that these next few months are gonna be hit or miss until I get it where it should be.

Thanks for the inof! I'll go check that website out right now! :)

[jazzy1]

archimeech - I forgot about being waterproof!! That was a deciding factor for me as well.

[archimeech]

Jazzy,
There may be a higher fat content in the foods that you are eating when going out. Fat metabolizes later and adds to your overall sugar reading. You may want to compensate with a dual-bolus or a temporary basal rate just for the nights you dine out.

[koblenz]

Congrats on the pump and welcome to our little disfunctional family. :D

I just ordered my Animas IR1200 and CAN'T WAIT. I feel like a kid before Christmas.

I selected the IR1200 for most of the same reasons as you folks mentioned, plus, it has the smallest basal rate increment, which will be important for me.

So I may call you for advice if/when mine arrives.

Oh, almost forgot, check out the CalorieKing web site and they sell a little book listing foods and restaurants. It was like $7.00 and it has almost everything. I find it invaluable for counting carbs on the go!

[nantomsuethom]

Hi Jazzy,

I am glad that you found this site also, welcome.

My son is the diabetic in our family. He has been using the Animas 1200 since August (1000 since December). I have to agree with you about the customer service, they are great.

Thomas was waking up with his bs about 100 higher than bedtime. We checked him through the night for a couple of nights and found out he was going up at 4am. Since we increased his basal at 4 he has been waking up with the same bg as it was at bedtime.

When we plan to go out to eat I usually look up the restaurant on the web. Most of them have nutrition info. The ones that don't we just guess and there are times when we are way off and end up with a bg above 200. It can be a pain because we (especially me- no cooking & cleaning) love to go out to eat!!

Nancy

[jazzy1]

archimeech - The trainer from Animas told me something very similar. Until I/We are comfortable with my current basal rate and as I learn more about how these things work, she really didn't want me playing with that. I know a high-level of how combo boluses and temp basals work, but not enough to be able to determine on my own what I need and when.

koblenz - LOL! I feel honored to be apart of this "dysfunctional family". I imagine you understand exactly how I feel!!

[archimeech]

hey Jazzy, we really put the "fun" in Disfunctional around here!

[Dewey]

Originally posted by jazzy1
I found that the 1200 was more user-friendly, changeable pump covers, and fairly smaller than some other ones. The people at Animas were great!
I agree, jazzy. Though it took me a while to save (and re-save after bills) money to put a down payment on the pump, the folks at Animas were very honest and very patient with me. There are some really nice people there!

By the way, Don't ya just Love those colored covers? ;) :D I Love anything bright and neon! That really was an awesome idea on their part, as people can either blend their pump into an outfit, or make a fashion statement! ;) Have you recieved your free colored cover yet? I chose neon pink, LOL :D

The lowest basal increment is another plus, as at night I had experienced some strange trends and the only thing that seemed to help was a very slight increase in the basal. For now, I'm using my Deltec (cause I got the new monitor and had to try it out, plus I ran low on Animas reservoirs :rolleyes:...lol), but as soon as I can purchase some more Animas reservoirs, I think I'm going to switch back. The battery life in the IR-1200 Rules! :D

[jazzy1]

Oooh...I LOVE the pump covers. I sent in for my free one....along with an order for 2 more. As soon as I find a fun picture, I'm gonna get a custom cover made! :)