PICTURE POST II!

[Gary7]

thestrangequark wrote:

---

Haven't shared this outside TNZ, but it's my 3rd day on an insulin pump, and I'm actually starting to feel more confident about it. At first I was a bit depressed about how ugly it is, but I'm starting to feel better about it. Last night I even went out, and I think I managed to look pretty nice despite it.

Wow, looks like a remote control device of some sort. Do you have to wear it clipped to a belt or can you slip it inside a pocket? Also, I'm curious so I hope you don't mind my asking; do you have to wear it all the time or can you go for periods without having it hooked up?

[Gary7]

http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/w...ers_Lugosi.jpg

Unlikely vampire...

Ed: Changing to a link due to image being NSFW - CI

[thestrangequark]

^That's great!

Gary7 wrote:

---

Wow, looks like a remote control device of some sort. Do you have to wear it clipped to a belt or can you slip it inside a pocket? Also, I'm curious so I hope you don't mind my asking; do you have to wear it all the time or can you go for periods without having it hooked up?

The belt clip is removable. I had to use it with those jeans because they are really tight, so it wouldn't fit in the pocket (I was going out, though, and they make my butt look great). I did wear it in my pocket when I had on looser pants, though. They also make arm bands and thigh bands in all different styles, so I think I'm going to get some of those too.

I have to stay connected pretty much all the time, but there are a few exceptions. I change the site every 3 days (I've only done so once so far). I disconnect to shower, and during certain workouts where it would be awkward -- I can take it off for swimming, for example. But generally no more than an hour, because it delivers a microdose of insulin every hour, and because the pump doesn't use a long-acting basal insulin. Basal insulins stay in your blood for about 24 hours. The pump uses only short-acting insulin, which stays in the blood around 4 hours, so diabetic ketoacidosis can set in much, much faster if a dose is missed. I could have it off for longer than an hour, but I'd have to reconnect on the hour for a minute to get the dose, or take a shot.

[Ruaidhri]

Gary7 wrote:

---

http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/cytherians/random/PeterSellers_Lugosi.jpg
Unlikely vampire...

Oh, I think this pic will be getting removed shortly...

[thestrangequark]

^HA! I didn't even notice!

[Emher]

Oh no a nipple. Won't someone think of the non present children.


tsq, I'm curious: do you find this a better alternative then what you've done in the past? Which I assume is shots at given times? I'm asking because some would find it cumbersome. Personally I only have the CPAP to sleep so I can breathe, so that's nowhere near your condition, but I had some difficulty adjusting.

[thestrangequark]

^It will be hard to adjust, and I don't think I'll know until I've had it for at least a couple weeks whether or not it's better than shots, but so far it's looking good. It is awkward to wear, but I think the benefits will far outweigh that. This allows for really tight control with micro doses of insulin. With shots you're stuck with 1 unit intervals, which is fine for type 2 diabetics, because type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance. Type 2's and really insulin resistant people, like very overweight people, can take 20, 30, even 100 units in a meal, but I'm sensitive, so I might take 1 or 2 units. The pump is so precise that I can dose as low as 0.025 units. This means way better control.

Also, I don't handle Lantus insulin well, the long-acting insulin. I have a lot of side-effects, including weight gain. With the pump, I'll be off lantus. Plus, people who pump live on average 5 years longer than people who treat with injections. So, I think it's going to be worth it.

[Finn]

thestrangequark wrote:

---

I don't have it so bad compared to the first insulin pump, though:

Reminds me of that Voyager episode where the Doc had that holonovel with the mobile emitter just like that

[cooleddie74]

My mom would occasionally tell me stories about the diabetics she knew when she was a little girl and teenager in the fifties and sixties. She always said "you don't want diabetes now, but you sure as heck didn't want it back then."

[Misfit Toy]

thestrangequark wrote:

---

The pump:

You're bionic!

[Kommander]

Artist: Kommander
Medium: Plaster on wood and wire mesh
Title: My Boss Needs to Learn How to Fucking Not Crash into Buildings

If you look really closely at the texture, you'll see a picture of my boss's car embedded in a wall and him standing next to it looking upset and angry. I wonder how long it'll take him to notice?

[Gary7]

Captain Ice wrote:

---

Ed: Changing to a link due to image being NSFW - CI

Whoops... sorry, didn't see that! Talk about prime camouflage.

thestrangequark wrote:

---

I have to stay connected pretty much all the time, but there are a few exceptions. I change the site every 3 days (I've only done so once so far). I disconnect to shower, and during certain workouts where it would be awkward -- I can take it off for swimming, for example. But generally no more than an hour, because it delivers a microdose of insulin every hour, and because the pump doesn't use a long-acting basal insulin. Basal insulins stay in your blood for about 24 hours. The pump uses only short-acting insulin, which stays in the blood around 4 hours, so diabetic ketoacidosis can set in much, much faster if a dose is missed. I could have it off for longer than an hour, but I'd have to reconnect on the hour for a minute to get the dose, or take a shot.

I'm glad to hear that this device helps make life easier for you. I can appreciate how much of a pain it is to get regular shots instead. Hope it all works out well.

[Gary7]

In the spirit of having felt like a dummy for missing that exposure in the last one...

[Emher]

thestrangequark wrote:

---

^It will be hard to adjust, and I don't think I'll know until I've had it for at least a couple weeks whether or not it's better than shots, but so far it's looking good. It is awkward to wear, but I think the benefits will far outweigh that. This allows for really tight control with micro doses of insulin. With shots you're stuck with 1 unit intervals, which is fine for type 2 diabetics, because type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance. Type 2's and really insulin resistant people, like very overweight people, can take 20, 30, even 100 units in a meal, but I'm sensitive, so I might take 1 or 2 units. The pump is so precise that I can dose as low as 0.025 units. This means way better control.

Also, I don't handle Lantus insulin well, the long-acting insulin. I have a lot of side-effects, including weight gain. With the pump, I'll be off lantus. Plus, people who pump live on average 5 years longer than people who treat with injections. So, I think it's going to be worth it.

I had no idea the tolerances where so precise with type 1. Considering that and your other complications, this would seem the better solution. Here's hoping it works for you

[Sephiroth]

didn't know you were so sensitive, also, does it play MP3's as well?