Jacob had an appointment with the specialist today. I found out that the way I was taught to handle his diabetes was wrong and that the specialist sees it as the doctors we used to deal with "throwing me to the wolves" (as the nurse put it) When my son was diagnosed two years ago I was not really taught anything. All I needed to do for them to release him into my care from the hospital was give myself a shot. They gave me glucogon and said just in case of an emergancy but did not tell me what kind of emergency.( i researched what it is for) Just about everything I know about diabetes is what I have learned through research and trial and error. They were angry on how the local (nonpedi) specialist worked his insulin regiment and went through everything with me in more detail then anyone ever has.
On a better note the specialist okayed jacob to be on an insulin pump and we started the process today. he told me the process could take up to six months though but at least it is started. They are going to put him on the medtronic (spelling) pump. any thoughts about this pump?
My son loves this pump,it makes life for him a little easier.
We have minimed.love it.
I think the pump is great. I don't like that they told you which one you will be using. That is such a personal decision. Are they having you take some education classes to get you more educated since the other office sucked so bad? What kind of insulin is your child using now? Do you count carbs and such?
The nurse at the specialist office gave me her cell phone number just in case I have any questions I can call or text her at any time. They also took the time at the appointment to go over everything to see what I knew and what I still needed to learn. What I did not know they talked over with me and told me they would get a hold of the diabetic center and see what else they could do to help me learn more. There are some diabetic classes at the local college and we are trying to see if medicaide will cover the cost of them. The specialist we see every three months drives from Billings, MT to Bozeman, MT and holds a clinic up here for a few days. Those are the times that we normally will see him. Although once the pump process is finished i will have to spend one night in billings to go over some special training for the pump.
We do count carbs because that tells me how much insulin to give him each meal. I measure everthing out and give him one full serving of everything we serve for that meal so I know how much to calculate. we use humolog and lantus
Quoting Jadegirl1819:
I think the pump is great. I don't like that they told you which one you will be using. That is such a personal decision. Are they having you take some education classes to get you more educated since the other office sucked so bad? What kind of insulin is your child using now? Do you count carbs and such?
medtronic is good, it was in the running when we were choosing. (we ended up with the animas ping) pumping is a god send i wont lie. its difficult in the beginning to get used to but after a while life is amazing. if you do get the CGM with the pump the docs will not let you use it until you are familar with the pump itsself usually about 6 months.
my main concern is it being ripped out and the process of getting it in. For the shots of insulin now my son will only allow his arms to be used without a fight but now they are swollen and we have to use his legs or butt. With his legs/butt he starts to cry before we even give him the shot and says he is scared. I am worried that we will have to go through the same process with the tube of insulin pump but then again "a fight" every few days sounds better then "a fight" a couple of times a day.
I believe the pump will improve his diabetes and all but I just don't know what to ask or even where to start with anything about this subject. I know the doc is starting the process and it could take up to six months and I have to spend the night in billings with my son when we get the pump but I probably won't have qestions until we start using the pump.
Quoting AMG4:My J has the medtronic minimed - We love it! it has been great - any questions about it feel free to ask! We have had it for 4 year now. Good luck!
My daughter who's three is on the minimed from medtronic also. I love it! She adapted very quickly to it and you are right the every two or three days is infinitly better than everyday loads of times a day. Shes been wearing it for 3 months now, and its never been pulled out. Not once. There is a tape called IV3000 that you put over the needle (your insurance should cover it) and its a extra insurance that it stays put. Like with anything its a learning curve, you have to learn to keep bubbles out of the tubing worry a little more about DKA etc. But honestly its the best thing to have happened to us. I just love pumping.
Your story and mine sound very familiar. She was seen by a older endo who put her on Regular insulin and NPH which put her in severe lows at least 4 times a day. It was crazy, they didn't teach me a thing I had to learn it all on my own and through support groups. We are now at the Joslin Center and her care is extraordinary! Good luck, its a tough one :)
We had a problem at first, too. It would take my husband and I to do site changes. Our doctor and trainer frowned upon using numbing cream because they thought we would rely on it and have difficulty doing an emergency site change. I just simply pointed out that he was 3 years old and scared and it was ridiculous to make him suffer like that. We started using numbing cream and it was no long a problem. I suggest you really push for it. Also, I suggest getting the book Pumping Insulin. It is basically a book for people who are thinking about the pump and new pumpers. If your child starts pumping it will be very handy for you and it will help you understand what the doctors and trainers are talking about. Oh, and my son only uses his butt and arms because that's the only place he really has any fat.
My son started pumping at 3 1/2 yrs-6 years without taking a break. He only had the site pulled off twice. Once when he got the tubing caught on something and ran but after that he even started making sure his tubing was tucked in. I can't remember the second time. What we do is put the site on and then we put a tape on it. There are different kinds but we primarily use IV3000. It makes a huge difference. Example, my son was playing on a tire swing with a bunch of other boys. One of the boys saw the tubing and didn't know what it was and thought it would be fun to use it to pull the kids around on the swing. It actually stretched the tubing so much that is snapped at the insulin cartridge in the pump but didn't rip the site out. It pulled on it and it hurt but it didnt rip it out.
Quoting goodnightmama:my main concern is it being ripped out and the process of getting it in. For the shots of insulin now my son will only allow his arms to be used without a fight but now they are swollen and we have to use his legs or butt. With his legs/butt he starts to cry before we even give him the shot and says he is scared. I am worried that we will have to go through the same process with the tube of insulin pump but then again "a fight" every few days sounds better then "a fight" a couple of times a day.
I believe the pump will improve his diabetes and all but I just don't know what to ask or even where to start with anything about this subject. I know the doc is starting the process and it could take up to six months and I have to spend the night in billings with my son when we get the pump but I probably won't have qestions until we start using the pump.
Quoting AMG4:My J has the medtronic minimed - We love it! it has been great - any questions about it feel free to ask! We have had it for 4 year now. Good luck!
What kind of questions do you have? Do you understand how the pump works? There are no stupid questions and we would be happy to answer any questions you have.
We use the Ping may switch to the medtronic in the future so we can get a CGM when we have a rough patch and need to see what's going on. It sure would be handy at school this year. =)
my son is 2 and pumping and its not an issue tugging on his. we use the iv tape over the site and it holds it in i also take liek 2 inches of the tubing and make a loop or two of it next to the injection site so if it does get pulle on the tube will pull the loop thats taped down not the site. my son still whimpers when we change sites but its much easier and he understands now that having the pump means not having multiple shots a day. he was also an arm favorer but doesnt have enough fat in his arm for the pump so we use his legs and he does fine. we dont use the numbing cream although i have heard it does help we just never used it
Meet Kelseyciarah
This Virginia mom never wanted to get married or have kids - but now she's a happy a SAHM of two little ones!
Celiacs?
- goodnightmama
on Dec. 9, 2011 at 4:30 PM