[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

Introduction

This post will briefly cover my history with insulin pumps, each device separately and some insight into the data I've collected in the last couple of weeks.

I've been a pump user for 8 years now (can't believe it's been so long!) and have been using Minimed pumps from day one. I've become so accustomed to the freedom they provide that I honestly could not go back to a regime of multiple injections a day. For the last 8 years I've had a number of different pumps which were all more or less the same in functionality. Which was pretty basic, with no continuous monitoring ability.

Minimed VEO Pump.

Anyone who is familiar with Minimed pumps from the last 10 years or so would notice little difference when picking this device up for the first time. The pump is exactly the same form factor, has the same buttons and screen. The differences in the pump comes in the form of the menus used to change/view settings on the device.

I would describe these changes as fairly minor. For example, the "Prime" menu has been replaced by a "Reservoir + Set" menu, with more intuitive menu options for replacing sets.

Obviously the main difference is the ability to connect to the Continuous Blood Glucose monitor, and display in real time what your sugars are doing. I will go into more detail with regard to this after I introduce the sensor/transmitter itself:).

Sensor + Transmitter

Now for the good stuff. The transmitter and sensor. These are two separate parts. The sensor, is the piece that you insert into yourself (Think infusion set) and the transmitter is the electronic device which wirelessly beams readings to the pump. This transmitter plugs into the sensor once the sensor is inserted into your body.

The insertion process isn't quite as straightforward as a typical quick set change, but I feel that perhaps I just am not used to it, so its still a bit alien to me. Even so, it's not like its difficult, and its a fairly quick process. You're talking a couple of minutes from start to finish which is grand. Once you have inserted the sensor, you can simply connect (the fully charged) transmitter and you're away. The transmitter takes a bit of time to start giving readings, as yet I'm not too certain how long this is, perhaps a couple of hours.

Once all attached, I would describe it as being very similar in size to a Quick Set infusion set just without the cable. It protrudes a little further out of the body, but not that much. It's not something I find myself noticing during the day.

Sensor output and day to day usage.

I'll start out this section with a picture!



So this is what I'm greeted with when I push the back button on my pump. My most recent blood glucose level and a nice graph. Now this reading of 6.3 is updated every 5 minutes, so it's not technically real time, but it's close enough! If you look closely at that image, you will notice that under the time on the right it also says 3 Hours. This means that the graph it is showing is the graph for the last 3 hours only. You can simply change this to display 6, 12 & 24 hours by hitting the up button.

Now it should be noted that results from the sensor are supposedly out by +/-20% which is a considerable margin of error. But the purpose of this device is not to replace finger pricking, but to be in addition to. It is supposed to show trends and warn you depending on certain trends.

Warnings, trends and tricks

Now as I alluded to above, the pump will pick up on trends in real time and warn you of an impending low or high. Which is something I've always wanted. It means that when I cycle the 12KM home, I will here a vibration warning me that my sugars are falling at a rapid rate and to do something about it! The same happens when going high. Which makes it possible to see a missed bolus, or something going wrong before it even happens.

One cool feature is the auto suspend feature. As you'd guess, this is a feature that will automatically suspend the pump when a reading below, say 3.5, is read. It will then warn you incessantly about that fact until you tell it to take a chill pill!

Now for some more graphs!



This is the report I get when I do an upload to carelink using a carelink USB device. Now this is the bit that blew me away really. It's simply analytics in action, but to see that each day I have 288 separate readings from the sensor telling me my sugars, and the trends for each day is simply unreal. Complete game changer.

I'm having too many lows at the moment, which is evident from the above, I've just started a new job with a 12KM cycle each way which is causing me to crash after. I'm still figuring it out, but this will make a huge difference in doing so.

I have made no adjustments to my Basal just yet, but intend to by the weekend.

I think this covers it...apologies for my lengthy ramblings! And let us know if you have any questions!

Dick Dastardly wrote: »

Thanks for the info Alanstrainor - are both the pump and the cgm sensors covered under LTI?

Yes it is. (it'd want to be, was told that a 10 pack of sensors alone costs €700!)

I had to get approved for this through my consultant.