Pumping It Up!

OK, so here's the pump update!

I started on Wednesday. The frustrating thing is that the CDE, who I had never met before, kind of started from scratch on a lot. Like, though I knew I needed lower basal rate in the afternoons and evenings, she still set the same rate all day. Maybe that's standard for starting on a pump, but I kept wishing my usual CDE were there instead.

But, over two hours (which could have been more like one hour, if she weren't such a chatter!), she got me started and set up. I was nervous about inserting the needle/cannula for the infusion set, but discovered that it hurt less than some of my insulin shots do! It was a little awkward, but generally easier and less invasive than I thought it would be. My mom, who went with me and is a nurse, was concerned that the cannula was too shallow and started making suggestions about angling it differently next time... But the CDE assured her that it was in exactly right, and my later numbers showed that the insulin was indeed getting into my system properly. Pretty cool.

This really is kind of like starting from scratch, though. The CDE seems pretty happy with where my numbers have started (some people's blood sugar does crazy stuff when switching treatment methods!), but we're still having to adjust for evening and afternoon lows. A total pain. But it's interesting to watch my insulin needs go down so much on the pump! She commented that they start a new pumper on a slightly lower basal rate than they'd had because most people weren't getting every little last drop in their system when doing shots. And I believe that, because I usually saw a remaining drop (maybe two) come out of my pen needles even after the recommended count-to-ten.

Wearing it has been no problem. It's a little surreal to be hooked up to a medical device, but it's small and cute. So far, I've worn it:

• Clipped under the middle of my bra (I'm glad I'm endowed, now!).
• Under my waistband.
• In my pocket.
• Clipped inside the front of my nightgown (around the house and in bed).
• Clipped to the side of my underwear (in bed).

(Under my waistband.)

Pretty simple. I dig it!

Tough Day

I got really frustrated today because of all of the "correction" doses of insulin I've been having to do between meals, and because I thought my meal schedule was too inflexible due to them...  Then everything in the world was suddenly so overwhelming, and I just let myself cry.  But after faxing my blood sugar records into my Educator and Dietitian (and after expressing my frustration), they changed my carb-to-insulin ratio and set me straight about my meal/insulin schedule.  I can eat any dang time I want and take the right amount of insulin to cover it.  It's only the insulin I take based on my existing blood sugar that I can't take too close together.

*big sigh*  I feel so much better now, but everything caught up to me for a little while, there.

Seriously, if you are a newly diagnosed diabetic, go to a diabetes educator.  And try to find one who'll do more than just teach you in a class then tell you numbers without explanation.  Yvonne, my educator, has been so totally awesome.  She clearly cares, explains the "why" for everything, and gave me her cell phone and email so I can always get in touch with her.

On another front, my mom has been talking to the Diabetes Educator at the hospital where she works.  She went ahead and asked about insulin pumps (a topic my Educator has briefly mentioned as a future likelihood), and she thinks I'll be able to get one in a reasonably short amount of time.  They just have to get me started and make sure I know what I'm doing first.  The pens/needles honestly aren't so bad, but I'm already looking forward to the reduced hassle of a pump!

Diabetes Education, Part 1

I went to meter and insulin "training" yesterday.  I didn't even learn about diet and calculating the insulin I'll need before eating, and it was still so much information.

The educator was great though, and she spoke from personal experience as a Type 1 Diabetic.

After going through lots of information on each, she had me test my blood sugar while I was there (about 350).  I used a super fine lancet that Mom had gotten for me, and it didn't hurt at all.  She then had me, Chad, and Mom practice using an insulin pen on little cushions.  Since I hadn't injected any insulin yet, but she couldn't have me inject the kind I had at the time, she also made sure that I could manage to stick myself with a needle before leaving.  She sat next to me and stuck herself first, and I followed her example... with no pain at all.  Really.  It felt like a tap and then I could tell it was there, but that's it.

That was a relief.

She was a little displeased with three things my doctor had done (or not done): First, that she had told me not to start the insulin right away.  Second, that she had given me such a conservative starting point, with no rapid-acting insulin (the kind you take when you eat), when my blood sugar was so high.  Third, the doctor could have referred me to the dietitian in the same appointment, but hadn't.  She ended up calling the doctor and having her prescribe rapid-acting insulin and referring me for "Intensive Insulin Class," where I'll really learn how to calculate it properly and learn about proper diet.

MAN, I'm telling you, this is eating up my personal/sick leave...