I'm a Pod Person

I’ve just recently started using a pump.  For years I dismissed every question about starting one from my endo because of the dreaded tube.  Now I know that the “terrible” tube is probably not a big deal.  And I’m pretty sure I could’ve gotten used to it.  But when I heard about the OmniPod I was instantly on board.  After many conversations and emails with my parents, endo’s office and insurance company, I was set.  It arrived in the mail three days later.  Seriously, this was the first time I’d ever been so excited about something diabetic technology related.  I officially became a pod person on December 8, 2008 (just eight days shy of my diagnosis date 17th anniversary).

For over a week and a half (Yeah I know, super long time so far, huh?) I’ve been checking about 12 times a day (compared to not even checking some days prior to the pump) and have overall had excellent readings.  Now, this hasn’t happened in years.  It’s been a long struggle to just stay under 200 since I started high school.  (I’m now in my third year of college.)  So, needless to say, I’ve been thrilled lately.

Every time I’ve had to change a pod I’ve noticed that I have about 10-12 hours of higher readings post pod change.  I honestly couldn’t figure this out.  I wasn’t eating anything different before or after the pod change.  And I was always at a good, if not great, reading before the change.  I was thoroughly perplexed.

So far I’ve only been brave enough to wear the pods on my arm so I can see the window and canula and make sure that everything is A-OK.  Well tonight when I went to change my pod I deactivated the current one on my left arm and got ready to prep my right arm when I decided to be adventurous and try it on my lower back.

I’d equate this to when my mom tried to get me to start injecting in my arm instead of my trusty flabby thighs.  Ironic that now I only want to use my arms when before the arms were my last choice.  Oh the joys of a pump.  I even learned to awkwardly turn around and grab enough to give myself a shot in my butt.  That’s how much I detested injecting in my arms.

Anyway, back to tonight’s pod change.  I’m thinking that there may be an explanation for these increased readings post pod change.  When I checked my previous spot I was quite shocked to see a small stream of insulin coming from the site.  Now it wasn’t too much, but it made me wonder if this was the reason for my high readings.

I really wondered about how much insulin had dripped out of my arm.  It made me wonder if maybe I should bolus to cover the insulin that was ON my arm instead of IN my arm.  Well I decided not to because I’m still new to this pump stuff and am still working out the kinks.  Hmm, ironic that I’m working out “kinks” with a tubeless pump.

But I just checked for the fifth time since my change at 6:00 PM.  (It’s now 11ish.)  And guess what…291.  Ugh, looks like I should’ve bolused for that insulin river on my arm earlier.  Well, now I know that my next change will also include a bolus.

Now I’m just wondering, how much?  Good thing I’m on semester break and can devote all of my brain power to diabetes and figuring out the correct amount to bolus.  No need to spend any time thinking about that silly school stuff.

On a final note, I’d like to say that I am not a fan of the lower back pod placement so far.  Maybe I just didn’t get it in the right place, but it actually hurts a little bit.  Nothing too bad, just a little annoying.  And it’s way harder to see the window and canula.  It’s making me nervous.  I just can’t wait until Monday night when I get to change it.

But I think I’ll trudge on and try the right lower back.  I’ll just have to try again.  I’ll eventually get it right.  I’ll take care of the correct placement AND that dang insulin river on my arm.

 

Kay