Insulin Pumps Article Archives

news

If it's a pump, then where's the tubing? Well, it looks like another company has put a patch on that problem. Medingo Ltd., a company held by Elron Electronic Industries, has received FDA approval to market the Solo MicroPump Insulin Delivery System. The Solo System consists of an insulin-dispensing patch and a remote control device that increases or decreases the patch's rate of secretion.

5 comments - Posted Aug 15, 2009

blog

This year the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) went deep south for its annual conference, hosting the event in Atlanta, Georgia, from August 3^rd through August 9^th.  Diabetes Health was there, hobnobbing with thousands of attendees and hundreds of companies, and it was an amazing experience. 

0 comments - Posted Aug 15, 2009

blog

Initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Rob subsequently discovered that he had type 1. Knowing that he needed to exercise more, he returned to professional surfing. Today, he is a sponsored professional athlete who uses a CGM.

9 comments - Posted Aug 7, 2009

news

Minneapolis-based Medtronic Inc. is recalling some lots of its Quick-set infusion sets over concerns that they may cause insulin pumps to deliver too much or too little insulin.

1 comment - Posted Jul 21, 2009

news

One of the fondest hopes of people with type 1 diabetes has long been for the creation of an artificial pancreas, a reliable combination of automated glucose monitoring and insulin delivery that could serve in place of a defunct pancreas.

14 comments - Posted Jun 24, 2009

blog

Pump Wear has a new product called a "Draw Pak"-it's a pump pack that you can truly make your own. The pack, which is made of black cordura, has a white vinyl front that your can decorate yourself with "Sharpie" permanent markers. (Hint: Costco sells a package of every color you could possibly need.) Want to practice your picture?  Use washable markers to play with your ideas, then wipe it clean until you're ready for the final design. Test your creativity and create your own sports design, fun fashion design, or special events logo-it's all up to you. 

1 comment - Posted May 26, 2009

news

When Smiths Medical announced in late March that it was discontinuing the manufacture and sales of its Deltec Cozmo insulin pumps, the company's annual sales of that product were about $36 million. In contrast, Medtronic, manufacturer of the Minimed line of insulin pumps reported sales of $727 million in the nine months from April 2008 to January 2009.

8 comments - Posted Apr 29, 2009

blog

Many people with diabetes who have ditched multiple daily injections in exchange for an insulin pump regret not doing so sooner. Ask them why they didn't, and arguably the most common answer has something to do with vanity. Still, while many might feel overjoyed by their optimum blood sugar control, they're not in love with their new appendage and may struggle with self-image as a result.

1 comment - Posted Apr 25, 2009

blog

Women hate their bodies. At least, an overwhelming collection of statistical data suggests as much. Consider the following facts compiled by Liz Dittrich, Ph.D, at About-Face.org, which aims to combat negative and distorted images of women:

0 comments - Posted Apr 24, 2009

Do infusion sets refuse to stick to your skin?

7 comments - Posted Feb 27, 2009

news

As the 76-million-member Baby Boomer generation ages-its oldest members are now 63-nursing homes are bracing for an unprecedented demand for their services. Along with increased pressure from the sheer number of patients, nursing homes will also have to deal with the skyrocketing number of seniors with type 2 diabetes.

2 comments - Posted Jan 15, 2009

For 2,000 years diabetes has been recognized as a devastating and deadly disease. In the first century A.D. a Greek, Aretaeus, described the destructive nature of the affliction which he named "diabetes" from the Greek word for "siphon." Eugene J. Leopold in his text Aretaeus the Cappodacian describes Aretaeus' diagnosis: "...For fluids do not remain in the body, but use the body only as a channel through which they may flow out. Life lasts only for a time, but not very long. For they urinate with pain and painful is the emaciation. For no essential part of the drink is absorbed by the body while great masses of the flesh are liquefied into urine."

38 comments - Posted Dec 17, 2008

Need gift ideas? Holiday gift-giving can be a challenge. Some people like surprise gifts, some make “must have” or “wish” lists. I don’t always know what is on someone’s list, or if they would enjoy a surprise.

1 comment - Posted Dec 10, 2008

Hanukkah treats? Christmas traditions? Kwanzaa celebrations?

2 comments - Posted Dec 10, 2008

Even as diabetes researchers worldwide strive for total control over-or even an outright cure of-type 1 diabetes via gene therapy, altered cells, or surgical intervention, other researchers continue to press toward creation of a functional "artificial pancreas."

1 comment - Posted Nov 3, 2008

David Kliff of Diabetic Investor was the first to report last week that Animas, the Johnson and Johnson unit that makes the  OneTouch Ping blood glucose monitor, is recalling the Ping. The brand-new Ping received FDA clearance this past summer on July 1. According to reports, there is a small problem with the Ping that has nothing to do with the Animas 2020 insulin pump it works in concert with. The bolus calculator on the Ping does not work properly when it isn’t synched with the pump. When the two are synched, it works fine. Animas says the problem has been corrected and they are sending new units to customers to replace the defective ones.

0 comments - Posted Oct 27, 2008

My husband and I have nine children. Elliott is our oldest and when he was diagnosed with type 1 at age 11 in 1996, we were blindsided. Neither my husband, nor I, nor anyone in our extended family had diabetes. Elliot had all of the classic symptoms: excessive thirst, frequent urination, uncontrollable hunger, occasional blurry vision, and (something I think a lot of parents don't recognize as a sign) bedwetting.  

10 comments - Posted Aug 28, 2008

The exhibit hall at this year's Children with Diabetes conference in Orlando, Florida, from July 23 to 27, 2008, featured expensive and elaborate booths from well-known companies like LifeScan and large organizations such as the American Diabetes Association. But another kind of company also welcomed people to their booths. They were the diabetes start-ups, companies that were started more often than not because of an intimate connection to the world of diabetes. I spoke to representatives of five of these companies about their products, their mission, and their inspiration.

3 comments - Posted Aug 28, 2008

The members of the AADE are an impassioned group who genuinely want to make a difference in their patients' lives. It was an ideal place for me to be, especially because I had a concern of my own: Why am I getting red dots every time I inject? Every educator I asked went right to work examining the problem and investigating my behavior, truly wanting to help. Unfortunately, they are dwindling in number each year, while patients are increasing in number, making their work ever more demanding.

4 comments - Posted Aug 20, 2008

The provincial government of Ontario has announced it will spend $741 million over the next four years to combat diabetes, including paying the costs of insulin pumps for adults with type 1 diabetes.

5 comments - Posted Jul 25, 2008

In the wake of its clearance by the FDA, Animas Corporation says it will make its new OneTouch® Ping™ glucose management system available to people with diabetes by mid-August.

3 comments - Posted Jul 10, 2008

With annual worldwide sales topping 1.3 billion dollars, insulin pumps are one of the most popular devices in the treatment of diabetes. Not only do they allow people with type 1 diabetes to more easily manage their blood glucose levels, but they also help users regain their freedom and enjoy a more normal life.

14 comments - Posted May 30, 2008

Editor's note: Below Mr. Kramer's letter, you can click on links to Medtronic's and Dexcom's reponses. We appreciate the balanced discussion of this  important topic.

33 comments - Posted May 22, 2008

A Question-and-Answer Session With Jordan Hoese, A 14-Year-Old Type 1 Marathon Runner.

16 comments - Posted Apr 21, 2008

Professional surfer Scott Dunton, 21, has two missions in life: To keep climbing in the rankings as one of the world’s top competitive surfers, and to spread the word to children and teenagers everywhere that having diabetes doesn’t mean life’s joys come to a halt.

16 comments - Posted Mar 27, 2008

Editor:  I am an enthusiastic reader of your magazine. I appreciate the number of times you have tackled some of the bigger questions of diabetes management that others have ignored.

30 comments - Posted Jan 23, 2008

The name insulin comes from the Latin insula, for islands. It refers to the pancreatic islets of Langerhans that contain the beta cells.

1 comment - Posted Dec 20, 2007

To conclude our pump survey, we asked you how you'd like to see pumping improved. As usual, you came up with a plethora of intriguing suggestions, although some were a bit more visionary than others: One reader said, "I wish someone would invent a device that could be waved over a meal, and it would display the number of carbs in the meal."

43 comments - Posted Dec 14, 2007

Over the course of the year, we meticulously update all our charts to bring you the most accurate information about hundreds of products, services, and medications. Now we've gathered every one of those charts, from humble lancets to sophisticated continuous glucose monitors, into one handy place.

1 comment - Posted Nov 26, 2007

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved pre-filled pens for administering Symlin, which was previously available only in vials. The SymlinPen 60 delivers 15, 30, 45, or 60 micrograms per dose.

8 comments - Posted Nov 14, 2007

This morning, a major meter manufacturer announced that its blood glucose meters will now operate on Microsoft's HealthVault. HealthVault is an online service that allows a patient to store and manage his health records without paying a fee.

31 comments - Posted Oct 31, 2007

I am a survivor and proud of it. Not only have I lived with diabetes for 52 years, since the age of five, but I am also a breast cancer survivor for over fifteen years.

3 comments - Posted Oct 22, 2007

If you've got a big protein molecule like insulin, right now the only option for getting it into your body is via a needle or cannula into the subcutaneous tissue. It can't be swallowed because the digestive system would, logically enough, digest it.

1 comment - Posted Jul 29, 2007

If your Paradigm pump has been not been exposed to powerful magnetic fields, such as those found near MRI machines, you have nothing to worry about. Go about your merry way and keep up the good work. In the unlikely event that such exposure has occurred, however, you need to be aware that it may cause the pump's motor to malfunction and significantly over-deliver insulin, causing severe hypoglycemia.

2 comments - Posted Jul 20, 2007

The results of our pump survey are in, and we had 841 respondents! Clearly, people are passionate about pumping, both pro and con. In fact, they seem to be more passionate about pumping than about sex, judging by the far greater response we got to this survey than we did to our survey about women and sex!

9 comments - Posted Jun 21, 2007

The insulin pump is a wonderful device, a marvel of engineering that allows diabetics to screw up at the push of a button. With the pump in use, however, instead of staring at a syringe and racking your brain to remember what you injected into where and how much, a few button clicks will remind you of your mistake, allowing you to correct it with unprecedented accuracy.

0 comments - Posted Jun 11, 2007

A 22-year-old who's planning to graduate from college this spring with a degree in criminal justice has run up against a Massachusetts state law that bars anyone who wears an insulin pump from being hired as a full-time police officer.

1 comment - Posted Jun 4, 2007

A study recently published in Diabetes Care has found that people with type 1 who become happy pumpers share characteristics in common. They actively participate in self-care, have realistic expectations of pump performance, and clearly remember how they felt when they were first diagnosed. The researchers believe that these characteristics may help predict who will be a successful pumper.

0 comments - Posted May 11, 2007

A teeny weeny new pump, about a quarter the size of existing pumps, is being readied for the market in 2008.  Developed by Debiotech, the “Nanopump” will be made of two parts: a permanent part containing the electronics and a disposable skin patch with the reservoir and pumping mechanism.

0 comments - Posted May 10, 2007

We’ve gotten the results from our women's sex survey, and now the word is out about you, your diabetes, and sex...

0 comments - Posted May 3, 2007

About three million people in the United States have type 1 diabetes, yet there are fewer than 300,000 insulin pumpers. Given the highly touted data in favor of insulin pumping, we want to know your reasons for either going or not going on the pump. So we've posted a survey here where you can reveal why a pump is, or is not, for you. Your attitudes are important to us, and to all of you, because real change is based on understanding.

0 comments - Posted Apr 19, 2007

Animas has just introduced its fifth generation insulin pump, the 2020. Especially for those without 20/20 vision, it comes with a self-illuminating, high contrast color screen that uses Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology.

1 comment - Posted Apr 18, 2007

There’s a new pump in town, and it’s part of a whole pumping system. The ACCU-CHEK® Spirit insulin pump system includes not only the pump, but also one of the three ACCU-CHEK® blood glucose monitors, software with a bolus calculator on a Palm PDA or smartphone, and a carrying case.

1 comment - Posted Apr 14, 2007

Half of Fifty 50’s profits are donated to research seeking a diabetes cure that, once found, will put Fifty 50 out of business. Its a novel business plan, funding your own demise, but it works for Gary Russell, the companys president and one of its three founders, along with John Beers and Patricia Gawdun. Since the company debuted its first product in 1991, its given away over ten million dollars to diabetes research.

0 comments - Posted Apr 7, 2007

Dr. David Reiss had never heard of diabetes until age 16, when he found out he had type 1 during his college physical exam. He rebelled and refused injections for a year, but by then there were ketones in his urine and he had no choice. That was 42 years ago, when people gave themselves just one injection a day.

0 comments - Posted Apr 2, 2007

Deborah Tally has found a fun and inexpensive way to pump up the coolness quotient of insulin pumps, by using colorful cell phone cases from the dollar store instead of a standard pump case.

1 comment - Posted Mar 31, 2007

New York, New York - March 12, 2007 - About 1,000 people attending the Diabetes Research Institute’s Carnival for a Cure fundraising event in New York yesterday were treated to a live concert by the young pop rock band, the Jonas Brothers, and some surprising inspiration from one of the band members.

123 comments - Posted Mar 13, 2007

BOSTON - Feb. 27, 2007 - It is widely recognized that the teenage years are often a challenging time for youth with diabetes to maintain good blood glucose control. Hormonal changes, peer pressure, food temptations, and resistance to following good health practices are among the factors that make it difficult for many youngsters. Unfortunately, poor diabetes control places youth at increased risk of developing complications from diabetes later in life.

0 comments - Posted Feb 28, 2007

On October 10, 2006, Roche Diagnostics announced the launch of the first ACCU-CHEK branded insulin pump—the ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump system.

1 comment - Posted Feb 28, 2007

The latest and greatest skins are a great way for youngsters to express themselves and show off their cell phones and MP3 players. Now Medtronic MiniMed is offering skins for its Paradigm insulin pump.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2007

Kids who discontinue pump therapy become “less adherent” and achieve poorer BG results than kids who remain on the pump, according to Joslin researchers who followed a group of type 1 youth starting the pump between 1998 and 2001.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2007

Medtronic MiniMed’s Guardian RT is being called a “useful and important diagnostic tool for a phenomenon known as nighttime ‘late-onset hypoglycemia’.”

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2007

Researchers in New York are saying that insulin pump therapy at the time of type 1 diagnosis “provides a positive experience … with excellent clinical outcomes and apparent prolongation of the honeymoon period.”

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2007

Roche Diagnostics recently announced the launch of the first ACCU-CHEK branded insulin pump—the ACCU-CHEK Spirit insulin pump system.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2007

In November 2006, Insulet Corporation, maker of the OmniPod Insulin Management System, announced that it had won a Nixon Peabody/Smith & Nephew Medical Device Innovation Award from the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC).

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 2006

A few pump users have noted some odd occurrences in the day-to-day management of their insulin pump. Skin problems are a real concern and, sometimes, a puzzle to solve.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 2006

This month in our Meters and Pumps & Infusion Sets sections we are doing something a little different. Diabetes Health is launching Diabetes Health TV from our homepage (www.diabeteshealth.com).

1 comment - Posted Nov 1, 2006

Real-Time Pump and CGMS Technology Given the Go-Ahead by the FDA

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2006

What are your expectations when it comes to pump training? Are they realistic? Do you want improved blood glucose control, improved health and flexibility in choosing when and what to eat? Or, do you just want to avoid frequent intensive insulin injections? Are you a “set it and forget it” type?

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2006

Continuing last month’s “What’s New” theme, we offer you a rundown of the latest and greatest in insulin pumping. Below are some highlights of developments to keep your eyes on.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2006

The FDA has informed Medtronic, Inc., that it was approving its MiniMed Paradigm Real-Time Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2006

Pump Expeditions from Medtronic MiniMed is a CD-ROM-based program that offers users both entertainment and education.

1 comment - Posted Jul 1, 2006

Jane complains of a burning pain at the abdominal insertion site as soon as the cannula is inserted. It doesn’t subside, so she removes the set and re-inserts at a new location.

1 comment - Posted Jul 1, 2006

David Kliff is the editor of The Diabetic Investor. In 1994 he was diagnosed with type 2.

1 comment - Posted Jul 1, 2006

Problems with blood glucose control need to be prevented and solved when using an insulin pump. When something goes wrong, do you blame it on the pump or suspect you made an error? Do you assume there is a pump problem with each alarm?

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2006

Choosing the right insulin pump and infusion set can be a daunting task for prospective users, and the number of options available may be overwhelming.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2006

Pramlintide (Symlin) is a synthetic amylin analogue. First described in 1987, amylin is a neuroendocrine hormone produced by beta cells, which also produce insulin. This hormone is absent in type 1 diabetes and decreased in type 2 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2006

Are you an expectant mother with diabetes? If so, are you wondering about the disappearance of infusion sites as your baby grows and your abdomen expands? Do you anticipate that “pinching an inch” will become more of a challenge? Are you concerned about the angle and depth of insertion, and how often you should rotate insertion sites? Here are a few suggestions for you:

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2006

Many concerns arise when patients consider the costs of insulin pump therapy. The following are a few of the most frequently asked questions:

8 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2006

Many pump manufacturers have online stores where you can order and pay for your infusion supplies. In addition to manufacturer Web sites, services are offered by Advantage Rx, CCS Medical, Fifty 50 Pharmacy, Focus Pharmacy, Logimedix and National Diabetic Pharmacy. In Canada, supplies can be obtained from AutoControl Medical.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2006

This month, our focus is on giving thanks, or at least, thinking about the good things in life. Being able to plan and eat a Thanksgiving dinner and still maintain blood glucose control is an obvious topic.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2005

The OmniPod Insulin Management System, which was introduced at the August 2005 American Association of Diabetes Educators Conference in Washington D.C, is a two-part system consisting of the OmniPod and the Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM). The System features automated cannula insertion, a fully integrated design including an integrated blood glucose meter that uses blood glucose test strips, and no tubing.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2005

Dear Ann Landers,
With all due respect—you blew it!

10 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2005

There’s no argument that an insulin pump is the best choice for diabetes management for a very young child. Many articles have appeared in the past five years that support this opinion.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2005

Type 1 Kids Do Well on Pumps

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2005

Recently Diabetes Health asked experienced pump users, What are the most important things a new pumper or a potential pumper should know? What advice would you give someone who is frustrated with the pump learning curve while trying to achieve the goal of improved blood glucose control?

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2005

The temperatures are climbing; does this mean trouble for you and your insulin pump? Will your insulin’s potency be affected? Will your glucose levels climb or drop in the warmer weather?

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2005

I have noticed in online discussions about insulin pump therapy that prospective pumpers tend to be much more curious about pumps than they are about infusion sets. But once they start pumping, reality sets in: Getting a pump may be like climbing into the driver’s seat of your diabetes management, but finding the right infusion set for your body and your lifestyle is like putting the key in the ignition. You’re getting somewhere with insulin pump therapy only if the insulin is getting into you reliably and comfortably.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2005

Improved glucose control helps you metabolize food more efficiently. Prior to pump use, you may have lost glucose in the urine. If so, those were calories you did not have available to maintain a normal weight. Was your A1C higher before pump therapy? If your A1C has improved, then you are using the nutrients in your food and losing less of them.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2005

The following is excerpted and adapted from the book “Taking Control of Your Diabetes,” by Steven Edelman, MD, and friends, 2001.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2005

“Errors in calculation of insulin dosage by adolescents occur frequently,” write U.C. Davis researchers in a recent study. “Consistent use of an insulin dosage calculation device may help to improve metabolic control in adolescents using multiple daily injections (MDI) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pumps (CSII).”

4 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2005

In February 2005, Insulet Corporation of Bedford, Massachusetts, announced that its OmniPod Insulin Management System received FDA approval.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2005

It isn’t too early to be thinking about diabetes summer camp for your child.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2005

Your insertion sites are red. You wonder if you did something wrong during site preparation or insertion, and you wonder what you should you do about it now and do differently next time.

1 comment - Posted Mar 1, 2005

What’s in your sick-day supply kit? Are you prepared for the common cold or a stomach bug? Do you have the supplies you need to get through the inconvenience of being ill? Have you made sure your insulin and pump supplies are plentiful and not outdated?

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2005

On November 22, 2004, the diabetes business unit of Medtronic, Inc., and Novo Nordisk announced an agreement to develop the first prefilled cartridges designed for use with Paradigm external insulin pumps.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2005

Do you plan to go sledding, skiing, ice skating or snowshoeing this winter?

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2005

The insulin pump remains the gold standard for optimal control of type 1 diabetes and for anyone who needs intensive insulin therapy.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2005

The following are summaries of studies presented at the June 2004 ADA Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida:

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2004

This month’s column is for anybody interested in understanding the terms used with insulin pump therapy. Clip and save this for your reference.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2004

So, you aren’t pleased with your blood glucose control.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2004

Since Lantus first appeared on the market in 2001, it has been praised as the best basal insulin for good blood glucose control, primarily because it has a flat, peakless action. It fills a need for people who desire consistent insulin action around the clock, but like other basal insulins, it has to be set, tested and adjusted to match the user’s need.

1 comment - Posted Jun 1, 2004

The number of people opting for insulin pump therapy grows. Worldwide, the number is approximately 300,000.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2004

“Smart Pumping for People With Diabetes” by Barbara J. Anderson, PhD, and Howard Wolpert, MD, a new book published by the American Diabetes Association, teaches people with diabetes how to use the insulin pump effectively.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2004

Medtronic MiniMed announced the introduction of its Paradigm 712 insulin pump, which incorporates a larger reservoir for diabetes patients who require more insulin. The pump also performs complex diabetes calculations and recommends correct insulin dosages.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2004

Today’s finger-piercing lancets draw much less blood than their predecessors did. But they still hurt, say some. Today’s insulin needles are models of precision engineering. But they’re still not comfortable for everyone—especially if they hit a nerve.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2004

Animas Corporation announced it had received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the world’s smallest insulin pump.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2004

You’ve gone through all the diabetes education classes. The insurance company pays for them.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2004

Who is a “typical” pumper? To find the answer, we went to www.insulin-pumpers.org, the not-for-profit Web-based Insulin Pumpers Organization (IP) of Milpitas, California. In the “About Insulin Pumpers” section of this Web site, executive director Michael Robinton has collected and compiled data from the more than 4,000 members who choose to fill out a survey.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2004

All Disetronic D-TRON insulin pumps should have been replaced with the D-TRONplus model by May 30, 2003.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2003

Insulin pump users can get sick, just like everyone else.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2003

A new educational tool is now available to help people with diabetes learn virtually firsthand the impact of using insulin pump therapy to achieve tight blood-glucose control.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2003

Roche, best known for its Accu-Chek family of blood-glucose monitors, made an offer in February 2003 to buy Disetronic's insulin pump division. A decision on the purchase should be finalized in May or June if Disetronic's shareholders accept Roche's tender offer of two nonvoting Roche equity securities and a price of 670 Swiss francs (about $490 U.S. dollars) per share.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2003

Abnormally high exposure to static electricity could cause Medtronic MiniMed's Paradigm insulin pump to "freeze," the company states in its Winter edition of Positive Pumping. This problem could result in insulin delivery being interrupted without an accompanying alarm or other warning.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2003

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0 comments - Posted May 1, 2003

Linda McNeely, a retired registered nurse, remembers her first insulin pump.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2003

Not so long ago, there were two insulin pump companies—MiniMed and Disetronic. In the past couple of years, however, new companies seem to come along every few months. Now we have Medtronic MiniMed, Disetronic, Animas, Dana, Deltec and soon Nipro.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2003

Insulin-to-carbohydrate (I:C) ratios, which are used to calculate the insulin doses people with diabetes need for specific amounts of food containing carbohydrate, are an important part of any intensive diabetes management program.

1 comment - Posted Feb 1, 2003

EMLA, an anesthetic cream made by AstraZeneca of Wilmington, Delaware, has been temporarily removed from the market. The cream is frequently used by insulin pumpers to numb the skin before inserting an infusion set.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2003

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2003

So you've become a pumper. You know how to program your pump. You know how to count carbs. You know how to correctly insert your infusion set. You're prepared for any delayed meal, extra activity, party or unexpected event that comes your way.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2003

If you test your blood glucose regularly, you probably think you have a pretty good idea of how high or low your numbers rise and fall during a typical day and night. However, what if you had 288 blood-glucose readings every 24 hours, instead of only a handful?

1 comment - Posted Jan 1, 2003

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2003

When you first started insulin pump therapy, your doctor gave you a basal rate (or rates) and bolus doses to help you get started. You tested your blood glucose frequently, and the basal rates were correspondingly changed to prevent wide fluctuations while fasting. Then the bolus doses were adjusted to prevent post-meal hyperglycemia (or hypoglycemia). Once your blood-glucose values were stabilized, you might have felt as if you were "set for life."

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 2002

Deltec, Inc., of St. Paul, Minnesota, is the latest company to bring a new insulin pump to the market. Its Cozmo pump received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administra-tion in mid-August 2002.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2002

With the launch of its new D-TRONplus, Disetronic is expanding its practice of including an identical back-up pump with each pump it sells. While the company's H-TRONplus pump has been marketed as a pair in the past, the D-TRON was previously sold as a single unit.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2002

As an insulin pumper, are you prepared for unexpected (or expected) events? For instance, there might be a time when you are not using your insulin pump—either by choice or by necessity. Is this a time for panic?

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2002

People who wear insulin pumps get asked all the time about their devices, and it often inspires creative replies. When you have a busy little box connected to you, it helps to have a sense of humor.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2002

It's usually one of the first questions asked by new insulin pumpers:

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2002

An implantable insulin pump may provide better blood-glucose control and help lower A1Cs, say researchers who compared the control provided by continuous peritoneal insulin infusion from an implantable pump to that offered by continuous subcutaneous infusion using a standard (external) insulin pump.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2002

Both short-term and long-term quality of life are improved in people with type 1 diabetes who use an insulin pump.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2002

When Charles H. Raine III, MD, director of the Diabetes Control Center in Orangeburg, South Carolina, learned he had type 2 diabetes, he went straight to insulin as his preferred method of control.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2002

Scott W. Lee, MD, Saima Sajid, MD, and Michelle Cao, MD, of Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California, have reported two case studies on square-wave and dual-wave bolusing.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2002

Normal bolus! Extended bolus! Square-wave bolus! Combination bolus! Dual-wave bolus!

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2002

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0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2002

What do the school nurse and the education staff of your child's school know about insulin pump therapy? What should you tell the school system?

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2002

Pump Wear, Inc., of Latham, New York, is offering clothing and accessories for children with type 1 diabetes that allow them to wear their insulin pumps in style.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2002

2 comments - Posted May 1, 2002

“You shouldn't have to futz around with shots,” says Wendy S. Lane, MD, of Asheville, North Carolina. ”[If I had my way], newly diagnosed type 1s would be put right on pumps, if it weren't for insurance companies.”

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2002

ovoLog (insulin aspart) has received supplemental approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in external insulin pumps, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals announced in December 2001. This decision, according to Novo Nordisk, makes NovoLog the only rapid-acting insulin analog to be indicated for use with pumps.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2002

It's happened again. You test and the number that pops up on your meter is low. Way too low! But you feel fine. Shouldn't you be experiencing that fuzzy-headed, heart-pounding, shaky-bodied, world-swirling feeling that goes with hypoglycemia?

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2002

The Diabetes Technology Meeting also highlighted research into new methods of insulin delivery, including a "pumpless" insulin infusion device and the use of controlled-release microchips.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2002

Whether you are a beginner or a veteran of insulin pump therapy, a new book called "Optimal Pumping: A Guide to Good Health With Diabetes" could prove to be a valuable resource.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2002

As you may be aware, NovoLog (insulin aspart) is the new rapid-acting insulin analog from Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc. On paper, its action is supposed to be similar to Lilly's Humalog (insulin lispro). However, my experience, as well as the experiences of other people I've talked to who are using it in pumps, is very different.

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You might be seeing a great pump doc now, even if you aren't using insulin pump therapy. An endocrinologist or diabetologist will suggest a pump if you meet the criteria for insulin pump therapy.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2002

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I am a diabetes educator, RD, and insulin-pump trainer. I have trained many patients on the pump (using Humalog) and have instructed them on eating soundly and exercising regularly.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 2001

My son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 2½ years ago at age 24. For about the past year, he has been using the MiniMed pump very successfully.

1 comment - Posted Dec 1, 2001

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 2001

Researchers at three centers in the United Kingdom have been successful in demonstrating that using an insulin pump helps to control blood sugar and A1c levels, and can assist in preventing serious diabetes complications in a variety of patients—from long-term type 1s with erratic control to children and pregnant women.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2001

DanaDiabecare, of Coral Springs, Florida, is now offering a new version of its insulin pump for purchase. The DanaDiabecare II pump promises user-friendly features and affordability, with a compact, lightweight size, lock-out mode, simple icon display screen and minimal button pushes to program basal and bolus rates. Some added memory features of the pump include space to hold 50 bolus rates, 50 daily totals, 50-item history of use, an alarm history feature and the ability to pre-program a bolus.

1 comment - Posted Nov 1, 2001

An insulin pump you can toss into the garbage like a disposable contact lens— not a concept many people can fathom. But two people have, and they have recently patented the idea and closed their first round of funding at a substantial $11 million.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2001

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0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2001

Last summer, through one of your links, I found a few used MiniMed pumps for sale—$1,500 or so—and now I can't find the link.

11 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2001

Researchers in France and California are saying a closed-loop system can work together to maintain normal blood-glucose levels after long-term glucose sensors were implanted into the jugular veins and connected to implanted insulin pumps in two men with diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2001

Type 2s Say They Like the Pump Better

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2001

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0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2001

There may come a time when your health-care provider wants to have some tests done to help diagnose a condition or to decide the most appropriate course of action. A diagnostic test is a laboratory, or other non-invasive, invasive or imaging procedure. Non-invasive diagnostic tests include urine tests, electrocardiograms, simple X-rays, MRI and CAT scans. Invasive diagnostic tests include any non-surgical procedure that includes an insertion of a medical device or medication for the purpose of evaluating or measuring a physiological function or response.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2001

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) recently revised its policy for coverage of insulin pumps so that more people may now get the cost of their pumps paid for by Medicare.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2001

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2001

I am in my 32nd week of pregnancy with my second child and I wonder if I have developed gestational diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2001

The first days and weeks of pump therapy can be very exciting. However, there is a lot to learn to help ensure that your experience with pump therapy is successful. With so much to learn, it can seem overwhelming.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2001

Pump maker Disetronic announced on May 29 that its new Ultraflex Soft infusion set is now available for all insulin-pump users.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2001

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2001

Caryn was a six-year-old who had had type 1 diabetes for one year. She once confided in me during one of her hospitalizations that she did not want to play soccer because she did not want to have to eat before each game. No one else had to and her friends starting saying she was weird.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2001

Pump maker Disetronic has issued a new recommendation regarding the use of their H-TRON and H-TRONplus insulin pumps in the water after receiving reports that users experienced hypoglycemic episodes after swimming or bathing. They speculate that, in those cases, the pumps released more insulin than programmed.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2001

Infusing insulin on a continuous basis has been shown to help control sugar levels and hypoglycemia in children and adolescents.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2001

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0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2001

Managing diabetes is hard work. It can also be very discouraging when you are making a consistent effort to manage your blood glucose, and your efforts are rewarded by unpredictable high and low blood-glucose readings.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2001

If you use lispro (Humalog) insulin in your pump and are seeing dents in your skin at your infusion sites, a switch in insulin can stop the problem.

3 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2001

While exercise can improve your body's sensitivity to insulin, it can also complicate blood glucose (BG) control. Normally, exercise causes your body to use more blood sugar without insulin. Therefore, when insulin users participate in physical activities, they frequently need to make insulin adjustments to keep BGs normal.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2001

The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association have established general clinical practice recommendations for exercise and diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2001

In addition to being a big hit for people with type 1 diabetes, it is my opinion that insulin-pump therapy can be beneficial to type 2s as well.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2001

My concern is related to slow absorption and decay of lispro insulin used in an insulin pump. My diabetologist, NP/ CDE and I have determined that the infusion site/rotation is not the problem. If my BG is 80mg/dl before a meal and the appropriate bolus delivered, it is necessary that I wait half an hour before eating in order to hold the after-meal spike to 150 points (BG of 230 mg/dl). If pre-meal BG is elevated, perhaps at 130 mg/dl, and meal bolus plus corrective insulin bolus is given, the wait could be 90 minutes.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2001

Disetronic Medical Systems earned a global ranking of 30 among small companies. Forbes magazine bestowed the honor on the pump-supply company from St. Paul, Minnesota, in its October 30, 2000 issue.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2001

Do family, friends and co-workers treat you "special" because of your diabetes?

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 2000

On August 9, Disetronic Medical Systems introduced its D-TRON insulin pump, a sophisticated, menu-driven pump that people can customize to accommodate their unique insulin needs.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2000

My 11-year-old son is using an insulin pump. Sometimes, especially at night, I will give him a bolus correction for an unexpected "high" BG number. For example, for a BG of 200, I would give him a bolus of one unit, aiming for a BG of around 100 to 120. Oftentimes, however, his BGs are the same, or even higher, two hours later, even after the bolus. Sometimes this problem persists through two such corrections, and then, suddenly, the next bolus will work as expected. At the next set change, the cannula looks fine.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2000

You made the decision to use an insulin pump. You overcame your anxiety about inserting that infusion set, and you found some basic techniques to wear or hide the pump. But still, some questions may remain. Maybe you're wondering about getting your set to stay in place. Maybe you're concerned about finding an appropriate site to begin with. Either way, the following tips and tricks should help you choose and maintain an infusion site that gives you as little trouble as possible.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2000

Parents who are concerned about the insulin pump's relative complexity but relish the possibilities of the increased control it can offer children may finally have the solution to their problem. A recent study suggests that part-time pumping can offer improved control for younger children without requiring them to operate the pump on their own.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2000

Active people living with diabetes love the flexibility and finite control that using an insulin pump provides. Life no longer revolves around timed snacks and meals. Long-acting insulin peaks no longer control you. Even exercise participation can become spontaneous again. Whether you are new to pumping or a veteran, there are things to consider when you manage exercise blood sugars.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2000

Five years ago, on Mother's Day, Eileen Clarke got a surprise that changed her family's life. Her twin daughters, Kelsey and Kayla, just months old, were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Kelsey started injections that day, and Kayla soon followed. From infancy, Kelsey and Kaylas' lives were given to the realities of needles, lancets, strict meal schedules and healthy foods.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2000

On February 18, MiniMed Inc. announced that it had received approval to “CE” Mark its next-generation, model MIP 2007 implantable insulin pump, enabling its commercial distribution in Europe later this spring. MiniMed anticipates the model arriving on the U.S. market sometime in 2001.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2000

Animas Corporation will be having its coming-out party to the diabetes community this May.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2000

Decisions, decisions.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2000

Researchers at the Walton Diabetes Center in Liverpool, United Kingdom, are saying that in certain individuals with poor hypoglycemia unawareness, the use of lispro in insulin pumps may increase the frequency of hypoglycemia.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2000

The Danish company, which specializes in the development and production of infusion sets for insulin pump treatment, is now known as Unomedical Infusion Devices.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2000

Being a 25-year-old woman who has had type 1 diabetes for 20 years, I have had my share of ups and downs.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2000

In 1993, Sue Jernigan founded Insulin Infusion Specialties (IIS) because she wanted to set up an insulin pump program offering the most comprehensive and up-to-date diabetes education. Today, IIS provides diabetes management tools to thousands of people on pumps nationwide. According to Jernigan, 30 percent of the people working for IIS have type 1 diabetes and wear insulin pumps. She also emphasizes that IIS has a hiring preference for people with diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1999

MiniMed's new Model 508 insulin pump offers several new features, including remote programming capabilities to administer and suspend insulin delivery. It also programs multiple patient-specific delivery patterns, includes a low-volume alert, an optional vibrate mode and a child block feature to restrict programming.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1999

After years of lobbying and letter writing by endocrinologists and thousands of people with diabetes, Medicare will finally cover insulin pumps for its beneficiaries with type 1 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1999

I am a fire fighter who uses a Disetronic insulin pump and Tender infusion set. I have frequently asked sales reps, Disetronic engineers in Minnesota and Sweden and lots of diabetes educators, at what temperature does an infusion set melt? I have never gotten a sufficient answer. The standard line is that insulin is not viable over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1999

In 1993, Ross Adler of Lakewood, Washington, was 58 years old and taking a four-shot-per-day regimen of NPH and Regular insulin for a total of 110 units per day. His HbA1c was 8.4%, and his fasting C-peptide was 3 ng/mL which strongly suggested type 2 diabetes was caused by insulin resistance. Obviously, with such a high HbA1c, his injected insulin was not lowering his blood sugars.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1999

Pump manufacturer Disetronic Medical Systems has enhanced its Web site, offering new resources for insulin pump users.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1999

Not too long ago, I received a hero's medal from Joslin Diabetes Center for having diabetes for more than 50 years. Now approaching 52 years with diabetes, I'm still going strong. I've had a few complications from diabetes, but nothing that has kept me from leading an active life. The complications I've experienced have made me more determined to maintain my present quality of life.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 1999

The following studies on insulin pump therapy were presented recently at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in San Diego:

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1999

Q: Our son is 11 years old, and has been on the pump for six months now. He told us that he is having problems with the pump because all the other kids ask him so many questions. He also says that he wants to go back to shots this summer so he can wear shorts and go swimming.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1999

In February 1998, Brittany Rausch, 12, and her mother came up with an idea for a skit that she could perform at a diabetes camp in Southern California sponsored by the Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes Research and Education Foundation (PADRE). With a group of other girls she met at the camp, Rausch put together a song and dance routine to the "The Barbie Song," and it was a big hit with the other campers.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 1999

Each day thousands of people head to the airport to fly off on a journey. If you wear an insulin pump, making it through airport security gates may be a journey of its own.

1 comment - Posted May 1, 1999

I never thought I would weigh over 200 pounds in my life, yet I stepped on the scales one day and weighed 214 pounds!

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 1999

My daughter, Savannah, was diagnosed with diabetes at 9 years of age. At that time, she was put on insulin injections. For at least the first three years, her HbA1cs were in the normal ranges, and we were able to control her diabetes. She started having problems, however, as soon as she got into her teenage years. Her HbA1cs rose to the 8% range, and no matter what we did, nothing helped.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1999

Kurt hates shots. Since he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 4, my wife and I administered all of his shots, whether he was at home, school or a slumber party. Kurt seemed unusually sensitive to pain. Although Kurt was intelligent enough to draw them up, count carbs and appropriately suggest how to treat highs and lows, he refused to do the shots himself.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1999

For over five years, I thought about starting on the pump, but I always hesitated.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1999

Q: Last week, we had a speaker at our pump group who talked about hypoglycemia awareness and its difficulties. When she asked how we treated hypo situations, I commented that I shut down my pump and consumed some quick-acting and complex carbohydrates.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1998

How do you know the differences between a new pump user, and a not-so-new pump user?

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1998

Five years ago, Nicole Johnson, 24, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after contracting a flu virus. Up until that point, blood glucose management was probably something to which she had never given much thought. She learned that her daily life would be forever altered as a result of the disease.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1998

According to the August 1998 issue of Diabetes Care, a recent study supports the belief that blood circulation problems in people with diabetes can be avoided through good glucose control. The study went on to further say that the best way to maintain good blood circulation is through the use of an insulin pump.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1998

My Observations of People and Pumps

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1998

Caroline was 29 when she first came to my office in October 1994 for evaluation of her type 1 diabetes. Just over 5 feet tall and weighing 122 pounds, she was a petite and vivacious woman, happily married with one child, and working part-time.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 1998

Yes, it's almost back to school time. If you have been using your pump successfully over the summer, you can continue to do so during the school year. Here are a few things which can help make the first day of school, and the rest of the year, go smoothly.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1998

Researchers recently determined that when the delivery of basal insulin is interrupted in the middle of the night, insulin pump users treated with lispro insulin have no greater or more rapid breakdown in glycemic control than those treated with regular human insulin. In addition, they found that high glucose levels fell more quickly and ketones were more fully suppressed when subjects were given lispro insulin after such an interruption. This led them to believe that, "lispro insulin may be more effective than regular insulin in the 'sick day' management at home of patients with IDDM (type 1)."

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1998

Jeremy, who was attending summer football practice, did not want to wear his pump while playing. He had a morning basal rate of 1.0 units (Humalog) per hour. Halfway through practice, he would do a finger stick test. If his glucose was any higher than when he started, he would reconnect to his pump long enough to deliver a 1.0 unit bolus. However, he found this was not working. Practice lasted up to four hours and his afternoon glucose levels were frequently high.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1998

Summer is when pump wearers need to plan ahead and take special precautions. Sun, sand, heat and water are just a few of the hazards that come with the job of summer fun that can impair your pump's performance. If you spend a significant amount of time outdoors, here are a few tips on how to make your pump time worry-free. Have a sensational summer!

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1998

Researchers in the Netherlands recently found that well controlled type 1s on multiple injection therapy have less variable fasting blood glucose levels and a lower total frequency of hypoglycemia when nighttime pump therapy is substituted for their bedtime NPH insulin injection. In addition, warning signs of hypoglycemia were enhanced and aspects of the counter-regulatory hormonal response to hypoglycemia were improved when subjects were on nocturnal pump therapy.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 1998

As a diabetes educator I have worked with a number of people in helping them tackle the tasks of achieving control with an insulin infusion pump. Sometimes the process is quick and easy. Other times it's long and frustrating. As a person who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 25 years and has worn an insulin pump for over three years, I know what my patients must be experiencing. My own situation is simple; pump therapy is the best choice I could have ever made for my diabetes. However, I do not think I fully understood the depth of its true value until the past year or so.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 1998

You've used Skin Prep and the tape that comes with the infusion set but it still doesn't stick. And what about when the tape comes undone and the infusion set crimps? DIABETES HEALTH asked Bruce Bode, MD, how to solve this problem.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 1998

This month DIABETES HEALTH posed a few questions to an expert in pump therapy, Bruce W. Bode, MD, of the Atlanta Diabetes Association. Bode first became familiar with pump therapy in the '70s and has been putting people on the pump in his own practice since 1985. To date, Bode has started over 800 patients on insulin pump therapy. He also maintains the largest database in the world on people who have undergone pump therapy.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 1998

There is a belief that insulin pump users will not have any problems swimming. This may be true for those that dabble in a swimming pool but it is definitely not true for those that swim any distance or do such crazy things as flip turns and racing dives.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 1998

Linda Fredrickson, MA, RN, CDE, vice president of global medical education at MiniMed Inc., writes that pump users who do not swim for such an extended period of time usually disconnect from their infusion site. Fredrickson offers Emily Adamski, a 15-year-old who was recently on the cover of Diabetes Forecast, as an example of how the pump can be managed when swimming.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 1998

Brittany Broussard of Slaughter, La., spent half of her seventh grade year in the principal's office. Not because she'd done anything wrong, but because she had diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1998

If you have just started on the pump, or if you feel like you need to catch up with technological advancements in pump therapy, a support group could be the best place for you to begin. Undoubtedly, the advice of a peer who has experienced the challenges of going on a pump can be the best help for a pumper just starting out.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1998

Switching to the pump can involve some soul searching and honesty. Are you ready to live with a small computerized device attached to your body? And if so, are you prepared to go through the training necessary to learn how to use one?

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1998

Troubleshooting the pump system involves looking at your pump screen to make sure the appropriate basal is set, the appropriate bolus was given at the last meal and the time is correct. If all of this is working appropriately, make sure your syringe has insulin in it, and there is no leakage. Make sure the set is attached appropriately to your body, and the needle or infusion site area looks normal.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1997

Possible Causes of High BGs on the Pump

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1997

So you've decided to go on the pump and everything is going well: BGs are under control and the Dawn Phenomenon is a thing of the past. Then, suddenly you have an unexplainable high blood sugar. What do you do?

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1997

Fewer than 20 percent of Americans exercise regularly. What most people don't know, however, is that if exercise was bottled and sold in pill form its effects would be as revolutionary as penicillin.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1997

In the early '70s, Elke Austenat, MD, spent her days working at the largest diabetes clinic in Eastern Germany. It seemed to her at the time that many of the patients passing through the clinic were overwhelmed and confused by the task of controlling their diabetes. The clinic once counted 400 patients in diabetic comas admitted in just one year.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1997

Are you a prime candidate for the pump? Since the DCCT found that tight control of BGs would significantly decrease diabetes complications, many have turned to insulin pump therapy as a way of controlling their BGs. However, insulin therapy takes commitment and vigilance. Here are some questions to consider before you try insulin pump therapy:

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1997

In this study, 152 pump users (using either Velosulin BR or Humulin R insulins) were analyzed during their routine follow up visits to determine what factors had the strongest effect on their current HbA1cs. These patients had an average HbA1c of 7.58 and tested an average of 3.5 times each day.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1997

In this study Bruce Bode, MD, found that using Lispro in pump therapy provided patients with significant glycemic benefits. While daily BG levels did not change significantly, HbA1c levels had a statistically significant drop from 7.51% to 7.26%. The percentage of patients reporting severe hypoglycemic events (including comas and seizures) were also significantly reduced from 17 percent to 7.5 percent. The total daily doses of insulin did not appear to be affected by Lispro, but insulin antibodies dropped on Lispro pump therapy. In addition, the HbA1c improvement was especially pronounced for patients with the human insulin antibodies.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1997

MiniMed is marketing a new device for use with an insulin pump called the Sof-serterª. The company claims that the Sof-serter allows for a virtually painless insertion of an infusion set.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1997

Minneapolis based Disetronic Medical Systems Inc. is marketing the new D-Modem. It can communicate important pump information to healthcare professionals over the phone.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1997

A normal blood sugar level is the primary goal of all treatment options for people with diabetes. It is especially important for young adolescents because poor control can be very problematic at that age.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1997

Bill King was training for the Philadelphia marathon when he noticed that no matter how much he drank, he had an inexhaustible thirst. He was easily fatigued and had to go to the bathroom constantly. He had been running and training hard since the age of 17 as a competitive runner. Yet, at 24, it suddenly seemed like everything he had worked for was slipping through his fingers due to this mysterious illness.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1997

MiniMed Technologies' implantable insulin pump (IIP) has shown to be an effective alternative to multiple dose injection (MDI) therapy.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1997

Disetronic Medical Systems served MiniMed with papers this past June, alleging that MiniMed has launched a campaign to discredit Disetronic by using false and misleading information.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1996

Diabetes has affected my life since before I was born. You see, my father was diagnosed with diabetes in his early teen years. By the time I was born, chronic high blood sugars had done their devastating damage to him-he was nearly blind and in the advanced stages of diabetic kidney disease. He died of the latter complication when he was just over 30 years old. I was nearly 3 at the time and my older brother was five. My mother was left to raise us alone, and developed good deal of anger at the disease. I know many of us share that anger towards diabetes and how it has affected our lives.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1996

Both MiniMed and Disetronic Medical Systems released new insulin pumps at the American Diabetes Association's annual scientific meeting this past June.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1996

Though results from the DCCT study showed that intensive therapy can reduce complications of type I diabetes, it also showed that it can increase the chance of hypoglycemia.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1996

Reviewed by Bruce W. Bode, MD

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 1996

In 1993 Terri Hopkins was diagnosed with diabetes and placed on insulin. Until only recently, Terri was miserable. Not only was she trying to accept her diabetes (a process that took about two years), but she gained weight. Her blood glucose levels averaged 260 mg/dl, and with an A1c of 9.8, she realized that she would never feel comfortable about having a baby.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 1996

Do you ever wonder what other insulin pumpers are doing? The San Diego Insulin Pumpers Group recently polled 23 members to find out how often they change their infusion sets and check their blood sugar.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1996

As a registered nurse and director of operations for the Southwest Organ Bank, Alison B. Smith was well-acquainted with type I diabetes long before she herself was diagnosed.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1996

When Zachary Ullman was 15-months-old, his parents got the shock of their lives. The symptoms he'd been exhibiting-thirst, weight loss, excessive urination-were more than the usual childhood problems. Their baby had diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1995

Earlier this summer, MiniMed introduced their new Quick Release Soft Set (see July 1995 issue, page 13). Now a whole new family of sets will be introduced into the United States by Disetronic. This follows after an almost eight-year scarcity of truly innovative infusion sets.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 1995

Physicians are invited to attend one of the MiniMed Insulin Pump Therapy Symposia being offered around the United States. Four symposia are scheduled during the next several months. They will take place in Seattle, Rochester, N.Y., Little Rock, Ark., and Houston.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1995

Up until now insulin pump therapy has meant always being attached to a pump. Despite the many benefits it provides, this is something that has discouraged some people from considering pump therapy for the management of their diabetes. However, a new product may change all that. Introduced at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting this June in Atlanta, the Sof-set QRª from MiniMed Technologies (Sylmar, Calif.) is a seemingly simple but revolutionary advance in insulin pump technology.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1995

This article has been adapted from Tape Tips (the booklet) published by MiniMed Technologies.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 1995

After three months on the pump, I may have my basal rate close to being set. This comes just in time to begin a new physical labor job in a week or so and refigure the whole dang process.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 1995

The Beginner's Level

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1995

Researchers at Lapeyronie Hospital in Montpellier, France have studied the 7 cases of complications, out of 40 patients treated there with programmable implantable insulin pumps. Based on their study, they recommend that exercise should be limited to moderate exertion, and vigorous activity should be avoided to prevent an increases in the risk of pump-pocket complication.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 1994

People who use insulin pumps are using advanced technology to help in achieving optimum blood sugar control. The development of this technology and its acceptance by health care providers and users has taken 15 years. Pump use in the DCCT with good results has created wide acceptance of pumping and now moves into the mainstream.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1993

Exciting research form Austria reports the develpment of a device which allows the continuous measurement of subcutaneous glucose concentration. Using a system of double lumen catheters, glucose concentration is callibrated simultaneous with insulin delivery. A series of in vivo experiments have been performed in both non-diabetic and insulin-dependent individuals with positive results, making closed-loop insulin infusion feasible. We eagerly await further details!

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1993

A team of French researchers report the success of an experimental study involving the implantation of a programmable insulin pump in 214 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. The pumps used in the study were the MiniMed MIP 2001, the Infusaid M1000, and the Promedos 3. The pumps were implanted into the abdominal wall, with catheters inserted into the peritoneum (the membrane sac lining the abdominal cavity).

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1993

A study from France has concluded that implantable insulin pumps have proven to be reasonably safe and effective on a large scale, although time-limited, basis. The study was conducted by researchers from the EVADIAC Group in France.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1993

Tamara Norris and Cyndie Flores are insulin pump users who started their own business selling pump accesories. In talking with DIABETES HEALTH, Tamara and Cyndie discuss their first experiences using the insulin pump, and their decision to go into business.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 1991