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Diabetes

Posted on 12/9/18 at 2:44 pm
Posted by surgicalvenom
Omaha
Member since Jan 2014
5361 posts
Posted on 12/9/18 at 2:44 pm
On Monday my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

I made him an App that calculates his insulin needs. You just enter the carbs from the planned meal, and blood sugar/carb ratios.

It works on Apple and Android.

I will give (not sell, GIVE) it to anyone who wants it. Just want to help anyone with a child with type 1 diabetes.

Just need your email and I will send download link. My email is surgicalvenom@gmail.com
Posted by Adama
BSG
Member since Oct 2014
122 posts
Posted on 12/9/18 at 4:01 pm to
Get him an insulin pump and constant glucose monitor. It will regulate him better than your app. Not trying to be mean. I have been type 1 for over 30 years. When I got the pump it instantly changed my life. The newer pumps will increase insulin when going high and decrease when going low. Check out Medtronic.
Posted by momentoftruth87
Member since Oct 2013
71182 posts
Posted on 12/9/18 at 4:40 pm to
quote:

When I got the pump it instantly changed my life.


Mine too. I went from being a grower to a shower.
Posted by surgicalvenom
Omaha
Member since Jan 2014
5361 posts
Posted on 12/9/18 at 5:35 pm to
Bought the Medtronic Guardian CGM out of pocket but they wont write script for the pump for at least 6 months. You're right tho, once he gets the pump, he is in business.
Posted by USAF_Vol
Member since Sep 2005
825 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 10:07 am to
I use a Medtronic 670g with guardian CGM. Auto mode has been a game changer for me.

Not writing a script for 6 months seems so crazy to me. Good luck.
Posted by Adama
BSG
Member since Oct 2014
122 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 10:24 am to
Same setup I have. I have been on it almost a year and, when using the CGM, have only been low maybe 4 times. A1C has dropped more than a point to 6.5. Not nearly as many lows and lowering the A1C is pretty incredible. I told my doc I wanted to get it below 6 and he doesn’t like that idea. I think he may be a little outdated with his mindset. Technology is becoming a game changer for diabetics.
Posted by surgicalvenom
Omaha
Member since Jan 2014
5361 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 11:35 am to
their rationale is that he has to "earn" the pump by managing his diabetes manually for 6 months. They didn't want to write the script for the Guardian, so I purchased out of pocket directly from the local Medtronic Rep.

Seemed like a no brainer. Poke him 10 times a day, or go CGM. It cost me $900 which I can use as a tax deduction.

There just seems to be a lot of "old school thinkers" involved. They don't embrace the technology.
Posted by KSGamecock
The Woodlands, TX
Member since May 2012
22982 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 12:44 pm to
quote:

pump by managing his diabetes manually for 6 months


My Mom was type 1 and refused to ever use a pump, she said they weren't that great and you were better off managing it yourself but I'm pretty sure she only tried the early ones. Are they better now?
Posted by surgicalvenom
Omaha
Member since Jan 2014
5361 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 12:50 pm to
The Medtronic devices work very well. The first device is a Constant Glucose Monitor which attaches to the upper arm. It reports blood sugar levels to your phone. The second is the pump, which you can set to auto. The CGM talks to the pump and the pump gives her insulin when she needs it during the day. Basically acting like her pancreas. People say it is very slick. That's the direction i'm going with my son.
Posted by Kentucker
Cincinnati, KY
Member since Apr 2013
19351 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 1:19 pm to
LINK

Your post prompted me to look up the prevalence of diabetes in the U.S.

Prevalence: In 2015, 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4% of the population, had diabetes. Approximately 1.25 million American children and adults have type 1 diabetes.
Undiagnosed: Of the 30.3 million adults with diabetes, 23.1 million were diagnosed, and 7.2 million were undiagnosed.
Prevalence in Seniors: The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 25.2%, or 12.0 million seniors (diagnosed and undiagnosed).
New Cases: 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
Prediabetes: In 2015, 84.1 million Americans age 18 and older had prediabetes.
Deaths: Diabetes remains the 7th leading cause of death in the United States in 2015, with 79,535 death certificates listing it as the underlying cause of death, and a total of 252,806 death certificates listing diabetes as an underlying or contributing cause of death.

The number of Type 2 diabetes are rising rapidly. Seems only a few years ago the number was about 8 million.

While the rise of Type 2 is appalling because of obesity, there is also an increase in Type 1, although at a much, much smaller rate.

LINK

LINK


Posted by Arksulli
Fayetteville
Member since Aug 2014
25173 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 2:31 pm to
quote:

While the rise of Type 2 is appalling because of obesity, there is also an increase in Type 1, although at a much, much smaller rate.



It might be that we have gotten better at detected Type 1 Diabetes. Which is why we are seeing more Type 1 Diabetes being diagnosed then the past.

That having been said, I think we can all agree that the rise in obesity has seen a corresponding rise in Type 2 diabetes. When your metabolism slows down, as happens to us all, then your ability to easily keep off weight drops. You can slip into type 2 diabetes very easily.

As for SurgicalVenom's initial post... discovering Type 1 diabetes this early is a good thing for his son. Better to know about it, and have a plan, like his application, to deal with it, then have it be discovered later on in life after it has done damage.

Yes, go with the pump once you can. But having something easy to use to monitor things is a godsend for people suffering from diabetes. Its something that could save lives.
Posted by USAF_Vol
Member since Sep 2005
825 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 3:08 pm to
I started auto mode beginning of October and have not had a low yet.

It really is amazing how well it works.

As stated prior, the closed loop system allows the sensor and pump to communicate and give doses to keep you within a target range.

Of course there are inaccuracies and I think the FDA made it mandatory for at least 3 calibrations via fongerstick a day.

The pump will kick you out of auto if you do not calibrate.

Can’t recommend it enough. It really is a life changer.
Posted by Adama
BSG
Member since Oct 2014
122 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 7:33 pm to
Can’t agree more. It really is a life changer. I went 25 years with 2-3 shots a day. Changing the sensor once a week and the infusion set every 3-4 days is awesome. Venom, why not try another doc that will prescribe the pump now? Or is it an insurance thing?
Posted by surgicalvenom
Omaha
Member since Jan 2014
5361 posts
Posted on 12/11/18 at 7:42 am to
It is pretty much policy nationwide to have children manage their diabetes manually for 6 months before allowing them to switch to the pump. The rationale is so they can manage if the pump fails.

I dont agree, and parents should have final say so, but that's the system. The 670g retails for $7500. But even if you want to buy it yourself they require a script, so back to square 1 again.
Posted by Adama
BSG
Member since Oct 2014
122 posts
Posted on 12/11/18 at 7:50 am to
I guess that makes sense. I didn’t realize the 670g was only $7,500. My insurance was billed a little under $15,000. I guess that’s part of the reason our healthcare system is so flawed.

Good luck to y’all. If you ever have any questions regarding the CGM or pump, just ask. Obviously there are a few of us here with it and we have probably experienced the issues that you will come across.
Posted by surgicalvenom
Omaha
Member since Jan 2014
5361 posts
Posted on 12/11/18 at 8:41 am to
Retail prices are based on the average amount billed to insurance. For example your insurance is contracted to pay 15k, another 12k, but Medicare 1k and Medicaid 1k. They average it all and come up with the cash retail price.

They do that to accommodate Health Care Savings Accounts.
Posted by USAF_Vol
Member since Sep 2005
825 posts
Posted on 12/11/18 at 11:53 am to
Yes. Please ask if you have any questions.

Also, Medtronic is allowing people to upgrade to the new transmitter. I just signed up for mine today.

Supposedly there is a software update to eliminate repeat BG test requests.

Every now and then I get a bug saying enter BG after I already did. It’s annoying as hell as if it happens I. The middle of the night it gets aggravating being woken.

Not to mention it will kick you out of auto mode.
Posted by Adama
BSG
Member since Oct 2014
122 posts
Posted on 12/11/18 at 11:58 am to
Good to know. I just ignored it until the morning, but the BG required message literally 1 minute after calibrating is annoying. How did I sign up for it? Do they have a link on their site?
Posted by USAF_Vol
Member since Sep 2005
825 posts
Posted on 12/11/18 at 3:14 pm to
(no message)
Posted by USAF_Vol
Member since Sep 2005
825 posts
Posted on 12/11/18 at 3:15 pm to
Request

Sorry. Hit submit before I was ready
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