Hi, I'm Henry, 44yrs old, 22yrs w/type I
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3,024 Posts
Hello Henry, welcome aboard! I'm glad you are having success with your pump. I have pumped for 4 years and wish I had started 20 years earlier. After 65 years with type 1, I am very healthy. If we take good care of ourselves, we can have long, healthy lives.
Richard
Richard
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2,232 Posts
Welcome to the family, Henry.
Thank you, Richard and others
Thanks for the welcome, Richard. I looked at this forum last summer and I enjoyed reading your story, which I gather is now a book. In 22 yrs of Diabetes, I've had decent health, no serious complications, no eye problems yet. Most of my years on MDI, I hovered around 7.0 on the Ha1c, but the last couple of years, those readings have creeped upward, and that lead me to switching to the pump.
On to a related topic, anyone out there have an opinion about the sensor? I did a month of it and I am not convinced it will help my Ha1c much. It's not accurate, so I end up doing more fingersticks since I don't believe anything it says (maybe that's the real reason it's supposed to lower your Ha1c!).
Thanks for the welcome, Richard. I looked at this forum last summer and I enjoyed reading your story, which I gather is now a book. In 22 yrs of Diabetes, I've had decent health, no serious complications, no eye problems yet. Most of my years on MDI, I hovered around 7.0 on the Ha1c, but the last couple of years, those readings have creeped upward, and that lead me to switching to the pump.
On to a related topic, anyone out there have an opinion about the sensor? I did a month of it and I am not convinced it will help my Ha1c much. It's not accurate, so I end up doing more fingersticks since I don't believe anything it says (maybe that's the real reason it's supposed to lower your Ha1c!).
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3,024 Posts
Henry, the pump is far better than the sensor for getting good blood sugar control, and having lower A1c's. Using carb counting, knowing your insulin sensitivity levels and testing frequently are all important in getting improved control. The book "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh is a good guide to follow in learning to use a pump properly.
The CGMS (with sensor) enables you to see "trends" that tell you when a high or low is approaching. Knowing ahead of time enables you to take an appropriate action that prevents the highs or lows from becoming worse. I enjoyed using mt CGMS for 8 months last year and had far fewer highs and lows. Then my insurance situation changed and my CGMS is no longer covered. I cannot afford to continue using it. Medicare will not cover a CGMS. Maybe they don't because they know they are not that accurate, like you said. They are very useful, even when they are not always accurate, because of being able to see the trends.
The CGMS (with sensor) enables you to see "trends" that tell you when a high or low is approaching. Knowing ahead of time enables you to take an appropriate action that prevents the highs or lows from becoming worse. I enjoyed using mt CGMS for 8 months last year and had far fewer highs and lows. Then my insurance situation changed and my CGMS is no longer covered. I cannot afford to continue using it. Medicare will not cover a CGMS. Maybe they don't because they know they are not that accurate, like you said. They are very useful, even when they are not always accurate, because of being able to see the trends.
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3,024 Posts
Hello!
http://www.diabetesforum.com/diabetes/2370-how-become-joslin-medalist.html
Congratulations on getting this far with your type 1!
Richard
Welcome jumpnutx1, have you applied for the Joslin 50 year medal? You can read about it here:
http://www.diabetesforum.com/diabetes/2370-how-become-joslin-medalist.html
Congratulations on getting this far with your type 1!
Richard
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716 Posts
Great work on the medal. I know I won't be living long enough to get one of those.
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87 Posts
Long Life
With today's medical abilities its possible to live a very long, even extended life with diabetes.
How do you stand those cold winters there? Brrr, I left the cold of Nebraska over eight years ago and never looked back!
Gene
Hi Dennis welcome to the sight. I'm glad you found us and will be good to read your posts.
With today's medical abilities its possible to live a very long, even extended life with diabetes.
How do you stand those cold winters there? Brrr, I left the cold of Nebraska over eight years ago and never looked back!
Gene
Hi Henry! Glad you've joined the fray.
I also want to say to all you long-term T1's - I'm only 3 1/2 years into this journey and you are all inspirations to me. I had 52 years without T1 and I'm certain that with good control going forward I'll have many years with it. Thanks so much for telling your stories.
Jen
I also want to say to all you long-term T1's - I'm only 3 1/2 years into this journey and you are all inspirations to me. I had 52 years without T1 and I'm certain that with good control going forward I'll have many years with it. Thanks so much for telling your stories.
Jen
Hello from Shreveport
Hi Patdart, waving back to you from Shreveport. I did try to find a diabetes discussion in Shreveport a couple years back without any luck. If you know of any such thing similar to what we have here, online, that is live in the Shreveport area, send me a note.
Other than that, I look forward to useful feedback and discussion from all of you!
Henry
Hi Patdart, waving back to you from Shreveport. I did try to find a diabetes discussion in Shreveport a couple years back without any luck. If you know of any such thing similar to what we have here, online, that is live in the Shreveport area, send me a note.
Other than that, I look forward to useful feedback and discussion from all of you!
Henry
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