After looking at the instructions for my Medtronic MiniMed infusion sets, I came across some things that I found quite amusing. I hope you do too.
Warnings
"Remove the needle guard before inserting the infusion set." – Um, really? Maybe that’s why I…. never mind.
"The soft cannula must always be completely inserted to receive the full amount of medication." – So I can get a partial amount [dose] if it’s not inserted?
"If the infusion site becomes inflamed, replace the new set, and use a new site until the first site has healed." – Really, so I shouldn’t stick it directly back into the site where I just had a gusher?
"For Paradigm users, do not use the infusion set if the tubing connector needle had been damaged." – Don’t they know it’s a personal challenge to unbend the needle so as to not waste the set.
"If infusing insulin, carefully monitor your blood glucose levels when disconnecting and after reconnecting." – Um, what else am I going to infuse?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
What kids say .....
Just because your blood sugar isn't always 'normal,' don't let anyone try to tell you you're not normal. Every single person is different. You happen to have diabetes. Other kids wear glasses or have asthma. Diabetes is just something you live with.
What do you say if someone makes fun? l More Kids Say
Erika, 17, California
"I have had diabetes for six years. I was recently put on an insulin pump and people always ask what it is and I used to tell them but half of them didn't understand so now I just say that it is my life support and they nod and walk off. Also, people used to ask me what I could eat and I would say, 'Well, what can you eat? Well, that's what I can eat too!'"
Stephanie, Michigan
"When people call you stupid because of diabetes, just say, 'You know, because you're calling me stupid, that means that you're stupid and you know it so you're calling really smart people stupid just to make you feel better. But you should have thought twice before calling me stupid because it wouldn't have helped you anyway.' That will really shut them up. (Trust me, I've tried it.)"
Roger, 12, Texas
"Some people ask me if I'm from another planet or something. I just say, 'Yes, and soon we will invade your planet, and rid it of you humans.' They usually get scared and shut up."
Chris, 6 1/2, New Jersey
"One kid said,'You're stupid and you have diabetes.' (This was a boy who was having trouble behaving in school.) I just said, 'Well, would you like being in a hospital for half of a week?' He stopped teasing me!"
Chris, 9, Florida
"Sometimes my friends ask me, 'Are you a person?' I tell them, 'Yes, I am a normal kid just like you, except for my pancreas. It isn't pumping insulin like yours, so I have to take shots of insulin every day to control my sugar levels.'"
Ethan, 9, Virginia
"When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, kids used to call me 'diabetes boy.' It really hurt my feelings. But then I realized that I had something that no one else had in my school and that I was unique, just like my friend who is allergic to peanut butter and shrimp."
Becca, 10, Colorado
"When people call me 'diabetes girl' or 'diabetes freak,' I just ignore them and walk away, or I call them 'goofy' and say, 'How would you like to have my disease?!!!'"
Danika, 12, Germany
"A quick comeback that I thought of is: 'At least I have insulin to help me with my problem, but I don't think they have invented anything to help you with yours.' I haven't had to use it yet, but will if I have to."
©Copyright 2010 JDRF
What do you say if someone makes fun? l More Kids Say
Erika, 17, California
"I have had diabetes for six years. I was recently put on an insulin pump and people always ask what it is and I used to tell them but half of them didn't understand so now I just say that it is my life support and they nod and walk off. Also, people used to ask me what I could eat and I would say, 'Well, what can you eat? Well, that's what I can eat too!'"
Stephanie, Michigan
"When people call you stupid because of diabetes, just say, 'You know, because you're calling me stupid, that means that you're stupid and you know it so you're calling really smart people stupid just to make you feel better. But you should have thought twice before calling me stupid because it wouldn't have helped you anyway.' That will really shut them up. (Trust me, I've tried it.)"
Roger, 12, Texas
"Some people ask me if I'm from another planet or something. I just say, 'Yes, and soon we will invade your planet, and rid it of you humans.' They usually get scared and shut up."
Chris, 6 1/2, New Jersey
"One kid said,'You're stupid and you have diabetes.' (This was a boy who was having trouble behaving in school.) I just said, 'Well, would you like being in a hospital for half of a week?' He stopped teasing me!"
Chris, 9, Florida
"Sometimes my friends ask me, 'Are you a person?' I tell them, 'Yes, I am a normal kid just like you, except for my pancreas. It isn't pumping insulin like yours, so I have to take shots of insulin every day to control my sugar levels.'"
Ethan, 9, Virginia
"When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, kids used to call me 'diabetes boy.' It really hurt my feelings. But then I realized that I had something that no one else had in my school and that I was unique, just like my friend who is allergic to peanut butter and shrimp."
Becca, 10, Colorado
"When people call me 'diabetes girl' or 'diabetes freak,' I just ignore them and walk away, or I call them 'goofy' and say, 'How would you like to have my disease?!!!'"
Danika, 12, Germany
"A quick comeback that I thought of is: 'At least I have insulin to help me with my problem, but I don't think they have invented anything to help you with yours.' I haven't had to use it yet, but will if I have to."
©Copyright 2010 JDRF
In the works....
New, helpful inventions are in the works.
Scientists and companies are working tirelessly to develop new, helpful products for people with diabetes.
Until there's a cure, new developments to treat diabetes provide important help in keeping your diabetes under the best control possible.
Before you read on to find out more about the latest, remember that any new product must get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which can take a lot of time and effort. Some of these products are available now, but others are still in development. Now, here's the scoop.
New Stuff
Insulin glargine. Insulin analogs are man-made substances that work like insulin, only better.
Continuous glucose monitoring. How would you like to prick your finger dozens of times a day to test your blood sugar? Probably not much! But what if your blood glucose could be monitored continuously without finger pricks?
New diabetes management software. Meter and pump companies are always coming out with new computer software to make it easier to manage diabetes.
In Development
Inhaled insulin. Scientists think the lungs should also provide an excellent mechanism to get certain drugs—such as insulin—into the bloodstream quickly. A few inhaled insulin products are being developed.
Maybe Someday
Bioartificial pancreas. There are a lot of ideas that scientists think would be cool, but they're a long way from being ready. One such idea is the "bioartificial pancreas," which scientists have been working on for nearly 30 years!
"Closed-loop" insulin pump. A closed-loop pump would automatically change the amount of insulin supplied in response to changing blood glucose levels.
Oral insulin. You may have heard news about a breakthrough a couple of years ago involving an insulin pill. Researchers from Purdue University invented a very clever way to deliver insulin by mouth.
Scientists and companies are working tirelessly to develop new, helpful products for people with diabetes.
Until there's a cure, new developments to treat diabetes provide important help in keeping your diabetes under the best control possible.
Before you read on to find out more about the latest, remember that any new product must get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which can take a lot of time and effort. Some of these products are available now, but others are still in development. Now, here's the scoop.
New Stuff
Insulin glargine. Insulin analogs are man-made substances that work like insulin, only better.
Continuous glucose monitoring. How would you like to prick your finger dozens of times a day to test your blood sugar? Probably not much! But what if your blood glucose could be monitored continuously without finger pricks?
New diabetes management software. Meter and pump companies are always coming out with new computer software to make it easier to manage diabetes.
In Development
Inhaled insulin. Scientists think the lungs should also provide an excellent mechanism to get certain drugs—such as insulin—into the bloodstream quickly. A few inhaled insulin products are being developed.
Maybe Someday
Bioartificial pancreas. There are a lot of ideas that scientists think would be cool, but they're a long way from being ready. One such idea is the "bioartificial pancreas," which scientists have been working on for nearly 30 years!
"Closed-loop" insulin pump. A closed-loop pump would automatically change the amount of insulin supplied in response to changing blood glucose levels.
Oral insulin. You may have heard news about a breakthrough a couple of years ago involving an insulin pill. Researchers from Purdue University invented a very clever way to deliver insulin by mouth.
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