Medtronic 640g insulin pump

I can't believe that it's been SUCH A LONG time since I've last posted! So let's give a quick update:

• Upgraded to the 'new' pump Medtronic 640g https://www.medtronicdiabetes.co.za/minimed-system/minimed-640g-insulin-pump with a R25 000 copayment - COME ON @Discovery Medical aid #DiscoveryMedicalAid this is not acceptable and neither is not covering SENSORS under chronic medications...
• It's one step closer to the artificial pancreas but let's face it, it's still an IT solution so not without errors and initial teething issues
• TEETHING ISSUES - with the new pump you have to connect your new transmitter. I actually couldn't find videos on it on YouTube.....
• So here it is for anyone that's had problems and who like me wanted to do it themselves MENU -> UTILITIES ->DEVICE OPTIONS -> CONNECT DEVICE -> HERE YOU CAN CHOOSE EITHER MANUAL CONNECT OR AUTO CONNECT. AUTO CONNECT I FOUND WAS EASIER EXCEPT MAKE SURE THAT YOU AREN'T IN THE PRESENCE OF ANY OTHER DEVICES...mine wasn't working correctly because it picked up another transmitter.....EISH...
• It comes with allows for remote bolus delivery - woohoo when you're wearing a dress :) 
• It also wirelessly sends glucose readings to your pump
• BEST OF ALL - IT SWITCHES OFF YOUR INSULIN WHEN YOU'RE APPROACHING YOUR LOW LIMIT, NO MORE COMATOSE....then it also switches it back on again when it sees your blood levels rising :) Ok, sometimes it should switch it on faster, in my opinion.
• Ok let me get back to work...

It's been such a long time since I've blogged.......

Shucks, so much has happened that I don't even know where to begin....So let's start with a high level summary:

• I left my job in corporate and despite leaving my benefits and other perks I decided to follow my heart and accept a position at a university. This was supposed to give me a more balanced life and initially I only worked 3 days a week, which was great (gave me more time with my daughter) but now I generally work a full 5 day week and sometimes more. My husband says it's because I'm a type A personality and I'll find work even if none exists lol
• I was also pregnant again and gave birth to a healthy little boy (double trouble). This time though I did it without epidural HELLO PAIN! It just happened so quickly that there wasn't enough time to administer it....I'd NEVER do it like that again though. Also I didn't know that my son wasn't breathing when I gave birth as the umbilical cord was also around his neck (I was too busy getting stitching to notice that there was no crying!!). Thank God that by the time he was brought to me he was breathing and I never knew that anything was wrong. I only found out the next day that it was the case.... Thanks to my awesome gynae, Dr Kate Richardson, for being so calm during the whole thing too.
• I'm still using my pump and now though I tend to have more infusion site problems. They get bent quite often. I guess it's because of the lumps and bumps of years of injecting under my skin...So my infusion site works initially but over time it becomes less and less effective. I'll have normal blood glucose levels and then highs suddenly for no reason. Then I know that it's time to change.
• Now I'm busy doing my PhD. I'll give more information in my next post as I'd like your help please :)

Involvement in mobile health hackathon

My sabc interview  http://bit.ly/1bJrm0K

Inclusive health innovation summit

Check my moment of fame lol got interviewed on etv and sabc for the application my group developed to improve the lives of people with diabetes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16GqPPe7U3g

Inclusive Health Innovation Summit kicks off in Cape Town

For more on this and other stories please visit http://www.enca.com/ Doctors and technicians from around the world join forces in...

It's ramadaan time again, going hypo :(

Ramadaan is a very special and important time for Muslims, where those who have reached puberty are required to fast from sunrise to sunset. This means abstaining from food, drink, sexual activity (if you're married), smoking etc.

It is a mechanism to heal the body and give it the opportunity to recover from all the 'junk' we put in it. Also it is a time to bring us closer to our Creator through increased prayers and the recitation of the Qur'an. We give charity to those less fortunate and traditionally send plates of goodies to our neighbours to ensure that they also have something to break their fast with.

However, having diabetes and going hypo often means that I'm allowed to give fidiya (an amount specified by the Muslim judicial council) that will feed someone their staple food for a day. This year the amount is set at R10 per day. So I don't have to fast but that still doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to.

Also eating in ramadaan is a bit of a challenge especially if you'd like to be considerate of the other Muslims around you that are fasting. Sitting in an open plan office with limited meeting rooms often means I just need to eat at my desk.

I know I have to but even going to buy food leaves me feeling self conscious. I know that my Creator allows me to eat but still people can be very judgemental. I know they don't mean to though.

So wearing my scarf and going to mc D's drive though may have been an interesting sight for the tellers, or I could have just been imaging it! I have been going very hypo even before ramadaan started so I tell myself to just do what I need to. They can either see my eating or have to pick me up, having a diabetic coma on the floor. I figured that seeing me eat would be less trouble for them and me :-)

I've had diabetes for 26 years now and I still have these challenges. I can grow from it and those around me can learn to be less judgemental too. Otherwise I can just wear a big sticker, 'Diabetic on insulin, I'm allowed to eat!' :-)

Be warned of inflated fnb device prices!

I know that it's been a while since I've blogged anything but work and motherhood are keeping me busy :-) since I've gotten my Google nexus tablet it may just make me a better blogger :-) I seriously love this device but don't purchase it via #fnb! I love my bank but this deal was not cost effective.

Given that I could've purchased it for R2900 cash and still received my banking free (on an unlimited option) but instead I've been switched to a mobile pricing option (always be careful of the small print) where it's going to cost R120 every month for bank fees. So I've asked for the early settlement value so that i can return to free banking and it's a whopping +-R4400!!!

So my options are to either settle and pay the inflated price or pay the monthly R120 banking fees plus R150 monthly for the device. Even if I get R50 back monthly if I spend R1500 on my gold credit card it still equates to R5280 over the 24 months!!!

Next time I'm rather purchasing devices cash! This deal was not a saving for me in any way. It would've been if I kept my free banking but this option is rather expensive, actually R2380 more than the cheapest cash price! Come to think of it, it's almost the price of 2 tablets cash price! Bad purchase decision with significant cost implications. Oh well, too late to cry over spilled milk now. So be warned FNB device options are not as attractive as you think plus don't forget to add in the R150 courier fee :(

Yes, this blog has absolutely nothing to do with type 1 diabetes but maybe I can save someone else some money that can be better used for sensors or a pump upgrade :-)

Breast feeding and type 1 diabetes

I discussed breast feeding with Prof Bonnici before I was even pregnant. He advised that I breast feed exclusively for 6 months because even though it's not proven to be more effective, it wouldn't hurt doing it anyway. So I took 6 months off work to do just that and had light (or something) put on my nipples to harden them so that they wouldn't hurt. I also used some nipple cream to assist, if you have it available then why not :)

My blood sugar went low after I started breast feeding and I went hypo quite often. So to prevent this I had to snack or drink juice before and during feeding. Granted I should have done this all the time but when your child wants to drink, it's tough prioritising yourself!

My daughter has just turned 1 and I still breast feed. I figure that if the recommended age of breast feeding is until 2, I should do it for as long as possible. Granted, it's not always the easiest. My daughter doesn't drink milk from a bottle because she wants it directly from the source! Sometimes I feel like a cow....but it's great for bonding so I get over the cow feeling very quickly. I do however make sure that I sing that Old McDonald had a cow first lol

When I returned to work, I expressed for months but since my daughter didn't want to drink it from the bottle I used it for her cereal instead. She would drink rooibos tea and water while waiting for me to come from work and then it was 'nenni' time. Actually 'nenni' was her first word, so you can see her priorities lol

Now I had to learn to prioritise myself and my eating/drinking. This is easier said than done as your body releasing adrenaline when your baby cries so that you can get up and do something about it. However, having diabetes means that I have to fight against the urge to do that and eat first. I can't lie and say that this always happens or that it happens sometimes. Actually my instinct takes over most of the time. My husband is very concerned about this as he keeps reminding me that I can't take care of her if I'm hypo or in a coma! Yes, I know this logically but instinct wins over LOGIC! I have to learn to compromise and find middle ground though.....Also I have to learn that it's ok for her to cry for a few minutes while I go get some juice.

Breast feeding has multiple benefits, not only if your baby is at higher risk for diabetes. I find it easier and fed her wherever I went, with the help of a feeding bib. It was made by my mom in law but you can buy them at baby city. It's a cover so that you aren't exposed but you don't have to go find somewhere private. Plus it burns calories and I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight within a month :)

I'd advise all mothers, with diabetes and without, to breast feed. It's natural, contains all your baby needs and is excellent for bonding. My daughter is still a mommy's girl because of it and I'm enjoying it while it lasts :)