I am a new "pumper" ( three weeks to be exact) and while I have been convinced this medical marvel would be the answer to my prayers, it's disappointing me in lots of ways. My BG numbers haven't changed significantly and while I think I'm counting the carbs right from the books that I have bought, my numbers have a tendency to skyrocket after a meal. Right back to where I was when I was doing 5 injections a day. Everyone was scared to death that I would be experiencing "lows" on a daily basis but I'm going the other way. Please tell me this will get better.

One of the reasons I started on a pump was to limit my lows, which my pump has done.  So going high isn't uncommon.

Getting your pump's insulin rates correct are an ongoing challenge (at least to me) because everyday is different and I eat different things.

It takes time to make those adjustments so you aren't going high.  Possibly the time you are bolusing for your meals are not matching up for your spikes.

The best thing to do is make sure you are keeping good records or logs so you and your Doctor can make the proper adjustments based on what is getting logged.

It will get easier once you put in the hard work in the begining.  I have met few people who have been on a pump for 3 weeks and have everything working 100%.  I actually can't think of one of the top of my head.  Heck I'm not at 100%  lol. 

By being on a pump I have found many things I wasn't adjusting for when I was on shots.  For example different carb ratios at different times of the day, different correction ratios at different times of the day, adjusting for dawn phenomenon, extended boluses for certian meals... the list goes on.

That is why managing glucose is not easy, at least for me.  So many different variables.  A pump makes it easier to match those variables.

I would ask this, of the pumpers out there... Who has their pump working at 100% with everything figured out?  Not me.

So do your best on recording your numbers and rates and get them adjusted with the help of your Diabetes Team.  You'll get the right adjustments which will make your life much easier.

Best of luck!

I heard a diabetic specilist on WFAN, he himself was on the pump, and he was consulting Jay Cuttler with his pump. he said it took him about 5 years to really understand  how to use the pump to its aximum poential. (im assuming he did not have a cgm)  Base testing is important do not take it lightly.  If your basel is wrong, no matter how accurate your insulinn to carb ratio is, it will also be wrong. (Basel testing is 100% eaiser with a CGM)  How often do i basel test? I have no idea yet, iv done it twice so far in two years, im kinda stuck in a rut right now, and need to basel test again soon.  does anyone have any sugesstions to make basel testing eaiser

Check out this post; I recently did some basal rate tests here is the guide I followed.  http://www.1happydiabetic.com/apps/forums/topics/show/1336291-basal-rate-tes

Just started on the pump two days ago. First day I had alot of lows. Did the night testing per my Endo and reported the three readings the next day. She recommended changes that I made immediately. So far mhy lows are gone, some higher readings but I am to go back next week to see her and I am sure there will be more changes needed once she downloads my data. So I am in the same boat as you. Hang in there. 

It takes a little while to fine tune the settings on your pump, I have many different basals rates, I think 6 , maybe 7. As a female during certain times a month I have a different temp basal setting just for those days that I run higher than I should be.

Thank you for all the help and encouragement. Went to see the doctor yesterday and she tinkered with my basal rate as I tend to get higher readings during the overnight period. She just introduced me to the dual wave and and square wave bolus and while I admit that I'm still confused over when I should use one or the other, it's another tool for me to use. I'm glad I found this site because you guys can keep me heading in the right direction.

I got my pump yesterday.... and so far nothing is going right... I woke up with 578 and during the day I was constantly low... my doc made adjustments today but she thinks it would be helpful to wear a sensor for about a week to adjust it better.

I received the Accu-Check Spirit Combo pump in August and am curious about the learning process in US vs Germany....

In Germany new pumpers had to spend some time in the hospital learning how to use the pump and to be monitored during the process. These days, a new pumper takes classes 2-3 times per week for 2-3 weeks. This allows the pumper a chance to have an expert monitor BG levels and basal rates on a regular basis. It also gives the pumper a chance to refresh on the basics of diabetes therapy, ask questions along the way as you are learning the pump and share/ learn from other new pumpers experiences. It is great to have a few classmates who are going through the same experience step by step. Is this also the case in the US or is this what is missing from the new pumpers learning process?

cheezwagon at 10:58AM on Nov 17, 2009

Thank you for all the help and encouragement. Went to see the doctor yesterday and she tinkered with my basal rate as I tend to get higher readings during the overnight period. She just introduced me to the dual wave and and square wave bolus and while I admit that I'm still confused over when I should use one or the other, it's another tool for me to use. I'm glad I found this site because you guys can keep me heading in the right direction.

Oh no!  I hope things are better now.  How is it going?

Yay!!! Funny this subject came up!! yesterday, I took my first pump class which was half an hour. It took half an hour and I have 4 more classes and a meeting with a diatician. I'll hopefully be getting a pump by December 15! I'm pumped! (bad pun, I know)

Haha - nah, great pun Clark!

I only wish I had advice for you... but pumps are rare and expensive here in New Zealand so I have no experience with them. As with any D issues though I always look at the basal first (it's amazing how much of a difference 1 measley unit can make to a day's readings), and then look at carb ratios / timing.