A couple of questions

[ch1ps]

I'm on a pump. But want to know about the following:

1) I keep a pen on me in case pump fails, if I haven't used it, how long should I keep it for. I have been told a month.

2) If my pump breaks down and I have to go back to MDI until it's fixed, I'm not sure of what volumes of levemir & novorapid I should start back with.

I suppose with Q2 it's a case of start low & build up.

Many thanks.

 

[Lauras87]

Hi ch1ps.

I've wondered this too.

I think the insulin in a pen needs to be disposed of by a month

And re MDI, I'd of thought it would be back to old ratios & old back ground?


How you finding your pump?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I'm on a pump. But want to know about the following:

1) I keep a pen on me in case pump fails, if I haven't used it, how long should I keep it for. I have been told a month.

2) If my pump breaks down and I have to go back to MDI until it's fixed, I'm not sure of what volumes of levemir & novorapid I should start back with.

I suppose with Q2 it's a case of start low & build up.

Many thanks.

1 insulin use within the month don't chuck it transfer it to your pump cartridge.

2 sure this was discussed with your team? If not then simply use your bolus insulin for the 24 hours it takes for a new pump to arrive. Injecting basal would screw your whole system up. If it's bank holiday then go back to the amount you used pre pump.

 

[ch1ps]

Thanks for the replies.

The DSNs did not discuss plan (other than v short term - corrections).

 

[Redkite]

I'm on a pump. But want to know about the following:

1) I keep a pen on me in case pump fails, if I haven't used it, how long should I keep it for. I have been told a month.

2) If my pump breaks down and I have to go back to MDI until it's fixed, I'm not sure of what volumes of levemir & novorapid I should start back with.

I suppose with Q2 it's a case of start low & build up.

Many thanks.

It's a month if kept out of the fridge. If you have to go back to injections, you should use your total daily basal (pump total) as your levemir total, and keep the same novorapid meal ratios that you have in your pump.

 

[ch1ps]

It's a month if kept out of the fridge. If you have to go back to injections, you should use your total daily basal (pump total) as your levemir total, and keep the same novorapid meal ratios that you have in your pump.

Thanks Redkite

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

+1 to Redkite's suggestion (I had this conversation with my Contsultant at me last Pump Clinic!) except...

When I started on the pump my TDD did go down a bit and ratios changed. So if I ever needed to swap back to MDI for a while I would use the 'average' daily pump basal and pump ratios, but I would not necessarily expect them to work perfectly out of the box. 🙂

 

[novorapidboi26]

Gooing back to injections would actually require more insulin due to efficiency on MDI being less, but you could only use what doses you have been using up until that point....

As Mike says, expecting the injections to work perfectly is unlikely....🙂

I have still to experience any problems so far.......fingers crossed......

 

[ch1ps]

Thanks guys.

The reason I am asking is that (probably stupidly) I declined the offer of a loan pump for my holiday to America. CBA with the hassle in all honestly. Plus it takes up precious space in the case 😛

So the Qs were mainly if my pump breaks down in Florida.

What I didn't want to do is go straight back to my old MDI ratios, I'd probably be hypo all the time 😱

Cheers
Pauline

 

[Pumper_Sue]

You will more than likely find you need a lot less insulin on a pump than you do MDI hence why I suggested using the basal and working from there.