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Not a good start !

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Flower

Flower

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
My pump woke me up alarming at 6am, usually it's a calibrate now message to keep my cgm accurate but not today. The one message you really don't want to see on the screen 'Pump Error - delivery stopped, refer to user manual'.

I rang the Medtronic helpline in the USA as I couldn't find the error message number the pump was showing in the manual. It's a software error and my pump has to be replaced. I haven't been on MDI since 1999 so to say I'm a bit rusty is an understatement. I've had 2 pump failures in 16 years and managed to muddle through for a couple of days but I do feel lost right now.

I can still use the cgm part thank goodness as I have no hypo awareness and am going to have as near a carb free day as possible as I only use a small amount of insulin and the back up pen I've got only delivers 1 unit increments. I'm not going any where near long acting insulin and will rely on Humalog if my bg is too high.

Please can anyone tell me the name of a 0.5u quick acting insulin pen as I better try and get one soon!

It's scary when you realise just how completely reliant you are on something working to keep you alive. Roll on tomorrow when the UK office opens and I can sort out a replacement.
 
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Oh what a time to fail! I am no help at all but someone with better knowledge will be along soon (((hugs)))
 
Oooh, Flower, just what you don't need. Insulin pens aren't always compatible with all insulins. My NovoPen Echo has half units, but I suspect it only takes novorapid insulin. I think Humalog is made by Eli Lilly, I had a look on their website ( I clicked the bit for professionals, not general public) and it looks like they do a half unit one, which ought to be compatible with their own insulins.Its called the humapen luxura.
 
Thanks Robin and Lynn 🙂 I've got a Humapen Savvio which is helpfully described as modern, attractive and colourful. Hhmm, I'd rather have one that gave small increments of insulin instead please!
I'll give my DSN a ring tomorrow morning and see what is available.

Why do things go wrong at the most awkward time possible o_O
 
Good idea. If she's a proper DSN she'll know. It was a right palaver when I tried to get my half unit pen.
My DSN is just the general nurse at the surgery, with a different hat on, and when she tried prescribing me a half unit pen, it twice got changed by the computer to a whole unit one, because the surgery didn't have a half unit one on their prescribing list (computer said no!)
In the end, our local clued up pharmacist, said that he, as a pharmacist, had got the power to substitute items on a prescription, so he rang up the manufacturer and asked them what they could supply, and got me the NovoPen echo.
 
I am so relieved! I just got a phone call from Medtronic uk and they are sending me a replacement pump by courier today! Thank you so much Medtronic what superb customer service :D Can you tell how big my smile is :D:D

Thanks Robin, I will definitely get a half unit pen in case of there hopefully not being a next time!
 
Glad you got sorted flower...what a nightmare! 😱
 
I'm so relieved for you Flower 🙂
 
Flower said:
I am so relieved! I just got a phone call from Medtronic uk and they are sending me a replacement pump by courier today! Thank you so much Medtronic what superb customer service :D Can you tell how big my smile is :D:D

Thanks Robin, I will definitely get a half unit pen in case of there hopefully not being a next time!
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Wow that is fantastic service, pleased you are sorted.
Pity you aren't near me otherwise I would have lent you my spare pump.
 
Excellent service there from Medtronic. Glad it's sorted. 🙂
 
Phew, glad you're sorted, that is fantastic service.
 
For future emergencies you could always get hold of some 0.5u syringes - these can be used with any insulin vial and/or cartridge you have available and should see you through the few days until your replacement pump arrives.

That's what I have as my back-up (along with a vial of Lantus that I replace when it runs out of date). For rapid I would just use my in-use NovoRapid vial 🙂

Out of interest... What happened to your previous pump? Do I remember you were on the Veo before? I was allowed to keep my old one which I could also use as a standby replacement.
 
My Veo was out of warranty in March 2015 and because of the slight delay in starting on the 640g I was given a new Veo to use for about 8 weeks in exchange for my old Veo. When I started on the 640g I had to hand my new Veo back to the Medtronic rep as that was the agreement my clinic had arranged so I don't have a back up pump.

Excellent idea about getting some 0.5u syringes Mike 🙂 my back up kit definitely needs a bit of updating for emergencies.
 
Great customer service there.
 
Flower said:
I am so relieved! I just got a phone call from Medtronic uk and they are sending me a replacement pump by courier today! Thank you so much Medtronic what superb customer service :D Can you tell how big my smile is :D:D


I hope everything goes right. I have my original pump (must be more than 12yrs old ) & keep it as a spare. Good luck , Medtronic are good. 😎
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Brilliant service there flower, thank goodness they're so focused on customer service 🙂 Can't live without my half unit pen so definitely worth the effort to get a back up. Who'd have thought half a unit could make so much difference, but it most definitely does :D. Glad it's sorted.
 
Thanks everyone 🙂

New pump delivered about 1 hour ago just putting all the settings in. I thought it would have a clip with it so didn't think to remove the clip from my poorly pump and sent it back with the courier. Still, I quite like the ankle sock and clothes peg look for a change! I'll definitely be ringing Medtronic in the morning and thanking them for such a brilliant service - oh and I'll ask for a new pump clip at the same time!
 
Glad to hear you are sorted ! I use syringes and the occasional box of Levemir cartridges for back-up too but TBH since it's been over 6 years since I had used the Novopens, I threw them away not long ago, and I didn't order any more Levemir once that box was out of date.
 
Glad to hear it was all sorted so rapidly!!
 
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