My friend, Sheila, has a new nickname for me: the bionic woman. Lindsey Wagner may have played her on TV, but I am now playing her in real life, thanks in part, to a new piece of hardware. I have joined the ranks of folks managing their Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and, as a consequence, their life, with an insulin pump.
Why Did I Choose Life With An Insulin Pump
If the truth is told, it’s all Bruce’s fault. Long-story-short, when we first met he told me that our astrological signs (Aries and Virgo) were not supposed to get along. Feeling quite contrary about that statement on what was, in effect, our first real date, I told him that, in no uncertain terms his assertion was false. That I had already, by that time, been best friends with a Virgo (still am) for 40 years! So he made me promise that I would give him an equal measure: 40 years together. No small promise when you meet and you’re already 56 and 62. So it’s Bruce’s fault. I’ve chosen life with the insulin pump to keep that promise to Bruce.
What Is It And How Does It Works
For those of you who aren’t familiar with an insulin pump, here’s a simple description form The Cleveland Clinic. “An insulin pump is a wearable medical device that supplies a continuous flow of rapid-acting insulin underneath your skin. Most pumps are small, computerized devices that are roughly the size of a juice box or a deck of cards. Insulin pumps are an alternative to multiple daily injection insulin therapy (by pen or syringe) for people with diabetes who need insulin to manage their condition.” Basically, I’m hooked up to this little devil 24/7. It gives me a drip, drip, drip of insulin constantly and I tell it what I eat and it gives me more to compensate for carbs. It means no more multiple shots a day and it can even help to keep me in a safe blood sugar range more regularly.
Why I Think It’s Cool
I feel blessed to live in the times we do with respect to my health. My Dad was also a T1D and he took 4 shots a day, every day for 44 years. For the non-math majors out there like me, that’s 64,240 shots! Yikes!! By contrast, as I was only diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago, I have taken roughly 3,832 shots before the pump. But no more! The other cool thing about life on the insulin pump has to do with AI. Yes, I said that dirty word that a lot of us hate or are afraid of, but for me Artificial Intelligence is life-altering. Why? Because the algorithm that runs the insulin pump uses AI to learn about me and my habits and how my body reacts to insulin, activity and food. If my blood sugar is going high because I underestimated my carbs, it automatically gives me more insulin – even when I’m sleeping. If I’m going low because I just did a run, it temporarily turns itself off. Pretty cool, huh?
Grateful For Life On The Insulin Pump
So, I’m truly grateful for my new nickname and very hopeful that I’ll be able to keep that promise to Bruce. We live in extraordinary times, my friends. I’m feeling blessed. And look out Lindsey Wagner, I’m gunning for ya’!
Have a lovely day, my friends.
For some related reading, check out some of my other blogs, like: Best Reasons to Get A Skin Check and Schedule a Mammogram Today.
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