Feb 12, 2011 Posted by Kev

Medtronic Insulin Pump Pre-Class Online Courses – First Impression

Today I began my at home self-study in preparation for my Medtronic Revel Insulin Pump training class on Tuesday.  I had been emailing the instructor, Ellen, throughout the week to set up a location (she recommended the local library, which is only about 15 minutes from our home).  On Wednesday, the day that my Medtronic Revel Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System arrived via UPS, Ellen... read more

Feb 9, 2011 Posted by Kev

Unpacking My Insulin Pump from Medtronic (Video)

I created the “Unpacking My Insulin Pump” Video below so that everyone can see what came in the 2 boxes  and to also celebrate what is hopefully the beginning of a positive step in the management of my type 1 diabetes.  Note: The contents of the package may be different for each person depending on certain factors.  These factors include, but are not limited to, pump brand, pump model, insulin... read more

Feb 8, 2011 Posted by Kev

I’m Getting an Insulin Pump – Medtronic Revel Insulin Pump and CGM

To pump or not to pump?  That has been the question for the past week.  It wasn’t until yesterday during my appointment with my doctor and a rep for Medtronic named Carlo that I finally made my decision.  I’ve had a variety of concerns regarding an insulin pump, the foremost being what if it malfunctioned and gave me too much insulin?  Thus, would wearing it be a lot like the worry I feel when... read more

Feb 7, 2011 Posted by Trisha

I Didn’t Think it Would Be That Bad – My Husband and Hypoglycemia

The effects of this experience are still rearing their ugly head today, prompting my husband to ask me, “didn’t you think it would be that bad?”  Good question… I was aware that soon after my husband was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes he had an episode of low blood sugar that resulted in him passing out, seizing and being taken to the hospital.  He had been on vacation with his then-girlfriend... read more

Feb 5, 2011 Posted by Kev

Continuous Glucose Monitor Removal Video – Transmitter and Sensor

Today, after five days of wearing Medtronic’s iPro Continuous Glucose Monitor, it was time to take it off.  The iPro CGM is used by healthcare professionals to gain an in-depth snapshot of a patient’s blood glucose levels over a certain period of time, in my case five days (Medtronic’s web site actually says the iPro can only record for 3 days, but my doctor’s office told me that it can in... read more

Feb 2, 2011 Posted by Kev

Insurance Approved Me for Continuous Glucose Monitor and Insulin Pump

Shortly before noon I received a call from Allison, an inside rep for Medtronic.  She phoned to go over the pricing of both the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Revel Insulin Pump and the Guardian REAL-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System.  The Revel is a combined insulin pump/CGM and the Guardian is a standalone Continuous Glucose Monitor.  The purpose of her call was to also inform me that my... read more

Feb 2, 2011 Posted by Kev

Continuous Glucose Monitor + Insulin Pump, or Just a CGM?

Yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from Carlo, a rep for Medtronic, makers of the Guardian REAL-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Revel System that functions as a CGM/Insulin Pump.  He seemed eager to offer all the information that he could, and he told me that he would be at my doctor’s appointment on Monday to demo the two devices.  He talked up the... read more

Feb 1, 2011 Posted by Kev

Getting a Continuous Glucose Monitor Approved by Insurance Company

Today is Tuesday February 1, 2011, three days after Saturday morning’s severe hypoglycemic episode.  Yesterday, my wife and I visited my endocrinologist in an effort to make adjustments to my insulin regiment and to attempt to begin the process of obtaining a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).   A continuous glucose monitor is a device that consists of two parts, one part, the transmitter, contains a... read more