Feb 15, 2011 Posted by Kev

Medtronic Instructor Cancels Insulin Pump Class at Last Minute

Just before noon at 11:57am, I received a call from Ellen, Medtronic’s local insulin pump instructor, who informed me that she was going to have to cancel today’s class scheduled for 1pm.  She said that her two-year-old had come down with a fever.  To be honest, I wasn’t that shocked that she canceled, and I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way. It’s just that the Medtronic rep... read more

Feb 15, 2011 Posted by Kev

Insulin Pump Nightmare – Just a Dream or Scared to Use the Pump?

In a few hours, I’ll be leaving to meet with Ellen, my insulin pump instructor.  Today is the day of my one-on-one class.  It’s strange to think that I’ll be going to bed tonight wearing an insulin pump.  It’s apparently so strange in fact that I had a rather off-the-wall dream last night. I dreamt that my grandma, who used to wear a hearing aid, became trapped inside of it.  However, in my... read more

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 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