Bryant's Wisdom

Why did you choose a meter and pump? 

There are some that are a little more advanced, and definitely more expensive, that would probably be better but I just felt like this one would be functional as far as my daily life.

It’s a respected brand. I did my own research, not just the url of the company or any blogs. I Google’d the name of it and saw different responses from people.

What are the tradeoffs of using a meter and a pump? 

Pros: It's probably the most accurate method of delivering insulin and making sure your blood sugar is at a manageable level.

Con: I wish it was smaller. I don’t like the finger sticks. I’ve seen some advances they’re making but it’s also just part of the methodology. I just wish there was a less painful way to do it that provides accuracy. I’ve seen some things and I’ve contemplated it, but I just haven’t made the transition.

Diabetes devices can produce a lot of information and numbers. How do you feel about this? What do you do with all the data?

I usually forward to an alternative email account of mine.

How do you respond to people when they notice or comment on your devices?

There’s a lot of curiosity. And sometimes when your own ego kicks in you want to have that aura of invisibility.

When most people think of Type 1 Diabetes they think of insulin, and they don’t think of the pumps because they don’t know and it’s not their fault. I believe a person you see with an oxygen tank has it easier because visually you see what it is, and you know what it’s for. So, for someone with an oxygen tank the gawking or the questions aren’t really necessary. With this you find yourself stopping, almost like you’re in suspended animation. Someone asks you about it and you give them an explanation, but you still see their curiosity. It’s as if you’ve been unmasked. I’m superman and my shirt is open and you see the ‘S’ and then you know I’m more than what I look like. I don’t mind explaining but the person with the tank - that’s understandable because you see, you know, you sympathize and you empathize with them. But with the pump there’s more curiosity.

How do you make the devices comfortable on your body? 

I make sure it’s snug and put it not quite on my side, but I have a small layer of belly and I kinda adjust it right there. I’ve trained myself to be more measured in my movements. I work at a manufacturing environment so I’m not going to just bend down and grab something - I’m a little more measured. I don’t want the pump to fall so you’ve got to adjust it to where you know it’s on, but it’s not a nuisance.

What helps you trust your devices?

It gives me insulin, it keeps me healthy, it keeps me alive.
Instinctively you kinda have to trust it. You have to go from point A to point B. You have to develop that ideology.

What helped me develop that trust was YouTube. Seeing people that have that device, how they utilize it and how they feel better. Initially it’s like you have a permanent backpack, something attached to you permanently, and you have your reservations and you think about how your life has changed. But you see people on youtube and how they live with it, live without it, and it’s necessary. That overtakes any feelings of negativity or uncertainty that this thing, this device, will help you function.

What would you tell someone considering this same combo? 

Other than having an endocrinologist in your house, it’s probably the best way and the most accurate way to have the correct amounts of insulin delivered. You kinda feel like Bruce Wayne - you’re going to your device just making sure everything is right, that everything coincides with what you’re doing and what you’re thinking.

What challenges do you have and how have you overcome them? 

I’ve had a couple of times where I got some readings that were zeros so I just restart it and then everything’s normal. I call those little hiccups. I’ve never had it out for an indeterminate amount of time - not a day or even a few hours. It’s working well, it’s not perfect, and I don’t think anything technologically is perfect. We just want the functionality; and in this case, the accuracy along with the functionality.