Diabetic Live - Diabetes News, Information & Resources

Medicare Donut Holes and Nutrisystem’s Large Donation

Medical care is an important consideration for most Americans, but when the costs rise to unmanageable levels there are difficult choices that must be made. In the case of some Medicare patients who also have diabetes it seems to mean a suspension of medication used to control the disease.

According to new research Medicare’s Part D prescription drug plan places a central gap in coverage that has resulted in many diabetics forfeiting medication in favor of using the funds to manage other financial obligations.

The cap on the plan is $2,250, but most diabetics go over that amount in medication for their personal care. The patient then must spend $3600 out of pocket before Medicare prescription coverage kicks in again for the calendar year. Some refer to this clause as a ‘donut hole’. There is coverage before and after, but nothing in the middle.

It is clear the primary reason the plan was designed this way was to appeal to prescription drug users to use only medication essential to their care. While this may have been the intent there appear to be more and more diabetics who are simply doing without when the Medicare funds are shut off.

Many of these individuals are living with decisions between diabetic medications and home heating, diabetic medication and transportation or even diabetic medication and food.

There are gap coverage policies and even prescription drug plans designed to lower overall medication costs. They are helping a little, but not as much as some patients need.

Many are hopeful that this disparity can be addressed and revised so that managed care among those on Medicare can result in a quality of life that is an improvement over current conditions.

Meanwhile Nutrisystem will donate up to $350,000 to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to assist in the “Stop Diabetes” movement.

Nutrisystem is a weight loss company that uses food choices as a means of assisting in personal weight reduction. They have also developed a line of food specifically for diabetics called Nutrisystem-D. It is the potential proceeds from this product that the company will use to assist the ADA. The company has promised $250,000, but the actual amount could be higher based on the success of the Nutrisystem-D product line.

diabetic live is not necessarily endorsing the Nutrisystem-D product line. We are simply reporting what one company is doing to help foster understanding in diabetes and provide assistance in eliminating the disease.

These two stories do serve to indicate that the responsibility for diabetes care has become an important consideration for many. Drug manufacturers are working to provide lower costs, the ADA continues to look for answers and corporations are seeking to find ways to partner with organizations in an effort to eradicate the disease to the degree they can.

Education will always be a primary tool used to confront this disease and used to implement new strategies, reduce incidence of the disease and accessed to make better health decisions early in life.

Diabetes is a silent killer, but one that can be avoided or managed if taken seriously and responded to early.

diabetic live is a committed resource in information and news related to all aspects of diabetes. We are not focused only on one type of the disease and we will share information related to medical advances as well as more natural approaches that have proven successful.

Diabetes and Medicare: Donut Hole Elimination

In an effort to close the legendary ‘donut hole” gap in Medicare Part D coverage the government is sending out $250 checks to hundreds of thousands of Medicare recipients who require prescription medications. The intent is to close the gap in coverage by 2012.

In explaining the donut hole it is important to know there are strong benefits for Medicare users up to $2,830. There is also strong coverage once total prescription amount exceeds $6,440. It is the middle area for which the term “Donut Hole” applies.

There are nearly 28 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D coverage and have survived in gap coverage by either paying a substantial amount of out of pocket expenses related to prescription drugs or by simply refusing to refill prescriptions when the benefits ran out. The later can place the individual at risk and cause additional stress and health issues to develop.

Over a fourth of all Medicare Part D users reach the $2,830 prescription level and are left to consider how to fund the more than $3,500 it takes before any additional help is provided. That being said there are plans to effectively eliminate the donut hole.

AmericanProgress.org reports, “Beginning in 2011, Part D beneficiaries who reach the doughnut hole will get a 50 percent discount. This will be phased up to a 75 percent discount on brand name drugs by 2020 and a 7 percent discount on generic drugs—bringing costs to Part D beneficiaries back down to 25 percent (standard coverage level), thereby effectively closing the doughnut hole.”

In the meantime the government continues to send out checks worth $250 to Medicare Part D participants who reach the lower threshold of the ‘donut hole’ with a situational review every quarter. This means that if you reach the threshold in the 3rd quarter you would still be eligible to receive one $250 rebate once that threshold is exceeded.

Perhaps what is most troubling to those observing the program is the disconnect that occurs when Medicare patients reach the threshold and then determine they simply can’t afford to continue the treatment their primary health care provider recommends. By standardizing the subsidy the stress of that donut hole gap is reduced. The perceived end suggests a greater continuance of coverage and an overall improved health outlook for those using this Medicare plan.

For diabetics it is important to note that one in ten Medicare Part D participants will stop taking their diabetes medications once they reach the donut hole threshold. Interestingly 85% of all Medicare Part D participants exceeded the lower threshold, but did not reach the $6,440 level where assistance was once again provided. This means that living in the ‘donut hole’ requires enormous out of pocket expenses for participants.

Only 20% of Medicare Part D providers offer any kind of gap coverage. This leaves an incredibly large remainder to struggle with paying for their prescription needs.

The elimination of the gap is all part of the current Health Care Reform Act. President Obama has said that there will be approximately 4 million Part D beneficiaries that will receive the $250 rebate checks by years end.

While this doesn’t completely eliminate the disparity between the two thresholds many see it as a signal that Medicare will be helping more individuals cope as the Health Care overhaul comes into its own.

Medicare and the Diabetic: Part C

In this article we will review the comprehensive Medicare plan known as Part C. This fee based service covers other Medicare Plans and may be preferred by some Medicare recipients.

In this article we will review the comprehensive Medicare Advantage Plan known as Part C. This fee based service covers other Medicare Plans and may be preferred by some Medicare recipients.

According to Medicare, “Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are health plans offered by private companies approved by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, the plan provides all your Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage.

“Medicare Advantage plans always cover emergency and urgent care. Medicare Advantage Plans must cover all the services that Original Medicare covers, except hospice care. (Original Medicare covers hospice care even if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan.)

“Medicare Advantage Plans may offer extra coverage, such as vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs. Most plans also include Medicare prescription drug coverage.

“Medicare Advantage Plans must follow rules set by Medicare. However, each plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs and have different rules for how you get services (like whether you need a referral to see a specialist or if you have to go to only doctors, facilities, or suppliers that belong to the plan).

“You usually pay one monthly premium to the Medicare Advantage plan, in addition to your Part B premium.

Different Types of Medicare Advantage Plans

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans
Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans
Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans
Special Needs Plans (SNP)

Other less common types of Medicare Advantage Plans include:

Point of Service (POS) Plans—Similar to HMOs, but you may be able to get some services out-of-network for a higher cost.
Provider Sponsored Organizations (PSOs)—Plans run by a provider or group of providers. In a PSO, you usually get your health care from the providers who are part of the plan.

What You Pay in a Medicare Advantage Plan
Your out-of-pocket costs in a Medicare Advantage Plan depend on:

Whether the plan charges a monthly premium in addition to your Part B premium.
Whether the plan pays any of the monthly Part B premium. Some plans offer this option, usually for an extra cost.
Whether the plan has a yearly deductible or any additional deductibles.
How much you pay for each visit or service (co-payments).
The type of health care services you need and how often you get them.
Whether you follow the plan’s rules, like using network providers.
Whether you need extra coverage and what the plan charges for it.
Whether the plan has a yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs for all medical services.

How to Join a Medicare Advantage Plan
Not all Medicare Advantage Plans work the same way, so before you join, find out the plan’s rules, what your costs will be, and whether the plan will meet your needs.

More about Medicare Advantage Plans

As with Original Medicare, you still have Medicare rights and protections, including the right to appeal.
Check with the plan before you get a service to find out whether they will cover the service and what your costs may be.
You must follow plan rules, like getting a referral to see a specialist or getting prior approval for certain procedures to avoid higher costs. Check with the plan.
You can join a Medicare Advantage Plan even if you have a pre-existing condition, except for End-Stage Renal Disease.
You can only join a plan at certain times during the year. In most cases, you’re enrolled in a plan for a year.
If you go to a doctor, facility, or supplier that doesn’t belong to the plan, your services may not be covered, or your costs could be higher.
If the plan decides to stop participating in Medicare, you‘ll have to join another Medicare health plan or return to Original Medicare. (Source: Medicare)

Islet Cell Transplantation

Type 1 diabetes is a very serious disorder that impacts the day to day existence of the people that suffer from it. While there are many effective treatment options for type 1
diabetes there is still no cure. While there are several potential technologies on the horizon that promise to lessen or even eliminate the worst effects of the disease, such
as the closed loop insulin pump (sometimes inaccurately called an artificial pancreas) and pancreas transfers, the technology that holds the most promise is the islet cell
transplant.

Islet Cell Transplantation: Type 1 diabetes is a very serious disorder that impacts the day to day existence of the people that suffer from it. While there are many effective treatment options for type 1 diabetes there is still no cure. While there are several potential technologies on the horizon that promise to lessen or even eliminate the worst effects of the disease, such as the closed loop insulin pump (sometimes inaccurately called an artificial pancreas) and pancreas transfers, the technology that holds the most promise is the islet cell transplant.

The Islets of Langerhans are microscopic bodies in the pancreas that are responsible for creating and secreting a number of important enzymes, the most well known of which is insulin. These bodies are what fail in a diabetic. In type 2 diabetes, they may produce insulin in smaller amounts than what are necessary (this is not always true–there are also other causes of type 2 diabetes) and they fail altogether in the much more serious type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetics must monitor their blood glucose levels many times and day and add insulin as needed, typically through injections or an insulin pump.

There are several types of cells in the Islets of Langerhans. The beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin. The hope for Islet cell transplant is that the beta cells from the donor will become active in the recipient’s pancreas and begin to produce and secrete insulin in the new host. This technique has been successful in limited testing–if it can be refined and made available to a much wider audience, it will be the elusive cure for diabetes that have been sought for years. While testing is in its very early stages, some of the published results have been promising indeed. Many of the recipients have gone for a year or more without having to take a single supplemental dose of insulin. The tests are underway and hopefully the future will hold many more such promising results.

One of the real hurdles that must be overcome before islet cell transplants can be made a viable option for many sufferers of type 1 diabetes is the problem of rejection. Every cell in a human body is covered with unique markers that indicate that the cell is native to the body and not an outside pathogen. Cells that do not contain these individual specific markers are attacked by the immune system which treats them as invaders. With any kind of transplant, the problem of rejection is a very real issue. Since the transplanted cells will have different markers, the immune system will attempt to destroy them since they appear to be outsiders (indeed, they are). The only way to currently prevent rejection is to use medications that decrease the activity of the immune system. This clearly has drawbacks. First, we need our immune systems function properly to keep us health. Those who have a decreased immune system are likely to suffer from a wide range of problems, including frequent cold and flu infections, a high occurrence of mouth and stomach ulcers, higher rates of general infections, etc. The complications that accompany rejection suppression will mean that islet transplant surgery will only be appropriate for those whose diabetes symptoms are worse than the side effects that they will incur because of the required immunosuppressive therapy.

Another problem with the current state of islet transplants is that there simply are not enough donors available to meet the needs of even a small percentage of all type 1 diabetics. Since there will surely be overwhelming demand for the procedure once some of the details are worked out, scientists are currently investigating ways to artificially produce functional islet cells.

Pancreatic Islets

Almost 80 years ago, Dr. Frederick Banting published a report about use of pancreatic Islets to treat diabetes. He obtained those Islets from the pancreas of a dog. By first tying-off that pancreas, he eliminated the digestive enzymes that would otherwise have destroyed the insulin in the Islets.

Pancreatic Islets: Almost 80 years ago, Dr. Frederick Banting published a report about use of pancreatic Islets to treat diabetes. He obtained those Islets from the pancreas of a dog. By first tying-off that pancreas, he eliminated the digestive enzymes that would otherwise have destroyed the insulin in the Islets.

Following the publication of that report, diabetics could hope for a way to replace the insulin lacking in their system. Biochemists were able to extract insulin from the pancreas of an animal. That insulin could then be prepared for injection into a diabetic patient. At that time, doctors could only dream about transplanting Islet cells into a diabetic patient.

Doctors have since learned that the Islets contain several types of cells. Among those various Islets cells, only the beta cells have the ability to make insulin. In the 1970s, a group of medical researchers began to look for a way to transplant beta cells into diabetic patients. Gradually, their research produced significant results.

Dr. Bernard Hering at the University of Minnesota transplanted Islets cells from pigs into monkeys. He published a report about that transplantation in Nature Magazine. Then in June of 2000, the world of medicine learned about a more advanced type of Islet transplantation. Doctors at the University of Alberto in Edmonton, Canada had transplanted Islets cells into human diabetic patients.

The Canadian doctors published the details of their transplantation in The New England Journal of Medicine. They followed that initial report with other reports about the ability of the transplanted Islets to maintain production of insulin. Those follow-up reports indicated that 10% of the 65 patients given the transplanted Islets remained free of a need for insulin five years later (in 2005).

The follow-up report included some other important information. A number of the patients who had received the transplanted Islets found that even though they later needed to receive insulin, they did not need as much insulin as they had prior to the transplantation. Moreover, those patients who had to resume their use of insulin found that after the transplantation they were able to maintain a more stable glucose level.

Among the patients who had received the transplanted Islets, doctors observed something that related to another problem, a problem that challenges many diabetics. Often a patient with diabetes develops what is known as “hypoglycemia unawareness.” When a diabetic develops that condition, he or she can not detect evidence that his or her body needs sugar. Symptoms of “hypoglycemia unawareness” declined among those patients who had received the transplanted Islets.

After medical doctors learned about the results of the Canadian experiment, they studied carefully the procedures used by those Canadian doctors. A number of doctors wanted to replicate the experiment conducted at the University of Alberto. Doctors who hoped to repeat that experiment learned that they needed to follow the following procedure.

The Canadian doctors had taken Islets cells from deceased organ donors. They had prevented destruction of the beta cells by using special enzymes during the removal of the Islets cells. They had then purified and processed those beta cells. Those purified and processed cells were given to a radiologist.

The radiologist used both X-rays and ultra sound to guide a plastic tube through the upper abdomen of the patient who was to receive the transplanted Islet cells. Once safely through the abdomen of that patient, the plastic tube was inserted in the patient’s portal vein (a vein from the liver). The radiologist then infused the Islets cells into the tranquilized patient.

The radiologist did not infuse just a couple cells into each patient. Doctors had determined the number of Islets “equivalents” needed by each patient who was supposed to get some transplanted Islets cells. The doctors had based their determination on the patient’s body weight. The Canadian doctors had found that a diabetic needs 10,000 Islets “equivalents” for every kilogram in his or her body weight.

Following the performance of such a procedure, doctors could expect the transplanted Islets cells to produce insulin for a at least 14 days. There were, as shown by the data in the published report, some patients who produced insulin for far longer than that short, 14 day period. Doctors have initiated a look at ways to refine the procedure used in Canada.

One refinement that has been presented to some medical professionals employs changes in the nature of the material infused into the patient. Doctors who tested this particular refinement put a special coating on the processed and infused Islet cells. Patients who received an infusion of Islets cells with the new coating experienced fewer side effects.

Prior to introduction of this new refinement, some patients had complained about mouth sores, GI problems, and increased infections. The physicians treating the patients with the Islets transplants had seen increases in the patients’ blood pressure and blood cholesterol. None of those side effects could be found among patients who got Islets cells with the new type of coating.

While some medical researchers have focused on delivery of the infused Islet cells, others have looked at how to improve patients’ acceptance of those cells. As in any transplantation, the transplantation of Islet cells demands the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Those drugs put limits on the body’s natural tendency to attack any foreign material within the body.

The Canadian doctors did not rely on the conventional immunosuppressive drugs when doing their Islets cells transplants. They used new drugs, drugs that proved able to enhance the patients’ acceptance of the transplanted cells. They administered those drugs according to a carefully selected pattern.

One drug, doclimszumab, was given to each patient by IV. The patient received that drug immediately after completion of the transplantation. The administration of that drug was brief; the patient did not need to be hooked to the IV for a lengthy amount of time.

Upon discontinuation of the doclimszumab, the patient received two other immunosuppressive drugs—sirulimus and tociclimus. The patient needed to continue taking those drugs for as long as the transplanted Islets cells produced a satisfactory amount of insulin.

An Overview Of Insulin Pumps

Insulin pumps are devices that are used to deliver a measured dose of insulin subcutaneously before or after meals or whenever blood sugar levels become too high. Insulin pumps are much more flexible than insulin injection methods and can help prevent many of the long term diabetes side effects that can occur when insulin is administered at less well metered doses. This article provides an overview of the technology and proper use of insulin pumps and also looks at some insulin pumping technology that is right around the corner that will make controlling insulin levels easier than ever before.

Insulin pumps use a small catheter that is placed under the skin to deliver doses of insulin as needed. Insulin pumps are typically programmed to deliver three different doses of insulin. The first is delivered continuously to meet the insulin needs of continuous metabolism. The second type of insulin delivery is a bolus delivery to cover the carbohydrates that are consumed in a meal or a snack. Most insulin pumps have buttons that will allow you to adjust the amount of insulin added based on the amount of carbohydrates in the meal or snack. Finally, insulin pumps also allow you to administer corrective doses of insulin in case the amount of insulin in the basal and bolus doses did not meet all of your insulin requirements.

Many people think that wearing an insulin pump can make it impossible to do vigorous tasks such as playing sports or jogging. This is not the case. When playing vigorous sports, you can use sturdy elastic to attach the insulin pump to your arm or chest where it should be quite secure. If you are playing an extremely physical sport such as football or rugby, it may be necessary to remove the insulin pump for the duration of the activity. If you must do this, be sure to take an extra bolus dose of insulin to make up for the basal activity that you missed during the event.

Clearly, in order to take advantage of all that insulin pumps have to offer, you have to know how to calculate and control the amount of insulin needed. The first step is to measure the amount of insulin that you use on an average day. It is best to take an average of multiple days in order to get the best approximate dose for a typical level of daily need. Once you have come up with a solid average figure, you need to divide the total dosage into basal and bolus amounts (typically forty to fifty percent for basal and fifty to sixty percent for bolus insulin). Next, you must divide the basal insulin dosage by twenty four to determine you hourly basal insulin requirements. This is the number that you will program into the insulin pump, plus any corrections that you must make for activity or for your individual metabolism.

While modern insulin pumps are a great way to ensure that your insulin is administered at highly metered doses and to keep basal rates consistent, it can still be a pain to continuously program and reprogram the pump. So called “closed loop” insulin pumps are currently in development that will allow continuously monitor blood glucose levels and supply insulin “on demand” as glucose levels fluctuate. This would remove the need for external glucose measurements (except perhaps occasional measurements to verify that the closed loop pump is operating properly). In many ways, this will constitute a replacement pancreas, and will remove many of the manual steps involved in using insulin pumps. These devices are still in development and testing, but they may one day revolutionize the treatment of diabetes.

A Review Of Insulin Pumps

For diabetics, insulin injections are often a way of life. Although insulin is something which used to only be administered via individual injections, it is now available by an easier administration method. Insulin pumps are the new and improved way to receive one’s insulin doses in a less painful, more exact manner. Even though these items have been around for more than 30 years, the products available today are much greater, in both quality and quantity. For those who may be interested in obtaining an insulin pump or trading their old one in for a new one, the following reviews of various insulin pumps on the consumer market today may prove helpful.

Animas 2020

Animas is a well-known manufacturer of insulin pumps. One highly thought of insulin pump model produced by this company is the Animas 2020. The Animas 2020 possesses such great attributes as a flat panel color screen with high contrast features and various information storage capabilities including prior 500 carbohydrate and blood sugar levels, last 500 boluses and generous quantities of daily totals. This model also comes complete with multiple alarm settings and ezFlip pump covers.

Deltec Cozmo

Another popular brand of insulin pump is the Deltec pump. The Deltec Cozmo is one of the newer insulin pumps produced by this company and contains almost everything one would want in an insulin pump. Being touted as one of the lightest insulin pumps on the market, this is just one of the many wonderful features of the Deltec Cozmo. Other features include no-look boluses, ability to download information to a PC, nonproprietary infusion sets and 300-unit reservoir make this a good choice for many insulin pump users.

Disetronic Spirit

The Disetronic Spirit is another choice for insulin pump shoppers to consider. Consisting of a generous 315-unit reservoir and available in 30 different colors/styles, this pump is not only useful but aesthetically pleasing as well. This model also offers 24 basals per day and is waterproof for up to an hour. Three operating menus enable the user to perform their blood glucose checks accurately and efficiently.

Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm

The oldest insulin pump company, Medtronic, offers a new type of insulin pump called the MiniMed Paradigm 522 and 722. These pumps have multiple features necessary for diabetics to keep their insulin level in check which include accommodating unit space, various carb and correction settings, choice of four infusion sets and easy clip attachment. Some of the cons which have been noted with this type of insulin pump include slow bolus delivery, expensive upgrade options and occasional loss of previously entered data. However, if one is looking for a simple pump to deliver insulin-related statistics, the MiniMed Paradigm might work just fine.

Insulet OmniPod

The Insulet company is a relatively new one in the area of insulin pumps. With that said, they are one which exhibits top-notch technology with regard to their products. The Insulet OmniPod is a new type of insulin pump which uses a two-part system to monitor one’s glucose level and administer insulin. This device does not use tubing but instead has a monitor placed on top of the skin. There is a handheld device which produces all of the required information. It is a watertight system which can go underwater up to eight feet for a period of 30 minutes. The reservoir holds 200 units and bolus increments are available in .05, .1, .5 and 1.0 quantities. An integrated food database offers an additional nicety for users to take advantage of.

Sooil DANA Diabecare II

Since 1981, Sooil has been an insulin pump provider for diabetics. The DANA Diabecare II model has almost anything an insulin pump user can want in a device of this kind. With a 300-unit reservoir, waterproof attributes, light qualities and large display screen, this insulin pump does the job with the user in mind. Some have stated that the screen does not have the best resolution but the size thereof makes it easier to read than some other insulin pumps on the market today. The 3.6-volt battery enables the DANA Diabecare II to run for approximately two to three months on one battery which provides the user with a convenience in that they do not have to change the battery as frequently as some of their insulin pump competitors. All in all, a good pump to consider using.

The Benefits Of An Insulin Pump

Diabetes is a medical condition which is serious in nature but is one which can be maintained by following a few simple rules. Things such as eating healthy, keeping your blood sugar level at a favorable rate and getting a good amount of exercise will all help to keep your diabetes at a manageable level. Another way to maintain your diabetes is by using an insulin pump. The following will describe the benefits of using insulin pumps and why this type of equipment is better than the individual insulin injections.

The Benefits Of Insulin Pumps
The insulin pump is a relatively new technology which allows an individual to have a catheter inserted underneath the skin for the purpose of receiving insulin doses on an as needed basis. Based on a variety of circumstances, the insulin will be activated to ensure that one’s blood sugar level is maintained and level. There are many benefits to having this type of insulin delivering contraption and it is important to review these benefits to determine if an insulin pump is right for you.

The first benefit of an insulin pump is that it allows an individual to forego the insulin shots via a daily needle injection. Since this is an often-cited concern for diabetics, having an alternative to the old version of insulin injections is a nice thing to consider. Due to the fact that the insulin pump consists of a catheter already under the skin, the diabetic individual does not have to mess around with a single injection whenever they need some insulin.

Another benefit of using an insulin pump relates to the accuracy of the pump. The insulin pumps tend to be much more accurate than individual insulin injections. The insulin directed by a pump will always go to the right spot as opposed to individual injections which may not be accurate every single time one injects themselves with the insulin. Accuracy is crucial as it ensures that the individual is getting the right spot each and every time they need their insulin.

Insulin pumps are also known to keep the blood sugar level closer to the recommend rate than the individual insulin shots. Since insulin shots are not administered at the same time every time and it may take a while for the shot to be administered, the gap between the desired blood sugar level and the actual level is greater than with an insulin pump. By using an insulin pump, the administration is done on a timely basis each and every time it is needed.

This type of insulin administration allows diabetic individuals to achieve a greater quality of life overall. No longer will they have to be close to a refrigerator in order to get to their insulin and diabetics who use insulin pumps can spend their day as they please with their insulin right by their side. In addition, the insulin pump tends to anticipate when a dose is needed and it is done before it is too late and the individual is at risk for insulin shock. The improvement in one’s quality of life can definitely be felt when using an insulin pump for their dosage needs.

Lastly, insulin pumps often take away the need for large quantities of carbohydrates prior to engaging in exercise of any type. With the old way of insulin injections, one would have to eat a great amount of carbs prior to hitting the basketball court or going for a run as one’s blood sugar level is at a higher risk for getting off target after exercise. In the past, one would have to have a meal complete with carbohydrates in order to keep the blood sugar level at a good rate. Today, insulin pumps allow the individual to exercise without having to eat the large amounts of carbohydrates as the pump will compensate for any gap in the blood sugar level which occurs. Again, insulin pumps offer a freedom which was not present with the individual insulin injections.

Animas 2020 Insulin Pump

The Animas 2020 insulin pump allows a diabetic to take advantage of the latest technological innovations. At the same time, the backup for that pump guarantees delivery of traditional benefits, benefits that are of equal importance. A diabetes patient with an Animas 2020 insulin pump can obtain useful guidance and service.

A user of the Animas 2020 insulin pump can plan to contact Animas representatives at any time of the day. Animas’ literature promises the 24 hour availability of the company’s telephone guides. In addition, Animas makes a point of providing pump users with a multi-faceted type of support.

Animas 2020 owners can easily contact the company for help with the interpretation of data, which is displayed on the pump. The user of an Animas 2020 pump should have little trouble reading the displayed data. The pump has a flat panel with a high-contrast color screen. That screen, a screen that resembles the screen on a digital camera, is self-illuminating. It also has a wide angle view.

The Animas 2020 insulin pump allows a diabetic to take advantage of the latest technological innovations. At the same time, the backup for that pump guarantees delivery of traditional benefits, benefits that are of equal importance. A diabetes patient with an Animas 2020 insulin pump can obtain useful guidance and service.

Software installed in the pump permits the calculation of certain quantities of insulin. Those quantities are then displayed on the pump’s screen. The pump can display the number of carbohydrates in hundreds of foods. The holder of an Animas 2020 insulin pump can thus consult the pump software to calculate the ideal portion size to use during any meal.

A diabetes patient with an insulin pump uses it to administer a bolus dose of insulin prior to eating. The amount of insulin in that dose should reflect the number of carbohydrates that the pump wearer plans to consume. Diabetics who are familiar with the function of the bolus dose should appreciate the “suspend feature” on the Animas 2020 insulin pump.

By using the suspend feature, a pump wearer can call for immediate changes in the scheduled bolus dose. That way, the pump wearer can feel free to make a sudden change in his or her selections from a menu. The pump can be programmed to handle whatever added carbohydrates might be ingested, as a result of the new menu selection.

The bolus dose of insulin supplements the basal dose. The Animas 2020 gives the pump wearer greater flexibility when programming the pump to deliver the appropriate level of basal insulin. The Animas 2020 has the lowest basal insulin rate available.

The Animas 2020 has a minimum basal insulin rate of 0.025 U per hour. That minimum rate is only one half of the minimum rate on most pumps (0.05 U per hour). The pump wearer thus finds it easier to program the pump to a basal rate, a rate that suits the needs of the diabetic who must rely on that insulin.

The Animas 2020 insulin pump has multiple, customizable basal programming. Therefore, the Animas pump can be set to deliver a basal dose that matches with the schedule or the activities of the pump wearer. When does one need to reprogram a pump? Suppose that a patient with diabetes works nights. That night-working diabetic needs to program his or her pump so that the basal dose changes in accordance with the unusual schedule of the diabetic. Suppose that a diabetic plans to participate in a marathon. On race day, he or she needs to adjust the basal rate on his or her insulin pump, so that the runner does not become deprived of glucose during the long race.

The Animas 2020 insulin pump facilitates the storage of vital information. The pump can store the last 500 blood glucose values, values recorded after the ingestion of a given number of carbohydrates. The pump can also store the last 500 bolus insulin doses. The pump wearer can retrieve that stored information and share it with a physician.

A diabetic with an older Animas pump does not have to envy the older of an Animas 2020 pump. An older Animas pump can be converted to a 2020 pump. The “ezAccess Program” allows that conversion to take place.

The Animas 2020 insulin pump is a waterproof device. The pump has been designed to withstand extremes in temperature. The casing on the pump allows the pump to function after it is subjected to the sort of forces that it might feel while the pump wearer engages in some form of exercise.

Still, the Animas 2020 insulin pump is not a flawless pump. Some diabetes patients have objected to the placement of certain items among the menu of features that are displayed on the pump’s screen. The “Suspend Feature” is rather high on that list. Some pump wearers have indicated that they would prefer a lower placement for that feature.

The Animas 2020 insulin pump does not have a continuous blood glucose monitor. Animas researchers do have such a monitor in development. They are working towards production of a pump with an implanted sensor. Such a sensor would pick-up infrared rays and would send the readings to a wristwatch.

At the present time, the Animas 2020 pump does not take direct input from a blood glucose meter. Yet designers of the Animas pump realize that modern technology permits the development of a device that would allow for such direct input. Engineers and researchers have such a device in the early stages of development.

While working on improvements to its pump, the company that makes the Animas 2020 pump also takes part in a joint activity with the Diabetes Trust Fund. Those activities concern the delivery of Animas 2020 pumps. The Fund and Animas deliver those pumps to low income families, families who have a child with diabetes.

Manufacturer Animas
Retail Price $8,843.00

Deltec Cozmo Insulin Pump

The makers of the Deltec Cozmo insulin pump have allowed a patient with diabetes to look to a single instrument for help with satisfying the essential needs of every diabetic patient. The Deltic Cozmo insulin pump has an integrated pump and blood glucose monitor. The monitor sends the results of each blood glucose test to the software that is in the Deltec Cozmo pump.

The pump software stores the results of the past blood glucose tests. The pump can help a diabetes patient to remember the need for performing an additional blood glucose test. The pump can be set to send reminders about an approaching testing time, a time when the pump expects to receive the reading from yet another blood glucose test.

The Deltec Cozmo insulin pump decreases the risk that the pump wearer might experience an unexpected high blood glucose level. The Deltec Cozmo pump can calculate the number of carbohydrates in a meal, and can suggest the appropriate bolus dose, the dose of insulin that should be pumped into the body before the meal. The Deltec delivers the bolus dose according to the units of insulin in that pump-in dose.

The makers of the Deltec Cozmo insulin pump have allowed a patient with diabetes to look to a single instrument for help with satisfying the essential needs of every diabetic patient. The Deltic Cozmo insulin pump has an integrated pump and blood glucose monitor. The monitor sends the results of each blood glucose test to the software that is in the Deltec Cozmo pump.

While wearing a Deltec Cozmo pump can give the pump software added information. If the pump wearer has favorite foods, or favorite meals, then the contents of the food/meal can be entered into the pump software. The CozFoods feature on the pump provides the mechanism for giving the pump software that added information.

Armed with information about a pump wearer’s favorite foods, a Deltec Cozmo pump is better prepared to make a rapid determination of the needed bolus dose for any meal. The pump wearer can control the rate at which the bolus dose enters his or her body. The bolus dose can be delivered in a brief minute, or it can enter the body over a period of two, three, four or even five minutes.

The ability of the diabetic to control the bolus dose on a Deltec Cozmo pump mirrors the control of the basal dose delivered by the pump. The basal dose is the minimum amount of insulin, the amount that enters the blood stream at all times. The pump releases a dose of basal insulin every three minutes.

A diabetes patient who wears a Deltec Cozmo pump can set the basal insulin dose to agree with his or her weekly schedule. The software in the pump can change the basal dose from one day to the next. The software can call-up a different insulin delivery schedule for each day of the week.

The Deltec Cozmo insulin pump is a waterproof device. The pump obtains the insulin from a plastic, removable cartridge. Each cartridge holds 300 units of insulin. A clear gauge makes it easy to see when the pump needs a new insulin-holding cartridge.

Those who might be thinking about buying a Deltec Cozmo pump should know that the pump will not work with just any cartridge. The Deltec Cozmo pump requires a Smith’s medical cartridge. That cartridge fits into the tiny cartridge space that is found in the Deltec Cozmo pump.

The Deltec Cozmo pump is about the size of a cell phone. Still the pump has clear and unmistakable numbers and letters on its display screen. The nature of the screen window makes the numbers and figures easy to read.

The pump can be temporarily disconnected from the site at which the insulin enters the patient’s body. The pump can remain detached from the implant site for a period of 15 minutes to two hours. The Deltec Cozmo pump can be set to deliver a bolus dose of insulin before the pump becomes detached from the location of the implant.

The insulin pump will respond to CoZmanager 2.0 PC communications software. Once given that software program, the Deltec pump can truly personalize the nature of its changing basal and bolus insulin doses. The re-programmed pump also offers more assistance with the reporting of the blood glucose levels (as determined from the test results).

It will help to avoid the occurrence of bolus stacking. The Deltec Cozmo insulin pump carefully tracks the “Active Insulin in the Blood.” The pump offers assurance that the pump wearer will not forget that he or she has just called for a bolus dose of insulin, and will thus request a second, an unnecessary dose.

Special security controls are included. Those controls restrict the number of people who can re-program the pump. Such reprogramming can be performed only by a select few, namely those who have been supplied with the needed password.

It’s a lot like a PDA. It can be programmed to respond to the needs of an expected schedule. The pump software can receive input about that expected schedule. The pump can then adjust the bolus and or basal rate according to the provided schedule.

The Deltec Cozmo pump helps the diabetic patient to achieve a more precise insulin dosing. The precise delivery of the bolus and basal insulin allows the pump to facilitate the maintenance of a desirable blood glucose level in the bloodstream.

The integration of the blood glucose monitor and the insulin pump is the newest feature on the Deltec Cozmo pump. Still, it should not be viewed as the last new feature. The researchers at the plant that makes the Deltec Cozmo pump continue to search for more ways by which to bring their pump closer to the “ideal pump,” the pump envisioned by the average diabetes patient.

Manufacturer Smiths Medical
Retail Price $7,549.85