The History Of The Insulin Pump

The History of the Insulin Pump

As a mom of 3 children with type 1 diabetes I have been so thankful for the insulin pump. Throughout the years I have become very interested in the history of how the insulin pump evolved and have found some very interesting books and websites. I would like to share some of that information with you in a series of blogs that talk about the history of the insulin pump.
A special thanks to Janet Elliott Hughey who wrote the book “Tolerating The Sweet Life”. Janet has given us permission to share this information. You can purchase Janet’s book at:
http://www.maxpages.com/TSLandCLIP
Janet’s book has lots of information, pictures, poems and humor. A must read!
My first question about the history of the insulin pump is what exactly did the first insulin pump look like?
Take a look at the picture here and just try to imagine you or your child wearing this monster of a pump.
The Evolution of Pumps
The prototype of the first pump that delivered glucagon as well as insulin, backpack style, was in the early '60s. Next is a picture of some early pumps.
Janet’s book the “Tolerating The Sweet Life” really gives you an accounting of how it was to be on the insulin pump when they were first developed. We will be doing a series of blogs about the history of the insulin pump. If you have information or pictures of the first insulin pumps and you would like to share this information please send to pumpwear@nycap.rr.com


Be sure to check out Janet's book "The Sweet Life" at http://www.maxpages.com/TSLandCLIP

Our School Tool Box For Diabetes

Since our last blog I have had several people ask me how I use the Pencil box to hold emergency supplies so I wanted to share with you more information on how this works so well.

1. Most children as they advance in school have more than one classroom that they are in during the day. My daughter is actually in 7 different classrooms and my son is in 6.

2. I have found that by providing some basic information and supplies to each class room makes our school teachers more comfortable and it has also allowed our children easy access to some essentials they may need.

3. In the box which is just a plastic pencil box you can get at any store for 1.00, I place the following items:

A. A box of test strips (my children are always running out and forgetting that they are on their last one). My children know that each class box has test strips so they always have test strips available.
B. A drink box, i use the little drink boxes they fit perfectly and again this provides a fast easy sugar if by some chance they need it and don't have one on them. Again my children are forever using and not remembering that they don't have one. (they are kids right).
C. My favorite the Dex Bites! I absolutely love these, the container fits perfectly in the pencil box and again its a fast acting sugar easily available for emergencies.
D. Cake Gel or Dex Glucose gel work best, this is available just in case of emergency for the teachers to wipe on their gums should my child be unresponsive and provides them something to administor while waiting for 911 to come.

4. To top it all off I attach a label to the top of each box that list my childs name, my phone number, my husbands phone number, the label says emergency box and says in case the child is unresponsive apply cake gel and call 911.

I think the label really helps because it is clearly written on what to do in an emergency because during emergencies people get nervous and can't think straight.

We do everything we can to help provide our schools with all the tools to keep our children safe and we have found these boxes to work wonderfully.

This is just our personal way of helping our children and teachers in school if you have any questions pertaining to what we carry in the box or its effectiveness please discuss with your doctor. This is strictly an oponion and by no means medical advice.

5 Ways To Start Out The School Year

5 Ways To Start The School Year

1. Have a 504 Plan in place. I know many people don't believe that they will ever need this, but it can be months down the road or even years before you might need to actually use the accommodations you set up. It's better to be prepared rather than wait for something to arise. Protect your child now.
2. Supply each of your child's class rooms with a pencil box filled with drink box, cake gel, extra test strips, and glucose tabs. Teachers love knowing that you are helping to keep your child safe and making life easier for school staff to have what they need close by. I also label each box with Nikki and our son's name and our emergency phone numbers and contact information.
3. Supply the school with a "Substitute teacher form that can be placed in the substitute teachers folder. This helps to let all substitutes know that a child in their class has Type 1 diabetes and what the emergency procedures are.
4. Label all food with Carb Labels, and provide the class teach with a carb counting book. This helps make counting carbs fun.
5. Place a container of extra drink boxes, snacks and medical supplies in the nurses office for easy access should a teacher need something.

Making our children safe is so important and working to have the necessities easily available will ensure knowledge and safety. Managing Diabetes for children in school can be challenging, giving out information, arranging for a diabetes educator to come in once a year to train teachers and caregivers can also help make your year in school a success.