IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Note: Simcoe County Insulin Pump Group and it's organizers makes no warranty nor implied warranty for any of the contents and information understood from it's meetings, speakers nor for anything contained within it's correspondence nor opinions expressed herein nor otherwise and does not intend for any information provided by it's presenters or participants at it's meetings and within it's correspondence to supercede in any way any advice from health care professionals. Simcoe County Insulin Pump Group does not endorse any brand, model nor manufacturer of Diabetes Management equipment nor supplies. These minutes are not guaranteed to be accurate and we do not imply any warranty of the below information. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In these minutes: - Karen Lyn & Deidre Date of Medtronic MiniMed Canada present the latest on the Paradigm Insulin Pump family and some future developments in work for Medtronic Diabetes Care products! - Glen Heatherington, member, presented a $162.00 cheque to Simcoe County Insulin Pumpers on behalf of his fund raising efforts with the Rotary Club of Penetanguishene! See the pics and more on the Simcoe County IP website. - Bill 55 update and update on the developing Ontario Diabetes Action Partnership - News about the Canadian disability Tax Credit and two more pharmacies now providing low cost pump supplies -Other notes from the meeting and members +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Simcoe County Insulin Pumpers' Minutes: March 1, 2005 See our (your) website for Simcoe County Insulin Pumpers for meeting information etc.: http://www.insulin-pumpers.ca/SCIP/ Also see the National Insulin Pumpers Canada site: http://www.insulin-pumpers.ca +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ideas, topics, issues for future meetings? email Darrin: insulinpumper@sympatico.ca Paul: p.c.beckwith@sympatico.ca or Greg Boden: bytor@sympatico.ca +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SIMCOE COUNTY INSULIN PUMPERS MEETING # 24 March 1, 2005 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm We had a total of 14 people attend. (A lot canceled due to the snowstorm). As always there were refreshments and snacks. Thanks once again to Zehr's for their kind use of their Community Room! +++ Glen Heatherington, member, presented a $162.00 cheque to Simcoe County Insulin Pumpers on behalf of his fund raising efforts with the Rotary Club of Penetanguishene! See the pics and more on the Simcoe County IP website. +++ Feature Presenter: Karen Lyn CDE and Deidre Date, Territory Manager for our area, deidre.date@medtronic.com of Medtronic MiniMed Canada presented the latest on the Paradigm Insulin Pump family and some future developments in work for Medtronic Diabetes Care products. Deidre has 6 years and 6 generations of MiniMed insulin pump experience under her belt with MiniMed. she said Medtronic Canada is now offering both the "5" and "7" series Paradigm insulin pumps in Canada. The differences between the two are the size of the pump and the insulin reservoir capacity to better serve users who either use less than 50 units a day and more than 55 units a day. Deidre reported that Medtronic is now working on the 712 and 715 series of pumps to be released in Canada in the near future. These pumps will have many new features including a screen clock, insulin remaining indicator, menu lock feature and more! The new Medtronic blood glucose meter (manufactured by B-D) has a remote RF link with the new pumps and the pumps have an ability to use several of these meters do that the user can continue to keep meters at home, school, work etc. and not be constrained by having to use only one meter. The Paradigm can be customized to the individual in many ways such as correction boluses and duration of insulin action from 2 hours to 8 hours. As the new Medtronic pumps become available, Medtronic will be offering a "swap-up" program! This will allow the user of an older pump to swap their old pump for the newer model for $500 - $1,000 per swap-up! As a long time insulin pump user herself, Deidre encourages people to start insulin pump therapy as soon as possible and not to wait for future pumps as she feels: "...the longer you wait to start the pump; the more you jeopardize your life"! Private Insurance coverages were also Q &A'ed by Deidre. Karen and Deidre also presented a scale that Medtronic has partnered with Diabteters.com to ship to it's customers. This is a wonderful scale! The scale has a built in computer so that the user can code in the type of food and the scale returned the dietary info based on weight! Example: Put a bowl of Lasagna on the scale, code in "XXX" for Lasagna and the scale returns the carbs, fat, protein, etc.! What could be easier! Speaking to the future of Medtronic Diabetes Care products, Deidre stated that the "closed loop" pump is NOT "vapour-wear". She feels that in 1 - 2 years Medtronic will have a viable system to feed real time blood glucose info continuously to the pump via RF and thus the pump will self-adjust the basal / bolus for almost perfect bg control. This can be done now by Medtronic with their continuous blood glucose monitor but the technology is not ready for immediate release due in large part to the high cost of the bg sensor. Thanks, Karen & Deidre! +++ Paul gave us an update on Bill 55 update and update on the new "Ontario Diabetes Action Partnership as well as providing a recorded radio interview of Craig Collins, member of Hamilton Area Insulin Pumpers, person with Diabetes and parent of a pumper on Bill 55 efforts and ODAP"! Paul also stated that the battle for government coverage of pumps and supplies has been a long, hard road. He reminded us that the first drive was iniated by MPP Erinie Parsons and then Dwight Duncan and then passed to MPP Mike Greville who introduced Bill 55 in the current assembly. It is a fact, says Paul, that emails and letters work! Largely due to the emails and letters and calls to local MPP's by insulin pump users and supporters has this battle remained alive. Please, everyone, keep it up! keep the presure on! call, email and write your MPP and the Minister of Health, George Smitherman. Paul recently has presented, in person, a presentation to Finance Minister, Greg Sobera on Bill 55 and the need to have pumps and supplies covered. More info is online at the Ontario Diabetes Action Partnership website (soon to be linked from related Insulin Pumpers Canada web pages). +++ Other notes from the meeting: - Barbe Marche of Diabetes Advocacy in Canada announced via email and her web site that the Federal Government has finally made some progress in allowing any parent or person with Diabetes to claim the Disability Tax Credit o their income tax! See Diabetes Advocacy in Canada for details on this up to $6,800. tax credit per year! - Insulin Pumpers Canada is hosting the fourth Insulin Pumpers Expo in Halifax on May 7, 2005. Great speakers include: Dr. John Walsh and Ruth Roberts, authors of "pumping Insulin"! - Sid Silverberg, Pharmacist and operator of the Orillia Downtown Dispensary has donated space to the CDA in his store and now stocks insulin pump supplies for most models of pump. Please note that he sells many supplies at cost as he is an advocate of insulin pump therapy. - Many of you will remember Tino Montopoli, Pharmacist, CDE and fellow pumper who was kind enough to speak our group last year about the effects and importance of various medications in preventing the complications of Diabetes. Tino has passed on word that he now has his Insulin Pump products online for easier ordering. Please see below link or go to the Simcoe County IP "Pharmacies that stock insulin pump supplies page". +++ General Discussions followed. See y'all on April 1st! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEXT MEETING: Friday April 1, 2005 7:00 - 9:00 pm Zehr's Zehr's North End Community Room, 472 Bayfield St., N. Barrie. General Insulin Pump Discussion, social & mutual Q & A plus anything else you want! Bring your ideas, issues, frustrations, questions, news, successes, stories... ...or just relax and have a coffee! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Please feel free to volunteer your own special talent to this growing group! Drop us an email if you want to help, out for a few minutes a month! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Please spread the word about your group! Ideas, topics, issues for future meetings? CONTACT: Darrin Parker: insulinpumper@sympatico.ca Paul Beckwith: p.c.beckwith@sympatico.ca Greg Boden: bytor@sympatico.ca Website: http://www.insulin-pumpers.ca/SCIP/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Note: Simcoe County Insulin Pump Group and it's organizers makes no warranty nor implied warranty for any of the contents and information understood from it's meetings, speakers nor for anything contained within it's correspondence nor opinions expressed herein nor otherwise and does not intend for any information provided by it's presenters or participants at it's meetings and within it's correspondence to supercede in any way any advice from health care professionals. Simcoe County Insulin Pump Group does not endorse any brand, model nor manufacturer of Diabetes Management equipment nor supplies.