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. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In these minutes: - Beckwith Petition to get OHIP coverage for all diabetes management supplies, including pumps, a go! See how you can help. - Institute of Clinical & Evaluative Studies (ICES) still looking for people with Diabetes to participate in their survey of health care! - Talk by Tino Montopoli BSC, Pharmacy, CDE, pump user & person with Diabetes for over 40 years shows blood glucose management is only 50% of the total Diabetes Management therapy needed to prevent many complications! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SIMCOE COUNTY INSULIN PUMPERS MEETING # 17 March 15, 2004 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm We had a total of 12 people attend. As always there were refreshments and snacks. Thanks once again to Zehr's for their kind use of their Community Room! +++ Petition to have OHIP cover the full costs of insulin pumps, supplies and diabetes supplies: Paul Beckwith, co-founder of our group, has finished preparing new petitions asking for OHIP coverage of diabetes supplies including pumps. Paul related to us that he had recently been approached by MPP Joe Tascona to re-circulate his petition as Mr. Tascona feels such a request has the best chance ever of being accepted by the current Government. Now is the time for all of us to act! In past, Paul secured and submitted over 10,000 signatures to the House. We don't need nearly that many this time around but to collect any significant amount at all, it will take all of us pumpers filling out at least one 18 line petition. Insulin Pumpers Canada affiliates; Hamilton Insulin Pumpers and Quinte Insulin Pumpers; have already been in contact with Paul to obtain a supply of these petitions. Hamilton IP is having their local MPP attend their May meeting to address this issue and provide aid in this effort. We have extra copies of this petition available for you to pick up at our meetings or by contacting Paul: p.c.beckwith@sympatico.ca or by going to the Simcoe County website and downloading it for printing. It was reported by Paul that MPP Garfield Dunlop also supports this petition and the coverage by OHIP of pumps and DM supplies and it is suspected that several more MPP's in Quinte's area as well as in southern Ontario are willing to back this effort! +++ Antique Insulin Pump: Thanks to Ray we got to see his 1984 Insulin Pump! You can see the 1984 pump on your web site: http://homepage.mac.com/dp66/SCIP Thanks, Ray. +++ Feature Presenter: Tino Montopoli BSC, Pharmacy, CDE, pump user & person with Diabetes for over 40 years shows blood glucose management is only 50% of the total Diabetes Management therapy needed to prevent many complications!ÊÊ As a pharmacist living with Diabetes; Tino has a vested interest in this topic. Fact: Tino is the "ask the medical professional" answer-man on the http://www.Diabeters.com web site! Tino started by telling us a bit about himself and his pharmacy. Stutt's Pharmacy in Orono is one of the oldest pharmacies in Canada! Having Type I Diabetes himself for 40 years and being on the pump, Tino is trying to offer the lowest prices and has, by far it seems, the best "one stop selection" of pump supplies and accessories in Canada! We have his price lists available at our meetings or you can email Tino at:Ê stuttspharmacy@cogeco.ca or call toll free: 1-888-678-8887. His store is also listed on our web site with the other pharmacies which stock pump supplies. He will ship to anywhere in Canada.Ê From Tino: As an enticement, I will offer a free One Touch UltraSmart blood glucose meter kit with the first 20 clients who place orders with me. This is compliments of Stutt's Diabetes Care Depot. Tino brought free samples of a much lower cost "IV Prep" type of wipe: Mentor Shield Skin wipe as an example of how his knowledge of pharmacy products can help save us pumpers some cash. Studies now show that excellent blood glucose control alone does not avoid many life threatening complications; even in young adults! Why do we struggle to keep tight blood glucose control if that's only half of the therapy needed to avoid macrovascular diseases (heart attack, stroke, leg and foot problems)? Tino related to us that he, unfortunately, has recently knew two young people in their twenties and early thirties who have died of sudden heart attacks as a result of having Type I diabetes. Tino presented a fascinating talk and slide show of particular importance to anyone with Diabetes over the of 20! I hate to use the "first person"; but I finally understand why, upon reaching adulthood, people with Diabetes must target low "normal" ranges for blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides! Tino presented compelling statistics and quoted several studies clearly showing the benefits of using various medications in conjunction with tight blood glucose control as a means to avoid macrovascular diseases.Ê Ask your doctor about appropriate blood tests, blood pressure checks and the right combo of medications (several are often needed to achieve target results which for us are lower than for people who don't have Diabetes). There is a basis as well, to start people as young as age 20 on ACE inhibitors, ASA therapy, blood pressure, cholesterol medications etc. if target levels are not met. Here are some stats and factinos from Tino's talk: From the DCCT: -reducing A1C from 9.0 to 7.0 reduces risk of retinopathy by 76%, nephropathy by 54% and neuropathy by60% From CDA Guidelines: -using a low dose of ASA daily for both Type I and Type II people with Diabetes lowers the risk of heart attacks by 36% -reducing blood pressure by a mere 10pts/5pts (ex: 130/85 to 120/80) reduces death by marcovascular diseases in people with Diabetes by 32% and stroke by 44% -ACE inhibitors not only slow down microvasculaar complications like retinopathy and nephropathy but also seem to increase insulin sensitivity! Many more fortifying and interesting insights were provided by Tino.Ê Thanks, Tino! IMPORTANT: [As always, SCIP / IPC /& ME cannot guarantee the accuracy of this info; so check with your own health care team prior to any changes etc in your medications -ED] +++ ICES Study on Diabetes care in Ontario: Karen Cauch-dudek, Research Coordinator for the Institute of Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, gave us a short talk on their current study on diabetes care in Ontario. Now is your chance to be heard!Ê You can find out more about this study at your website: http://homepage.mac.com/dp66/SCIP Thanks Karen for coming up to see us! +++ General Discussions: - eBay appears to be still allowing the sale of insulin pumps & supplies online! - there were numerous items, pump accessories for give away. Many of these will be brought to our April meeting as well. - our library continues to grow. We now have a copy of Pumping Insulin, 3rd edition donated by Disetronic and Insulin Pumpers Canada as well as several handbooks from MiniMed on various family and pump therapy issues - come and check it out! - April 24th is the date for the CDA Central Ontario Spring Forum. More info is posted on our site:Ê http://homepage.mac.com/dp66/SCIP. Insulin Pumpers Canada / Simcoe County IP have been kindly invited to host a table once again this year. We hope to further educate the public on pump therapy.Ê We could used a few good people to help out - even for a couple of hours! Please email me if you are willing to help: insulinpumper@sympatico.ca See y'all on April 26th! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEXT MEETING: ***NOTE LOCATION CHANGE FOR APRIL AND MAY*** MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2004 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Zehr's SOUTH END Community Room, 620 Young St., Barrie. Zehr's SOUTH END Zehr's SOUTH END Zehr's SOUTH END Zehr's SOUTH END Zehr's SOUTH END Zehr's SOUTH END! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Please feel free to volunteer your own special talent to this growing group! Drop me or Paul 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 Website: http://homepage.mac.com/dp66/SCIP