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: - Melany Hellstern of Disetronic Canada talks about their new relationship with Roche, pump tips and tricks (she's a pumper-mom) and Distronic's discount plans and new infusion sets. - Bill 55 update and update on the developing Ontario Diabetes Action Force - Results of the FREE draw for a night get-away for two pump group members - Greg Boden talks on the future of our group and asks for feedback and ideas for future events and meetings.Ê Greg has also spent a great deal of time lining up a spot on Rogers TV for Simcoe County IP! -Other notes from the meeting and members +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Simcoe County Insulin Pumpers' Minutes: September 27, 2004 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 # 21 September 27, 2004 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm We had a total of 18 people attend. As always there were refreshments and snacks. Thanks once again to Zehr's for their kind use of their Community Room! +++ Feature Presenter: Melany Hellstern of Disetronic Canada (a pumper-mom) got into the insulin pump therapy business due to the positive change insulin pump therapy made for her now 12 year old boy, Mackenzie. Since starting Mackenzie on the pump she's become an insulin pump therapy advocate and a friend, ally and aid to diabetes groups everywhere. Melany frequently volunteers at JDRF, Insulin Pumpers Canada and for many other Diabetes related events and programs. Melany was the eastern Canada sales rep for Disetronic prior to their voluntary stoppage of selling pumps in Canada 18 months ago at which time they offered a full refund to all customers who wanted one. At that time she moved to Ontario as Disetronic's sole employee in Canada and has been working on providing service and assistance to all of Disetronic's current and past customers (and for that matter any pump user of any brand who needs alternative sets or information). Disetronic's new insulin pump!Ê Melany says she's seen it but cannot tell us anything about it other than that she loves it as a pumper-mom! It should be available for sale in the USA in February 2005 and in Canada in May 2005. The entire company and product has been rebuilt with new personnel and services. Watch for more news on this! New Disetronic sets: Melany talked about their sets being "universal" and that they could be used with any pump brand other than the newer MiniMed pumps (which use proprietary tubing and sets). She showed us the "Tender Mini" (Comfort Mini), like the Tender but with a MUCH shorter insertion needle and canalula, the new" Ultraflex" (a small vertically inserted set), and the "Rapid D" (a vertically inserted set which is resistant to kinking). Anyone wanting samples is welcome to contact her: Melany.Hellstern@disetronic-usa.com She then proceeded to Q&A about these sets and related her son's personal experiences using them. Discounts: Melany mentioned that Disetronic was the only pump firm to have a discount plan for people based on annual income. Carb Factoring: As a fan of "Carb Factoring" and not "Carb Counting", Melany gave us a brief overview of this method of dietary management which she finds more useful and more accurate than Carb Counting for her son. She invited us all to do more research on this novel method which appears to be relatively simple when contrasted to Carb Counting. Tid-bits from Melany: - her philosophy on selling pumps is that people should check out each and every pump on the market and test drive them. Who would buy a car without a test drive and shopping around? - embrace the good and bad about Diabetes Management otherwise you go crazy - kids are kids not "Diabetics" - Melany Hellstern donated the book "Pumping Insulin" to our Library Thanks, Melany! +++ FREE DRAW for a night's get-away at Whitestone resort! Courtesy of Paul Beckwith's efforts we were able to have this free draw. The winner was Cheri Bly (mom of a pumper)! Congratulations and enjoy yourselves! +++ Bill 55 update and update on the new "Ontario Diabetes Action Force"! DELERTED BY REQUEWST OF TERRY-ANN THOMSON +++ Greg Boden and the Future of our Insulin Pumpers' Group! We were short on time so Greg will speak to this further in October and possibly each month form now on. Greg (Greger) is a pump meeting regular and big time supporter of Simcoe County IP & Insulin Pumpers Canada. He wants to see more participation by members, higher meeting attendance and more interactive and fun activities for us all! He presented many great ideas for future meetings and handed out a survey on meeting content to attending members. Unfortunately time was against us. For everyone in coming in October, please listen to Greg - he has many good points and great ideas. He (and we all) want YOU to contribute by at least submitting your ideas for future meetings and other activities to Greg: bytor@sympatico.ca Greg has also spent a great deal of time lining up a spot on Rogers TV for Simcoe County IP! This taping will take place in November and he'll speak more about this in October. Thanks Greger for all your effort! +++ Other notes from the meeting: - Greg Boden donated a new Diabetes Management book to our Library - announcement: Selimah provided us with a sample letter (to be found on our web site:ÊÊ http://www.insulin-pumpers.ca/SCIP/ which asks employers and / or employers' insurance carriers to cover insulin pumps and supplies. It's a good example for anyone in that battle! Thanks, Salimah. - Long time core member of our group, Karen Lyn, CDE, has accepted a position with Medtronic Canada (no - she's not selling pumps) as a diabetes nurse-educator and research assistant for pump therapy development. Good Luck, Karen and Congrats! Thanks for all you've done for us - keep dropping in when you can! - 2005 meeting dates and times were voted on and amended to allow all meetings to be held on weeknights, half at south end Barrie Zehr's and half at north end Barrie Zehr's 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. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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.