Simcoe County Insulin Pumpers' Minutes:   November 16, 2002


Hello all,

This message is being distributed to all who left their email address on the
sign-in sheet.  A notice of the next meetings is below. We hope you will come
again and in the meantime spread the word about the group and bring another
pumper or interested person(s) with you.


Meeting Location: Zehrs (Community room up-stairs) 472 Bayfield Street North,
Barrie

Next Meeting:

December 14, 2002	4:00 pm Ð 7:00 pm

2003 Meeting Dates:ÊÊÊ 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm!

Monday,  January 13, 2003	7:00 pm to 9:30 pm Monday,  February 10,
2003		Ò Monday,  March 10, 2003		Ò Monday,  April 14, 2003		Ò
Monday,  May 12, 2003		Ò Monday,  June 9, 2003		Ò

Break for summer

Monday,  September  8, 2003		Ò Tuesday,  October  21,
2003		Ò	***Note: this is on a Tuesday*** Monday,  November 10,
2003	7:00 pm to 9:30 pm Monday,  December  8, 2003		Ò


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SIMCOE COUNTY INSULIN PUMPERS MEETING # 5 November 16, 2002,  9:00 am - 11:00 am

The meeting was a "round table" and "open floor" discussion  during which we
also accomplished some organizational work.   As follows:



Open Discussion:

Diabetes Advocacy:

There is a meeting in Lindsay on Nov. 30th regarding Advocacy on behalf of
persons with diabetes. Paul is attending and for more info on this contact  him:
Paul Beckwith: p.c.beckwith@sympatico.ca

Doctor shortage and local Ophthalmologists:

A discussion on finding a GP and adequate doctor care in this region was had. 
For anyone looking for a local ophthalmologist who treats retinopathy:  Dr.
Nixon who practices in Orillia and Barrie apparently can take patients.  Also
mentioned was that all DM must be Òpatient drivenÓ!  We must drive our doctors
to give us appropriate diabetes care.  In other words:  there is no substitute
for self-education about  pumping  and DM!  Self education  is a must as the
disorder is so complex most healthcare professionals don't have the time to
devote to fully understanding our needs and the newer technologies  available
for DM nor itÕs complications.

Pump Commitment and ÒPump AbuseÓ:

Prospective pumpers needing ÒcommitmentÓ to learn the technical side of the pump
machine and how to do their own basal testing and ratios etc.  Also how some
ÒabuseÓ the pump.  This was a new term to me but apparently some parents seek to
use the pump to try to make their kids ÒforgetÓ about diabetes entirely Ð or to
that effect.

Some people who do not have diabetes think Òthey know what itÕs likeÓ:

Karen brought up the topic of ÒReactive HypoglycemiaÓ.  This is a phenomenon
where some non-diabetics get Òlight-headedÓ if they go without eating for long
periods of time.  Apparently some think this is what hypoglycemia or diabetes 
feels like.  Well, apparently they donÕt have to change their clothes because of
the sweat  -shall we say no more!  Anyway, more on this fascinating discussion
ensued regarding medical professionals who so often do not congratulate people
on getting improvement in their bgÕs but only offer a pat on the back if you
manage perfect bgÕs.  ÒDonÕt talk the talk if you donÕt walk the walkÓ.  Cited
was one person who  had an improvement  in A1C of 17 to 12 and that (to us)
deserves congratulations.  However one medical professional said to the effect: 
ÒWhatÕs wrong with that person?  TheyÕre A1C is 12!  CanÕt they do better?Ó

This lead to a discussion about the importance of empathy in a doctor and the
emotional and psychological aspects of trying to control a disorder which is not
controllable.

Emotional:

People need  a Òpat on the backÓ!  It is so important to give us a Òpat on the
backÓ!  Medical technology for the control of diabetes and itÕs complications
has progressed far in the past 20 years but the wisdom of dealing with the
emotional and psychological aspects of the disrober havenÕt kept pace with the
technology.


One good reason for Docs to prescribe pumps:

ÒPumps give one the ability to have more control and more immediate control of
their bgÕs and lives.Ê This makes one want to test moreÓ!

Some facts (CDN) derived from the meeting:

· 1 person is diagnosed with diabetes every 8 minutes! · 2.2 million Canadians
have diabetes and by 2010 it will be over 3 million



Organizational Discussions:

Promotion:Ê We will contact  the Barrie Advance to do an article on our group
and on pumps in general.  Also we will solicit the Barrie Community Voice and
the Barrie Community Guide provided by the Barrie Library for promotion of our
(your) group.

Contacts:  Robin has kindly volunteered to take over the calling of members who
do not have email access to notify them of meeting dates etc.  (Thanks, Robin)!

Banking:  Robin and Paul will both share the banking and sighing authorities for
the groupÕs small account.  (This has a balance of about $75.  and is necessary 
to cover the (thankfully) small meeting expenses.Ê (Please remember ZehrÕs
provides  us itÕs Community Room and coffee free of charge!  We will send a
letter to ZehrÕs thanking them for their kind support and help.  ZehrsÕ Tanya
who looks after the room and the bookings is a great help and full of good
ideas!

Paper and handouts etc.:  Karen has kindly offered to help us (Paul and I) out
in this area which is necessary to provide handouts to the group and promote
meetings etc.

Thanks once again to Zehr's for their kind use of their Community Room and
snacks!




Please feel free to volunteer your own special talent to this growing group!  
Drop or Paul an email  if you want to help, out for a few minutes a month!



URLS:

http://www.diabetes.com http://www.insulin-pumpers.org	(This is the #1
Insulin Pumping site in the world).
http://barbchafe.tripod.com/PumpingInsulin	(Excellent Tips and Tricks)
http://www.pumps4kids.ca http://www.diabetes.ca/		(CDA)
http://www.sugarbytes.com/


CONTACTS:

Paul Beckwith:   p.c.beckwith@sympatico.ca

Darrin Parker:   darrinp@sympatico.ca


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 superceded in any way any advice from healthcare
professionals.  Simcoe County Insulin Pump Group does not endorse any brand,
model nor manufacturer of Diabetes Management equipment nor supplies.