Type 1 diabetes-using the insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor!

Hello!
I just noticed this site, I always just went to the main forum, but reading these posts are very interesting to me.  I have had type 1 diabetes since i was 3 years old,  and I have been using the insulin pump for the past 4 years.  I just got the continuous glucose monitor this past spring.  My A1c has dropped from 8.5, to 7.8, to 7.2.  I had my surgery on June 4th, and had many complications.  But does anyone else have the CGM??  Does it tend to be reliable all the time?  I have bouts of time when the CGM just doesn't want to work for me.  Also, prior to surgery, I was on metformin, symlin, and my novolog insulin.  Right now, I am only on my novolog.  Before surgery, my surgeon said I may just lose 100#s, he wasn't sure how much I would lose with the diabetes.  But I have been holding steady for a while, and the weight loss hasn't changed recently.  My MD said he would not want to have me have the lapband because he did not want the foreign object in me because we are more prone to infection.  But I would love to hear from other Type 1's, and how far out they are from surgery and how things are going.
Thanks

I think it's pretty common to hit a stall/plateau at around 3 mos. Don't fret! Just eat how you're supposed to for your pouch, and you'll get through it.

I am a Type 2 who WAS on a pump. One week after my surgery, I was taken off of it. Anyway, I had the CGM before surgery and it was almost never reliable so I stopped using it. That was my experience. I know others said it worked just fine. Any time I called tech support they would just tell me to change to a new sensor. Never worked...

Hi!  I am only three weeks out from RNY and am still on the pump.  My sugars were great going into surgery (132) but up over 350 12 hours later.  The doctor had me off of my pump at that point but he sent my husband home to get it as my sugars just would not come down.  Since then, I am down 25lbs and, with the exception of a sick day, my sugars have been between 80-180 which for me is AMAZING!  I am intrigued to hear more about your successes and struggles after surgery as I have not found a lot of Type 1/ insulin pump users to compare notes with.

My sugars were high right after surgery too.  I tend to do that after my body has been stressed.  I love my pump.  I actually have 3 sisters that all have type 1 diabetes and we are now all on the pump as well.  Its great.  The CGM is pretty cool too, its just that you can't rely on it.  You definately still have to check yourself to treat yourself, but when it is reading correctly, it is awesome to see what your blood sugars do during the day.  Since my surgery in June, I have been able to cut down my daily insulin requirements by at least 50%. My 3ml resevoir lasts for 5-6 days, which is great.  The CGM does not always lasts the 6 days.  I often have to change it earlier than that.  But right now, it is only FDA approved for 3 days.  I have been down a total of 68#s since about May, so I am super excited too.  It has been challanging to work with my basal rates, and I know I need to adjust how my bolus wizard is set up.  I have medtronic's minimed pump.  What kind do you have??  
What I find interesting is how the proteins affect my blood sugars, and how any little carb I do eat really affects my blood sugars.  I have dropped low frequently, and luckily the glucotabs do not cause me to dump, so that is lucky.  But they really shoot my blood sugar up fast, not like they used to.  One big concern that I have had is when I do drop really low, I am not always feeling it like I used to.  And my memory of my lows or control during my lows has diminished.  I have needed my husband to take full control a few times, and that does scare me.  I never had that before.  I love talking about this stuff, so feel free to email me.  I would love a email buddy!  But use my home email, I check that the most  [email protected] .  
Are you type 1 or 2? How long have you had diabetes?  Tell me your story!!  Thanks!

I'm a type 1 diabetic as well. Using the MM pump and CGM.  The CGM is to watch for trends ONLY - not for treatment. I think folks get so mad that it isn't right with what their meters say. However it is reading what your levels were 20 or so minutes ago.  though for the last month I have not been using my cgm.  Just doing finger sticks. Pretty much living on basal rates with corrections now and again after eating my 1oz meal. Wait I'm up to 1oz +1tsp now.  I have dropped from using about 78 units for basal to 24u - now up to 26.  A tdd of about 130 on avg pre op to 30 or so daily now.  that's the kicker, got to reduce the insulin requirements so that the insulin isn't doing its usual fat storing hormone work on the body.  Oh lower insulin and still have good sugars. Mine are running about 150 to 170. Higher than I normally am but do NOT want to go low and play russion roulete to see if I'll get sick or something after having sugar to bring up the sugar levels.

Did read that since we don't have acid in our pouches, can use the glucose tabs, crunched up, and hold it in our mouths as long as possible to bring up bg levels.

as for the cgm - so totally worth it. great to know how certain foods react, especially different times of the day,   I've been pumping for 11 years now cgm for 3. WOuld not change a thing.

Never been on a pump, been type 1 since I was 18 years old. I take Novalog & Levimer before surgery I was taking about 175 cc a day, now i take roughly 30 cc a day. I had surgery in May this year and so far have lost 94 pounds.

Just incase someone new to diabetes is reading this. I'm guessng that your taking about 30 units a day, not 30 cc.  1cc =100 units

I was taking about an avg of 130-140 units a day and now its about 38 a day. Not too bad and I'm 7 weeks post op now

I had my Lap RNY surgery on October 19. I'm Type 1 and I'm surprised that I've lost as much as I have in the last month. I didn't really expect it. I didn't have any complications with my surgery, and have had absolutely none since. I actually haven't changed my diet that much. I'm still vegetarian, eat low fat, and I still stay away from foods that can screw with my diabetics. I have curtailed my carb intake to about 45 gms/day and seem to be doing well with that.

My BS was very high right after surgery-400-500's, but has been slowly coming down since I left the hospital. My BS has been fairly erratic (compared to what I'm used to). It has been ranging between the low 90's-140ish with no rhyme or reason, but has been steadily leveling off in the low 120's. I'm sorry that I can't help you with your pump and CGM issues. I really never felt that the pump was right for me. 

As for weight loss expectations, I  will take whatever I can get. I have long felt that the malabsorptive process related to RNY and other malabsorbtion WLS may well give the metabolism of some obese or morbidly obese Type 1's the jump start it needs. I may be wrong, but I can't remember in all of my 35 years as a diabetic losing 20 Lbs in one month. I realize that this will slow down eventually, but for now, i'll take it for what it is. As long as my BS stays stable, I'm happy. My Insulin needs have been cut in half and I'm hoping that my PCP will be happy with other things like cholesterol and BP levels. i'd love to get off those meds.