I discussed with my diabetes specalist nurse first thing this morning and ran through what i’d done and we got a plan together for mdi. I also spoke with my travel insurer and had a consultation with air doctor who wrote me a script for additional pens (back up for my back up, so to speak) and extra strips, which i then picked up from a local pharmacy.
I removed two sets that i suspected werent working and sure enough they were both bent. I swapped to a steel needle cannula which i can actaully see go in so i knew the set was fine - i was v happy to find that after a mega bolus through the pump my BG came down and has stayed down.
I thiught id packed a lot of supplies but i will know for next time to pack even more.
Im hugely grateful for your input - it was good to have some friendly support in the wee hours last night.
@CharlotteEngland, you should give yourself credit for quickly formulating a plan in a difficult and trying circumstance. Glad to read that your DSN (diabetes specialist nurse) proved to be an effective and timely remote resource.
Pumps are great devices, especially as part of an automated delivery system. But they suffer from a multitude of failure modes as you can certainly attest.
It’s not easy managing a system like this on the road. I wish you smooth sailing in the days ahead. I’m happy that my time zone position relative to yours worked for you.
I saw my APRN today for a regular appt and she said if I stopped by her other office Tuesday next week, she would give me a couple of free samples. So that is what I am going to do. She also mentioned the “vacation override” policy but said I would need to contact Medicare. Somehow, I can’t see them a) answering the phone and giving me an immediate answer or b) processing the request soon enough before I leave next week.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is a clinician with advanced qualifications working in a specialized nursing role. In this case Endocrinology. I see my Endo once annually and in between, I see an APRN.
APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) is the broader category, and a Nurse Practitioner (NP) is one type of APRN. Other APRNs include Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs). So, all Nurse Practitioners are APRNs, but not all APRNs are Nurse Practitioners.
I’d fine tune the definition a bit in my mind— in the states I’ve lived in (while married to a nurse practitioner) the subcategories you listed are accurate— but the general practice nurse practitioners were considered “family nurse practitioners” often with FNP after their name in their correspondence. In those areas all of the above considered themselves nurse practitioner/ APRN with the specialties of CRNA, CNM, FNP, etc… and also PNP (pediatric nurse practitioner) (and GNP (geriatric nurse practitioner— although I’m not sure if that one is an actual certification or more an FNP who practices in elderly medicine). There are seperate courses of study for FNP, CRNA, PNP, etc—- there are probably other subsets I’m not thinking of.
There are also many sub specialties— which are mostly pursued by FNPs because their basic training is less specialized than other tracks— for example, my ex was a family nurse practitioner who had advanced certifications in orthopedics and wound care
The main difference between this and a PA— and this varies by state— is that in most states nurse practitioners / APRN can practice independently wheras a PA has to have an overseeing physician— the real world meaning of overseeing can vary tremendously
That sounds really scary, especially with numbers that high and insulin not bringing them down. I hope you’re able to get urgent medical advice and get your ketones checked. Please don’t wait for your doctor to respond if the highs continue.