Better than Wheel of Fortune…
You know what one of my favorite games is? Its called: What’s Beeping? It’s such a great game! And the best part is, I get to play it all the time – even when I least expect it! Is it my insulin pump? Or is it a new message 
on my Blackberry? Or is it the sound the check-in computer makes at the gym? My pump controller telling me I have a low battery? The pod itself? Or that “Let it Rock” song with Lil’ Wayne? Who knows! But isn’t this fun??
Really though, “What’s Beeping”, is an often amusing, but more often, ANNOYING game that people with diabetes inadvertently play. We have so much gear that we tote around with us these days (even without diabetes!) that there’s usually a dozen things that could be beeping within six feet of us. Sometimes, this is cause for pure comedy, but other times, after I have taken everything out of my purse only to find out that is really IS that Lil Wayne song, it can really get obnoxious.
One of the most hilarious experiences I have had with beeping confusion occurred at last year’s TCOYD Type 1 night. I was selected as a speaker on the patient panel, and part of what they wanted me to share was my reasons for finally going on a pump after 16 years of managing my diabetes with MDI (Mulitiple Daily Injections for you non-‘betics). I went on the OmniPod pump in July of last year (after a very arduous “pump-shopping” process, but that’s another blog post), and was excited to share my thoughts with the crowd of Type 1s. I sat up front with the rest of the panel and watched the auditorium fill up.
As the moments ticked closer and closer to the start of the program, I began hearing a beep every few seconds. I had my pump controller under my chair, so I picked up my kit pulled out the PDM – no warnings or messages popped up on the screen, so I knew that couldn’t be it. Hhhhm, maybe it’s the Pod itself I thought. I reached my hand to my lower back and felt the Pod, firmly in place. I traced my finger around the adhesive to make sure it wasn’t bunched up around the canula. Nope, no bumps. Beeep! There is was again! Damnit…..what is that thing?? Is this friggin pump already broken the first day I’m wearing it??! My blackberry was nowhere in sight, so that can’t be it, and my cell phone was powered off under my chair…
I started to panic, thinking to myself: what if this thing keeps beeping while I am talking, and picked up by the microphone! How embarrassing…I am going to look so unprofessional. As we drew closer to the event, I grew more and more anxious, unable to locate the source of beeping. But then I realized…wait a second, this is a Type 1 night. Meaning there are lots of glucose meters and pumps in the audience. I listened closely and looked out towards the crowd….yep, there is was. It was all the folks testing and dosing in the audience. I had to laugh to myself because only a person with diabetes would have noticed this type of thing. If “What’s Beeping?” were an actual game, it’s safe to say I lost that round.
See you next time for “What’s Beeping!?”
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But rarely – only when my back needs a break. Its annoying though b/c you can’t wear short sleeves and I have to ace bandage it down when I go boxing, but its a good alternative sometimes!
Do you seriously wear your pump on the back of your arm??