Last weekend, my dreams came true. Well, kind of.It was a joyous thing, to get off from class and coast off into parts unknown, the weekend entirely free from school and kid and spouse and life and blahdeblah...a kind of weekend getaway, as it were. I'd gotten a random "hey, we think you could be a good fit for this study" email from UVA several weeks prior, and after some serious analyzing of my schedule determined I could do it Friday Oct 16-Sunday October 18. Since UVA is a nice little 3-5 hour drive away, (depending on the Beltway traffic) timing was absolutely everything. I have certain days that absolutely do not work (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) so I didn't think initially I'd be able to do it. I was able to get my LabCorp screening bloodwork done on Monday of that week,(remotely-since LabCorp is a national chain)but I still had to come in to meet with the study physician and get an EKG. Wasn't too happy about that, but we had an "off" Thursday (which basically only happens twice this semester) so I used that day to go down and back. Because of traffic, it took 5.5 hours to get down there and 6 to get back. (I'm not going to lie, that sucked, but one of the RN's there took me out to lunch because she felt sorry for me that I had to travel all that way. It really should have only taken 3 hours, in a non-traffic-less world but good luck with that one).
(Virginia is for people who love the AP.)
Anyway, everything was looking good with my bloodwork and EKG so the timing was on for Friday afternoon at 4 pm. I was hoping to sneak out of class early, but opportunity did not present itself (they've got this system where at the beginning of skills lab, they take attendance and at the end of skills lab, you have to turn in a form) without getting Critical Units, which is how you fail the program. Nah. (I'd just have to get there slightly late) I'd made sure I was ready to hit the road the instant it let out.(snacks, drinks, address in GPS, bladder empty) It did let out, and in two minutes I was in my SUV and on the road, feeling that joyous October breeze as I sped down 495 at 70 mph. 95, 495, 66, the miles sped by and I was making good time. On 29S there were some major road snafus but I still got to Charlottesville around 4 pm. I called the coordinator to leave a message, because I was having difficulty locating the "research house" (drove by it 3x before I got the idea that said "footpath" was actually a road, and I needed to drive up that road.) Parked behind the house, drug in my bag and backpack and announced my presence. The coordinator was just calling me, because by that point I was about 30 minutes late.(I would have been much later if the traffic hadn't been so good)
The first order of business was to prove a state of non-pregnancy, so a urine collection cup was unceremoniously handed to me for a stat dipstick. That was negative (like it was going to be otherwise between the lab order and the urine collection,(4 days) but I digress) so the study coordinator told me I was cleared to participate.
Took a deep breath, and they showed me around the house and I picked out a room to stay in. (there is one patient bedroom downstairs and multiple rooms upstairs) I was the only participant that weekend, because the other individual failed the bloodwork. (for this study, the a1c has to be 7.0-10.0. Courtesy of nursing school, and a 0.8 jump in my a1c since August, I was in that range).
The main hub of all the action was the dining room. About 4-6 people were hanging out in there, waiting for me, to get things started. I put on the study Dexcom transmitter and began the 2 hour warm up period. The first nurse then introduced me to the study glucometer..and had me check a blood sugar.
At that point, it was about 5 pm. I wasn't allowed to eat until I entered bgs into the Study Dexcom,and until the study doctor had placed the study pump on me. So I wandered into the living room(just off the dining room) and watched tv(they had multiple subscription services, but I only have Hulu Plus so the data analyst helped me set that up) and I just lay on the couch and chilled till about 6:30, when my G5 (phone) started telling me that I was trending down into the lower 70's. So I went back to the dining room, they checked me (83), and fed me two glucose tabs. 30 minutes later..checked again, 95. Fed two more glucose tabs. Calibrated study Dexcom. One of the study physicians had arrived (he is the medical director), and he set up the study pump (a Tslim) and synced the pump and cgm with the Artificial Pancreas. (run off an android phone) He put in the infusion set,(in my abdomen) because it was a straight metal needle and I'm not really comfortable with those sets.
This is what my abdomen looked like at that point.
(lovely, nu?) Normally, I don't put sensors or sets in my abdomen because of scar tissue..but they were insistent. My G5 transmitter was on my outer thigh,well out of the way of all this get up.)
I then removed my old pump so I wouldn't be getting 2x the amount of insulin needed, and they gave me the official Fanny Pack of these Artificial Pancreas games.
It was quite roomy, which was good because I had to keep the Android phone, study cgm, and insulin pump in there at all times. Inevitably my personal phone and glasses also lived in there because I still needed to be able to view my cgm data,(the study physician and multiple people had told me this was fine) since the study cgm was blinded,and not doing me a whole lot of good with the personal diabetes management.
Upon further inspection of the pump,it was revealed to me that it was a prototype punp and only had those two screens. And the study cgm was a special prototype as well, the data was blinded from my view. It was a lovely "pumpkin spice" fall color..not your regular blue/black/pink receiver.
It was amazing, holding the AP phone in my hand.(much like holding a newborn for the first time) I got this rush of "Hello, future!" and maybe even a little teary-eyed as I cradled that piece of technology in my hand for the very first time. The study doctor repeatedly told me how very appreciative they were of me (etc.)and not that it was needed, because I would have jumped at the chance regardless but it was nice to hear. (this particular trial arm had just been approved so I was #1 and a great deal of protocol-reviewing went on) On the table, there was a document for the protocol of blood sugars/ketones/seizures/what have you that had every possible scenario. Under 80 and over 300 there were much more in-depth,involved checking/treatment. Any seizure, nausea/vomitting, blood level of ketones on HIGH or two blood sugars under 50 put you out of the trial. The side table was stocked with 4 glucagon kits, testing stuff, Dexcom stuff, 8 glucose liquids, 4 large jars of glucose tabs and other random diabetes supplies.(I brought my own insulin)
(Ready for anything!!!)
It was then time for supper- a microwave dinner of some chicken/pasta type thing and a couple strawberries. I guessed the carb amount, and entered it into the Artificial Pancreas screen along with my blood sugar. The AP gave me a suggestion (based on my entered insulin: carb ratio) and I confirmed that suggestion. I ate dinner, while everyone stared at me.(or rather, talked. Talked a lot.) The study doctor left, the tech guru left, the data analyst left, the other RN left, the study coordinator left, and the clinical coordinator left...leaving the overnight RN and the monitoring technician. (my cgm data went to the "remote monitoring" computer that they have (aka laptop), so that they could see my data whatever I was doing.) I was very tired so I went to bed, before the recommended 11 pm time. At 11:20, the RN woke me up to check a blood sugar because remote monitoring was showing me over 300.(which is their "confirm with blood sugar and correct" point.) Since this is the control admission, I was the one inputting the data and determining the dose to take. After that, the signal between the cgm and the AP went off the grid so the tech and the nurse were both trying to figure it out (involving a call to the study doctor to let her know my blood sugar, since it was 300, and actions taken.) Blood ketones were checked again(2nd time) and it was 0.2. I entered everything into the pump, took the corrective dose, and eventually fell asleep.
(Ready for anything!!!)
It was then time for supper- a microwave dinner of some chicken/pasta type thing and a couple strawberries. I guessed the carb amount, and entered it into the Artificial Pancreas screen along with my blood sugar. The AP gave me a suggestion (based on my entered insulin: carb ratio) and I confirmed that suggestion. I ate dinner, while everyone stared at me.(or rather, talked. Talked a lot.) The study doctor left, the tech guru left, the data analyst left, the other RN left, the study coordinator left, and the clinical coordinator left...leaving the overnight RN and the monitoring technician. (my cgm data went to the "remote monitoring" computer that they have (aka laptop), so that they could see my data whatever I was doing.) I was very tired so I went to bed, before the recommended 11 pm time. At 11:20, the RN woke me up to check a blood sugar because remote monitoring was showing me over 300.(which is their "confirm with blood sugar and correct" point.) Since this is the control admission, I was the one inputting the data and determining the dose to take. After that, the signal between the cgm and the AP went off the grid so the tech and the nurse were both trying to figure it out (involving a call to the study doctor to let her know my blood sugar, since it was 300, and actions taken.) Blood ketones were checked again(2nd time) and it was 0.2. I entered everything into the pump, took the corrective dose, and eventually fell asleep.
(Breakfast. Some omelette thing,2 strawberries,and my Diet Coke Zero.)
That dose worked, and by morning I was around 150. I had to eat breakfast between 8-9 am (protocol), so I wandered out to the dining room to check a blood sugar, guess the amount of carbs in the breakfast, and bolus through the AP. Most everyone from the night before had shown up again so I figured this was the core data analyzing team. (names were not sticking though. Ever meet 10 new people in 12 hours?)
Exercise was scheduled for 10:30 am, so there were a lot of things that had to take place before then. Two new RN's showed up and the night RN left. The study MD talked to me about the politics of research studies,the FDA, and of the many "agreements" that had to take place between various companies to make said technology shareable between pumps/cgm systems. Another research study (Medtronic) was going on, and had essentially taken up their regulars (wine and dine baby, I confess to getting a little jealous when I heard that Medtronic is paying $1100 for their research study AND PUTTING THEM UP IN A SWANKY HOTEL AND GOING TO NICE RESTAURUNTS), which is why they are calling the out of town people (aka me) because you can't be in two research studies at once.(I'm the back up plan.) Don't get me wrong, any AP research study is better then none but eating crappy microwave dinners and being reimbursed slightly more then the cost of your gas pales in comparison to the above. Regarding the food, apparently the chef was on vacation that weekend but the microwave dinners just kept getting worse. So much so, that by Sunday afternoon I just wanted to leave and never eat food again. The data analyst (also a type 1, who had been involved in the Medtronic AP studies) told me to get involved in the Medtronic studies..because they are that swanky. (That's going to be my life goal, when I exit this one.) Most of the people there were either RN's, going to RN school, or type 1's themselves. (there were two type 1's) So even though there were no other patients there that weekend, we had some pretty great
"exchanging of war stories" (which is wont to happen when you get PWD together.) It was a very friendly, jovial environment. (Everyone is on a first
name basis, even the MD's. Patients are referred to by their first names, because of HIPPAA, and anything you choose to disclose to other patients is up to you but you do sign a waiver stating you accept any loss of privacy (aka there's lots of loss of privacy when you've got people swarming over you day and night.) Killed time for a couple of hours,and I then changed to exercise clothes and they put a heart rate monitor under my ribcage which effectively cut off all meaningful breathing.(too tight) A cab (van) showed up and we then all got into it and went to the UVA gym.
(the bag o' Diabetes Crap that RN #2 carried out)
At this point, another MD (I know this MD from past studies, I met her in 2003) showed up and we went into one of the gym's rooms (with a lot of exercise bikes) The heart monitor stopped working, and no amount of tweaking things was getting it working again. The sole other occupant of that room stared at me and my entourage. (probably thinking, what the what?) Checked a blood sugar, decided to eat a snack bar/drink water/and not bolus.
I confirmed with the MD that I wasn't bolusing for the snack I was going to eat.
Got on the bike. Pedaled for 15 minutes: goal heart rate 140. Heart Monitor and Fitbit went in and out of not working, so one of the two RN's that was monitoring the bike situation placed her fingers on my wrist to check it manually. When 15 minutes were done, they helped me off the bike and onto a chair. Checked my blood sugar. Gave me water. Let me rest for 5 minutes. Checked my blood sugar again. Got back on the bike-pedaled for 15 more minutes (goal heart rate 140). Helped me off the bike, blood sugar, hydrate, five minutes, blood sugar. Got back on the bike-15 more minutes, goal heart rate 140. Back off. Blood sugar. Hydrate. Rest.
Blood Sugar Progression:
7:16 AM: 240 (correction given)
8:15 AM: 183 (breakfast bolus given, based on suggested dose)
11:14 AM: 176 (start of exercise. Ate a 15 carb snack bar.)
11:32 AM: 160
11:37 AM: 166
11:54 AM: 153
11:59 AM: 158
12:15 AM: 143 (end of exercise)
12:43 AM: 166. (Lunch blood sugar)
By that point, I was more then done and really tired. (I'm not a spring chicken anymore) I could see why they do an EKG before starting the study, because heart rates of 140 are no joke if you aren't used to them. The seat was also exceedingly uncomfortable, so between the seat and the creaking of my knees I felt like I was 90 years old. Everyone was pretty supportive though (even if they didn't have to reach a HR like that when they pedaled on the bikes),laughing and keeping me otherwise amused. (except for the whole not breathing thing) It felt really great to take that horrible constricting HR monitor off. Boarded back up in the cab, back to the research house.
Lunch was extremily horrible. It was a giant burrito, and it was extremely dry and tough. I literally had to force it down my throat but at some point I just couldn't do it anymore and told them that. (No butter or sauces were permitted, because that would alter the caloric count) You are supposed to finish all your food but it just wasn't happening. I told them that it was going to come back up if I did that, and the RN disposed of it in the trash can.
By supper, my appetite still hadn't returned. I forget what was served but it was along the lines of pasta/chicken/soooo dry stuff and I put off eating till the last possible time that protocol allowed, because my appetite had officially died. The RN tried to make it appetizing(sprinkling the Parmesan cheese on it, putting it on an attractive dinner plate) and that helped slightly but it was a struggle. Post lunch, at 3:30 PM I was 254, I requested a correction and my blood sugar was 293 at 4:10 pm. Eventually, it went down to 155 at 6:42 pm. I "estimated" the supper carbs extremily high, because I was getting sick and tired of the highs and reaching the "I want to rage bolus this down" stage. That seemed not to matter one iota, blood sugars at 9:37 pm (185) and 11:01 pm(183). Corrected for the 183, which the night nurse wasn't too thrilled about because I supposedly still had insulin on board but I did it anyway. The night nurse was also a Labor and Delivery nursing instructor and she asked me about how pregnancy had gone. It felt truly weird to be complimented on an "excellent job" for having a normal weight baby,when so much of that just felt like dumb luck. Oh,I did work hard(12-15x a day checks were the norm) but it still felt like luck,that there were no serious complications. Sure she "got it" on some level but I'm not sure I deserve to be complimented for luck. It was slightly weird,because it puts you on a pedestal you don't belong on.
At 4:56 am, I woke up feeling high as a kite(G5 had me at over 300) so I wandered out to the dining room and requested a check. This didn't suit too well with the technician because remote monitoring was showing me at under 300, and they thought I was supposed to wait till I reached over 300. So they had to call one of the study doctors, who told them to let me correct. I blood tested (275), took the suggested dose of insulin through the AP, and by 8:25 AM was 163. I didn't try to go back to sleep because it was pointless, I was good and high and awake. Breakfast. Protocal that day said that exercise was to be about 1 hour after breakfast, but because the cab company ran late it was 10:08 before we all got to the gym and began the exercise.
(Exercise bikes)
10:08 AM: 247
10:25 AM: 216
10:46 AM: 193
11:07 AM: 174
This time, they just checked once after each of the 15 minute exercise bouts.(and obviously, I did not eat a snack before hand, because I was high) The heart rate monitor worked just fine and I could see my HR as I pedaled.
Dance party! (these are the best people. seriously. they experienced my pain right along with me. And the music helped to get my HR up there.)
Back to the research house, where my pre-lunch(12:29 pm) checked in at 193. Post-lunch: 236. (3:59 pm) At that point, it was officially the end of the study and the tech person gave me instructions about setting up my account on Diasend. (to send pump, blinded cgm, and meter) I am also supposed to sync the Fitbit to the app once a week, to send that data. Another study doctor showed up and removed the pump, and I put my old pump back on. Gave me a packet with pertinent log-in info, and telephone numbers to everyone. The study coordinator then gave me cgm sensors, the study meter, 300 strips,3 cables(to download data), the Fitbit, and the blinded CGM receiver. Loaded me up on snacks for the road and I then drove home. In approximently one month, I return for the closed loop admission-and will see how well the AP controls my bg. It's going to be slightly nerve wracking for me because I'm trusting a machine, but at least the protocol is in place to be watching me 24/7 to make sure I don't go to far in either direction.
10:25 AM: 216
10:46 AM: 193
11:07 AM: 174
This time, they just checked once after each of the 15 minute exercise bouts.(and obviously, I did not eat a snack before hand, because I was high) The heart rate monitor worked just fine and I could see my HR as I pedaled.
Dance party! (these are the best people. seriously. they experienced my pain right along with me. And the music helped to get my HR up there.)
Back to the research house, where my pre-lunch(12:29 pm) checked in at 193. Post-lunch: 236. (3:59 pm) At that point, it was officially the end of the study and the tech person gave me instructions about setting up my account on Diasend. (to send pump, blinded cgm, and meter) I am also supposed to sync the Fitbit to the app once a week, to send that data. Another study doctor showed up and removed the pump, and I put my old pump back on. Gave me a packet with pertinent log-in info, and telephone numbers to everyone. The study coordinator then gave me cgm sensors, the study meter, 300 strips,3 cables(to download data), the Fitbit, and the blinded CGM receiver. Loaded me up on snacks for the road and I then drove home. In approximently one month, I return for the closed loop admission-and will see how well the AP controls my bg. It's going to be slightly nerve wracking for me because I'm trusting a machine, but at least the protocol is in place to be watching me 24/7 to make sure I don't go to far in either direction.
Team Artificial Pancreas,forever.( I will probably save this can forever..I find it interesting that all their Coke Zero cans said this.) Until we meet again.
