Yesterday, Bob, completely threw me for a loop. If you’re not familiar with Bob, he’s not a person but rather the nickname I’ve affectionately given to my trusty Medtronic insulin pump. Usually, Bob is as quiet as a mouse, but yesterday, he decided to make his presence known in the most disruptive way possible – with a symphony of alarms that seemed to follow me everywhere I went.

Bob’s first alarm …….

Low battery.

It all started at 3 am, with a rude awakening courtesy of Bob’s low-battery alarm. As I fumbled in the dark to change the battery, I couldn’t help but wonder what else Bob had in store for me. Little did I know, the day was just getting started.

Second alarm was at 5.00am – Bob decided to remind me that,

a set change would be due in the next few days

Bear in mind, I had to be up at 6 am to prepare for the usual weekday chaos, of taking my kids to their schools and then finally getting myself to work. At this point, there was no way I would have found any more sleep with 15 minutes to go before my alarm went off.

6 am, starting the day exhausted. Strangely enough, I’ve learnt I have various levels of exhaustion, and each is manageable in different ways. I guess since I had my children combined with my past nocturnal hypoglycaemic episodes ( low blood glucose levels in the night or early mornings) I’ve had to learn how to manage these varying levels of tiredness. I managed to get us all to school and myself to work.

My morning clinic is going well, and my second-to-last patient has just left. And then …

Bob decides to hit me with a third alarm at 11.20am

Low reservoir

I know it’s just an alarm, but I’ve developed a feeling of anxiousness at times whenever I hear Bob vibrating or bellowing out his louder alarms. And remember, I don’t tend to hear them that often. It’s as if Bob was screaming at me this time. Screaming at me to take action immediately. I quickly changed my site, by placing a new vial of insulin into the pump just in time for my final patient of the morning.

Afternoon Clinics …. it shouldn’t be too bad ….. surely?

During my afternoon clinic, I was attending to a patient when Bob’s fourth alarm went off. This was the first vibrating alarm of the day. It was quite amusing because although the vibrations weren’t noticeable to others, they always seemed louder to me. I can feel Bob vibrating against my ribs and it just feels much louder than it is. I must have set it up that way, but it never ceases to surprise me. I wondered what the alarm could be this time but since I felt fine. I tried to ignore it and get through my last patient.

I pretended not to hear the vibration and waited until the patient had left before checking Bob’s screen. It read

SENSOR OUT OF RANGE

I decided to cancel the alarm and reposition Bob so that he was closer to the sensor on my arm and left Bob to do his job of finding a signal.

So at that moment, I thought to myself, what else is Bob going to hit me with? I was hoping he was done for the day.

And so it went on, throughout the rest of the day – alarms for further out-of-range sensors, and plummeting blood glucose levels. Each alarm felt like a jolt, a reminder of the constant vigilance required to manage my diabetes. Amidst the chaos, I was able to get through my afternoon clinics and make quick adjustments to settle Bob down. As chaotic as it was, there were moments of humour and resilience throughout this day, as I was able to navigate through the day with Bob by my side.

That evening, you’ll be pleased to know, I didn’t hear a peep out of Bob. I was able to enjoy my evening and catch up on some much-needed sleep. Everything was back in the green 🙂

Despite the cacophony of alarms that Bob unleashes, I’ve come to appreciate him more than ever. His constant reminders and alerts may be jarring at times, but they serve as a testament to the invaluable support he provides in managing my diabetes.

While adjusting to his alarm sounds, I’ve realised that they are a small price to pay for the significant impact Bob has had on my health. Through Medtronic’s diabetes technology, Bob has helped me achieve tighter control over my blood glucose levels, allowing me to lead a healthier and more fulfilling life.

With each alarm, I’m reminded of the progress I’ve made and the strides I continue to take towards better health. Bob isn’t just a device – he’s a steadfast companion on my journey towards optimal diabetes management.

So, despite the occasional disruptions, I’m grateful for Bob and the role he plays in my life. He has elevated my health to new heights, and for that, I’ll always be thankful.

Thanks for stopping by

Amina and Bob x