When it comes to using diabetes technology like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, we need all the help we can get — because figuring out the nitty-gritty of fine-tuning our basal rates, using advanced features like dual wave boluses, and troublshooting sick days and time zones ain’t easy.
We’ve previously brought you reviews of such fine works as Pumping Insulin and Beyond Fingersticks (by the ‘Mine’s own Wil Dubois!), and today we’re introducing a new guidebook from one of the country’s preeminent endocrinologists, Dr. Francine Kaufman, the Chief Medical Officer for Medtronic Diabetes and a leading endo for more than 20 years. Her new book, titled Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A User’s Guide to Effective Diabetes Management, is a slim, easy-to-read guide to these essential D-tech tools.
I was excited to see what Dr. Kaufman had to say about using them as effectively as possible. Unfortunately, I felt a bit let down.
My perception is that this book is very much a beginner’s guide. A thorough, well-written beginner’s guide, to be sure, but I did not find anything particularly impressive about the book, when compared to the previous books mentioned. Dr. Kaufman hits all the necessary points, such as how pumps work, explanations of features like bolus calculators and basal rates, and how insulin pumps can be used while exercising and traveling. But the prose had a very Wikipedia-feel to it. I didn’t hear her voice as a person or an empathetic caregiver come through.
Note that Dr. Kaufman was careful to stay completely unbiased in recommending pumps, despite the fact that she holds an executive role in the world’s leading pump company. Whenever an image of Medtronic’s products was shown, an Animas pump and Omnipod were right next to it, keeping the playing field even.
What struck me was that the sections that explain how to calculate your basal rate and how to figure out your correction factor were concise and easy to understand — but maybe a little too concise. I kept wondering who the intended audience for this book was: People who already use insulin pumps? Or people who are thinking about using insulin pumps? Most of the information was basic enough that you would find a lot of it in the user manual of your insulin pump product. The chapter on continuous glucose monitors explains what a CGM is and what’s involved in wearing it, but there’s little explanation of how to effectively use it. Bummer. That’s what I was looking for, of course! The book seems designed more as an explanation of what these devices are, rather than a workbook to help you better use them and customize your own settings.
Because the American Diabetes Association published this book, we have to consider that many of the explanations needed to be brief and also broad enough to avoid the appearance of making any personal medical recommendations, and also fit within all the general ADA guidelines.
In short, I felt that the title was a bit of a misnomer: while it is a thorough guide to what the technology is, it didn’t seem specifically designed to teach effective diabetes management at all.
For anyone considering starting on an insulin pump or CGM, this is a great little volume to give you an overview of what you’re getting yourself into. The in-depth explanations of device tweaking in Pumping Insulin and Beyond Fingersticks, on the other hand, might even be a bit too much information for some people.
The upshot is that Dr. Kaufman’s book will give you just enough basic info about these devices to understand what they are and what they do, without overwhelming you with homework assignments (especially good if you are already working closely with a diabetes educator). But if you’re already on an insulin pump or CGM, there are more detailed, more useful workbooks that can help you optimize your use of the technology.
“Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A User’s Guide to Effective Diabetes Management” is available on Amazon for $15.88.
The DMBooks Giveaway
Once again we’re giving you the chance to win a free copy of our latest book reviewed. If you’d like to win a copy of Fran Kaufman’s Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring, check out the instructions below. Entering is as easy as leaving a comment!
Here’s what to do:
1. Post your comment below and include the codeword “DMBooks” somewhere in the comment (beginning, end, in parenthesis, in bold, whatever). That will let us know that you would like to be entered in the giveaway. You may post a comment without entering, but if you want to be considered to win, please remember to include “DMBooks.”
2. You have until Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, at 5pm PST to enter this giveaway. A valid email address is required to win.
3. The winner will be chosen using Random.org.
4. The winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter on Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, so make sure you’re following us! We like to feature our winners in upcoming blog posts, too.
The giveaway is open to anyone, regardless of location. Good luck, all you Pumpers and Potential Pumpers!
I loved this review by Allison at DMBooks. Even though she had some pointed criticisms of the book, she told me enough about it to decide on my own. If I do win a copy am I required to check on Facebook or Twitter to find out?
Seth
We’ll announce them on Twitter and Facebook, but we always email the winners individually so we can collect mailing addresses.
Thanks for the review, Allison! I have been pumping for years but never gotten into CGM. I might have turned to this book, if not for your review.
DMBooks
DMBooks
I’m currently reading this book. Based on what I’ve seen so far I think your review is spot on Allison. I expected something along the lines of the Pumping Insulin classic, which can be very detailed and perhaps too much to digest easily.
But so far I’ve been unimpressed by the level of detail in this book. I’d agree that it’s clearly aimed at beginners, or those who are trying to decide whether pumping is for them. With the reduction in endos, perhaps there’s a market for a book like this. But I was expecting more.
Hi AllisonB.
A review of a written document is an important skill and assistance to people in need. A DMbook brings an added insight. Question, you discoverd that three other pump manufactures were mentioned. I know that you have had discussions with diabetics from other parts of the world. Who is the major supplier of insulin pumps in Europe? Meaning there is a fourth manufacturer. Keep up the goodwork and as always have a great day.
Dan
DMBOOKS
My husband just got a CGM and is looking at getting a pump. This would be great.
DMBooks – My husband is looking into getting a pump and we can use all the insight possible.
Thanks for bringing new books to our attention!! Dmbooks
Sounds like an interesting read! Thanks for letting us know about this book. DMBooks
DMBooks !! Thanks for your candid review, Allison! I would love to read this DMBooks choice and hopefully pick up something new about pumping, after being t1/CFRD for 11 years and pumping for 10, always looking to learn something new.
DMBooks. Might be an interesting read… or I could share with some of the DiabetesSisters’ gals at the next group
Great book! Dm books
Interested reading up on all kinds of insulin pumps,pros and cons etc ! DM Books .
DM Books-thanks for the review.
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I have been looking for indepth information on changing to a pump after doing injections for the past 33 years. I have the brochures for Medtronic Paradigm Revel Minimed and Animas OneTouch Ping. I called Medtronic Sales wanting more information on how their CGM works but unfortunately the sales rep wasn’t too helpful. Would I still have to do continous finger checks with the medtronic? Which pump is better for someone who really is very apprehensive about about being attached to a pump? I have read as much info that I can find, but nothing from someone who has used both and what are the real pros and cons are Any help would be greatly appreciated. After reading Allison’s review I doubt Fran Kaufman’s book would give me the information I am looking for.