Life Is A Journey, Not A Race: Vince Myers

It is my pleasure today to introduce MiniMed Ambassador, Vince Myers. Vince was the first person in the United States to receive the MiniMed530G system, and is an extremely motivating guy. After 6 years of being on just an insulin pump, Vince’s A1C hung around 7.0, but his inactivity had taken a toll on his body, making him feel sluggish and out of shape. Determined to get in better health, Vince began training for his first 5k race one year ago, and just finished his first 10k last month using the new MiniMed 530G system. Thank you, Vince, for sharing your story, and inspiring us on how to overcome life’s obstacles with a positive outlook and right mindset. Do you have a story similar to Vince? Please share with us your own experiences in the comments below.

I never thought I would be at this point in my life. In high school, I was not an athlete. I purposely ran slowly in September so I could show improvement in June. As a child, I needed to work hard in sports just to be average. Don’t get me wrong, I had my strengths, but athletics never made the list.

Nine years. Nine years since D-day. Nine years since my A1C was 12.4. I remember the day like it was yesterday. I grew up with a step-father who had diabetes and I vividly remember the shots and EMT calls. My life was shattered. It was over. How could I ever be healthy again? Why me? What went wrong? These questions ran wild as I bawled my eyes out that winter break. There were no words to describe how devastated I really felt.

I started with oral medications, which worked well for a year. I got a cold and my sugar levels never bounced back. I then moved to a pen. I thought at the time, this would give me control. After a year of shots, I made the jump to my first Medtronic pump. I relied on “pumping only” for the next six years. This worked, and my A1C during that time hovered around 7.0. I was in better control. I was feeling good. That, however, was not enough for me. The ability to easily cover anything I ate with insulin took its toll on me over the years and I noticed the weight gain.

Editor’s Note: For more on insulin and weight gain, click here

Eight years later, I was at my heaviest weight. At 180 pounds, I wasn’t “big”, but just uncomfortable. I struggled to get off the floor with my daughter. I felt sluggish, and knew it was time to re-commit myself to the most important thing in my life, my family. Couch to 5k here I come. What? Me? Never! Boy was I wrong. I started the process and struggled mightily. I persevered and continued to push forward. I finally started to see progress. Half mile. Three-quarters. The distance continued to build. I ran my first 5k last October. It was a walk, but I ran the entire thing. Forty minutes and 3.1 miles complete. Since then, I have run four other 5k races, improving my time with each race.

I recently completed my first 10k. Monitoring levels became routine in the weeks leading to race day. The best thing in my final preparations has been the MiniMed 530G system. The first 2+ weeks provided me with the best control I have ever had. The Enlite sensor has been unnoticeable under my skin, unlike the former Sof-sensor. As I ran with the MiniMed 530G system on my hip, my confidence couldn’t have been higher. It was like having “big-brother” each step along the way.

With the right mindset and positive outlook, anything can be accomplished, even as someone with diabetes. One foot in front of the other, the journey continues.

See you at the finish line!

Connect with MiniMed Ambassador, Vince, to discuss his real experiences and get a better understanding of what life is like on an insulin pump and CGM.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

MiniMed 530G with Enlite is intended for the delivery of insulin and continuous glucose monitoring for the management of diabetes mellitus by persons 16 years of age or older who require insulin. Insulin infusion pumps and associated components of insulin infusion systems are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks of insulin pump therapy.

Pump therapy is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to perform a minimum of four blood glucose tests per day. Pump therapy is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to maintain contact with their healthcare professional. Pump therapy is not recommended for people whose vision or hearing does not allow recognition of pump signals and alarms.

Insulin pumps use rapid-acting insulin. If your insulin delivery is interrupted for any reason, you must be prepared to replace the missed insulin immediately. Replace the infusion set every 48-72 hours, or more frequently per your healthcare professional’s instructions. Insertion of a glucose sensor may cause bleeding or irritation at the insertion site. Consult a physician immediately if you experience significant pain or if you suspect that the site is infected.

The information provided by CGM systems is intended to supplement, not replace, blood glucose information obtained using a home glucose meter. A confirmatory fingerstick is required prior to making adjustments to diabetes therapy. MiniMed 530G with Enlite is not intended to be used directly for preventing or treating hypoglycemia but to suspend insulin delivery when the user is unable to respond to the Threshold Suspend alarm and take measures to prevent or treat hypoglycemia themselves. Therapy to prevent or treat hypoglycemia should be administered according to the recommendations of the user’s Health Care Provider.

WARNING: The Threshold Suspend feature will cause the pump to temporarily suspend insulin delivery for two hours when the sensor glucose reaches a set threshold. Under some conditions of use the pump can suspend again resulting in very limited insulin delivery. Prolonged suspension can increase the risk of serious hyperglycemia, ketosis, and ketoacidosis. Before using the Threshold Suspend feature, it is important to read the Threshold Suspend information in the MiniMed 530G System User Guide and discuss proper use of the Threshold Suspend feature with your healthcare provider.

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