Infusion Sets that refuse to be friendly.
I have been using the Minimed pump for almost four years now, but in the past couple months, I have been having a lot of trouble with the infusion sets.
I'm allergic to the sof-set tape, and don't really like the angle of the silhouette, which leaves only the QuickSet. Every time I try to insert with the inserter thingy, the cannula ends up bent, or not fully inserted. Sometimes I can't tell that it wasn't inserted correctly for up to a whole day, when my blood sugars finally go crazy.
I'm also rather thin, and am quickly running out of infusion sites. After avoiding recently used areas and surgery scars, there's not much left!
So basically, I've given up and gone back to Lantus and Novolog. But, I miss the control I had with the pump (back when it worked).
Anybody else have these problems? Any suggestions???
I'm allergic to the sof-set tape, and don't really like the angle of the silhouette, which leaves only the QuickSet. Every time I try to insert with the inserter thingy, the cannula ends up bent, or not fully inserted. Sometimes I can't tell that it wasn't inserted correctly for up to a whole day, when my blood sugars finally go crazy.
I'm also rather thin, and am quickly running out of infusion sites. After avoiding recently used areas and surgery scars, there's not much left!
So basically, I've given up and gone back to Lantus and Novolog. But, I miss the control I had with the pump (back when it worked).
Anybody else have these problems? Any suggestions???
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lili on
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Do you have a new Paradigm? Have you tried the Sure-Ts? You can get samples from MM. I absolutely love them. Plus you can move it.
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Permalink Reply by KellyDH on
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Yup, I have the latest Paradigm...it's not the pump that's the problem.
What are Sure-Ts?
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I asked which pump because that (generally) affects which sets you can use.
These are the Sure-Ts (sorry, you can't link to anything on MM's US website, apparently).
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Permalink Reply by Dan on -
I wear mine for 4-5 days as well. I HATE putting in new ones, so I procrastinate as long as I can. Doesn't seem to be changing my levels, so no biggie.
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Have you tried inserting the Sofset right through an IV-3000 or Tegaderm, btw? Sometimes that works for allergies.
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Permalink Reply by Karen on -
I love the quick sets and have only had two bent cannulas in four years of pumping.
I start off with IV Prep, the IV 3000 and then the quickset, and bling, I am good to go. The IV 3000 really helps with the quickset as it adheres better to it and it keeps the cannula from moving around once inserted.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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I started out using Quick-Sets but after a few months I had constant bent cannulas and no delivery alarms. I finally switched to the Silhouettes, which terrified me at first. I have had very few problems with them and I've been using them for the last 1 1/2 years.
I agree with the person who suggested trying the Sure-T's. They have a metal cannula that goes straight in like a Quick-Set, but the needle is tiny. It can't kink. They're made for kids and usually work well for thin adults. The only thing I don't like is that they have two adhesive pads. One for the cannula, which is extremely flat, and another for the hub. The hub & cannula are connected with a short length of tubing, and you attach your pump tubing to the hub. It's the same adhesive as the Quick-Sets & Silhouettes.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Curtis on -
I think you should give the sure t a try. Too bad they don't make them with longer tubing...hopefully one day they will. I have suggested it to my rep. We find, on Westin, that he heals much faster with these. Also, no bent canula. We love them! For years we dealt with set problems, thinking it was normal to change a set 95% of the time due to failure! Imagine! Now it is the opposite. Plus, they are super easy to put in, no inserter, no needle to remove, no additional priming. Just fill it, pop it and go!
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I use mine with the longer tubing from the Sils. It does cost more, though.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Curtis on
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Good idea!
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Permalink Reply by Melanie on -
I have been pumping since Spring 2007 and could use the Quick-set inserters for some time, then I too, had the bent canulas with no delivery. So MM suggested I try the Sils. Which I did but that inserter was scary at first. The Quick set inserter was easy on the eyes and didn't hurt. You have to get used to the Sil Inserter. I call it my crack gun! Anyway, they had told me since I was on the thinner side that I may have to go to the Sure T's if the Sils didn't work. Then I was reading your post at the ease of their use and now I'm thinking of calling and getting a few samples. But question, do you manually insert? Or can you set it up with the Quick Set Inserter? Appreciate your help!
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There is no inserter for the Sure-Ts, but they're a breeze to insert manually. The metal needle is very short, much shorter than the insulin syringes & pen needles I used on MDI. There are little plastic "wings" that you hold and then you just slap it into your skin. Since it's metal it won't bend so you're pretty much guaranteed to get it in on the first try. It is just as simple as giving an injection.
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