Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on May 25, 2007 at 2:00am

Liz:
Hope you don't throw in the towel yet. Have you tried contacting the support # for the pump? The only time I've ever had a problem with mine (the infusion set was defective), I called them (this is Minimed I am talking about) and they were SUPER-fast in getting my situation solved, troubleshooting with me over the phone and helping me get back on track in no time.

In the end, they sent me packaging so I could send back the defective infusion set at no cost to me (for analysis) and they included along with the packaging a free replacement set.

Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Liz M on May 26, 2007 at 6:36pm

For the curious -

I spent a long time on the phone with Minimed today and it seems I may have an insulin absorption problem. Anyone else heard of this or have similar issues? The pump will work for 12-18 hrs and then it seems like I am not getting any basal and I have to double my boluses to get the desired effect. I'm going to take a pump break for a few days and then try a new site.

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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on May 27, 2007 at 4:16am

Is it possible some of the places where u were applying your infusion sets were very close to each other (same side of the abdomen, for instance)?

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Permalink Reply by Liz M on May 27, 2007 at 8:28pm

I find it very hard to believe - I went through about 7 infusion sets in as many days and they were all at least an inch away from each other and on different sides. I just restarted Lantus and am finally out of the clouds. I actually hit 500, which was terrifying. I will try again in a week or so but I just need to have some normalcy for a few days in a row.

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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on May 28, 2007 at 4:55am

WOA. Don't blame you. 500 is a lot. Best of luck as things get back to normal.

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Permalink Reply by Jen on July 10, 2007 at 9:10am

Have you tried different areas (arms, legs, hips) instead of your stomach? They might work better if you haven't.

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Permalink Reply by Bernard on June 7, 2007 at 5:04am

Yuk. I read your chat with Manny below.

That sounds terrible. Have you tried switching from your stomach to your back (less painful there also)?

Maybe you could try a different insertion set. What are you using right now?

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Permalink Reply by Liz M on June 10, 2007 at 10:52am

Hmmm, I can't think of where on my back I would put it....not my thickest spot. I get continuous no delivery alarms when I put it in my abdomen, so I always go for the love handle-y areas. Is that what you mean by back? I may try my thighs.... Part of the problem may be my refusal to use the "quickserter" spring-loaded torture device that comes with it. I always manually insert. I am just reaching my one year mark of having diabetes at all and have some needle control issues. I tried the sillouette(?) that is made for manual insertion but I did not like it going in at an angle. I have fairly good control with shots, I think. Which brings up a different question I have had for a while - what do you all consider good control? Other than the A1C, of course. When I check the seven day average on my accu-check, I feel like I have good control when it is under 135. What do you all shoot for?

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Permalink Reply by laura root on June 20, 2007 at 7:16am

hi liz,
what does your doctor have to say about your pump problems? if your pump is saying "no delivery," then i tend to doubt that it's an insulin absorption problem. plus, if shots work for you, i feel like that is more evidence that the pump might have a problem. i would say to check your insulin, but if shots work, then i am guessing that is not it.
i am approaching my one year pump anniversary, and i love it, but i have had some problems with infusion sets. (i started with the 9mm quick set, switched to the silhouette and hated it, and now i am using 6mm quick sets and love them.)
i guess i would maybe recommend meeting with a dr or nurse who you could see first-hand.
oh, and to answer your other question-- my control is so spotty that i tend to be okay with anything under 150. i go low constantly, so having really tight control is kind of hard for me.
good luck,
laura

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Permalink Reply by Debi J. on June 20, 2007 at 3:54pm

I can't say for certain, but I think that using the Quick Sets without using the Quickserter device might be a big issue. I have read that those sets just don't work (for whatever reason) manually inserted.

I have noticed problems sometimes as well (I use the torture device). What I've found is that I have zero problems when the set is placed above navel level. But below navel level (where I admittedly have quite a bit of abdominal fat) I constantly get no delivery, even though when I remove the set I can't visually see any problems. So now, for better or worse, I rotate only on the upper abdomen but with sites closer together so I can still fit a lot in.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Strumello on June 9, 2007 at 9:16pm

I tried pumping for 3 years, but ultimately returned to shots. The bottom line is that pumping can be great for some, but not necessarily everyone. My basal rates were very, very low, and changed very little all day, as a majority of my total daily dosage was bolus-related, but for people who have a larger percentage of their total daily dosage being delivered as basal insulin, then a pump is probably much better for them. I also had lipodystrophy issues every place I wore infusion sets (the insulin manufacturers say it doesn't happen with synthetic "human" insulin, but they are lying on that, studies in Europe have revealed its far more common than the FDA applications suggest), and found it took a loooong time for my subcutaneous tissue to heal after wearing an infusion set there. Everyone is unique, but don't feel like you have to continue pumping. I had pretty good control with shots, and found changing sets and priming the tubing to be far more cumbersome than simply replacing a cartridge in an insulin pen. I also hated being tethered to a pump 24/7, especially while sleeping (I tend to roll in my sleep, and found wearing a pump at night pretty uncomfortable). You've tried it, and you can always go back!!

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Permalink Reply by Sasha on June 20, 2007 at 12:09am

Liz,
I'm very sorry it doesn't work for you. I've just started on the pump myself, aslo MiniMed. I had a very similar problem in the first days. A solution that worked for me perfectly was the change in the type of the infusion sets. I switched from silhuette ones to the quick sets and the problem just disappeared.
I hope it will work out for you.

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