Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by JaninaWalker on January 13, 2011 at 4:27pm

Well I am glad you clarified that about the PUMP...as I am not on one yet and just in the deciding stage, where I have to attend 7 seminars and I'm reading the Walsh book. But in my Lantus solostar disposable injector pen there is a plastic plunger that pushes the insulin forward. And the effect I have had of needing more insulin nearer to the plunger is evident to me.
So my plan is to get the 3ml vials of glass and just use them with a syringe. I can't afford to throw out three more already puchased cartirdge pens so I have to wait. I feel so much better even when I take NO insulin and starve all day and take correcting doses of Humalog, so I know the Lantus is poisoned by the plastic.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly WPA on January 13, 2011 at 4:34pm

I have a friend that uses Lantus in the glass vials. She is having a problem with it breaking down after 2 weeks.

I recently started having a problem with Apidra - both Lantus and Apidra are made by the same company. Someone used a search term "problems with Apidra" to land on my blog - not sure why because I never wrote about Apidra problems. I decided to Google it and I found another blogger that wrote about her Apidra breaking down after 10 days. That is about when 2 vials I had died.

It might be an insulin problem that has nothing to do with the pen!

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Permalink Reply by Kelly WPA on January 13, 2011 at 4:32pm

When I Googled Polyfin Infusion Sets, it came up with MM stuff. That might be true for Minimed, but the Animas Clinical Manager told me that with their sets, insulin does break down after 2 days and they recommend changing them at 2 days. That also might be the reason they only make smaller cartridges.

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Permalink Reply by carolyne hart on January 13, 2011 at 5:10pm

Aha moment. Yes, Janina, I realized, without realizing it, that temperature may be playing a role and filled the reservoir for my pump with insulin right out of the fridge instead of following my usual protocol of letting it come to room temperature in order to
have fewer bubbles. Perhaps the temperature variations that the insulin goes through are impacting the outcome. Thanks for the information. I really feel confident that it is a degraded insulin. All facts lead to a fairly obvious conclusion. I'll keep experimenting and let you know. I appreciate your dedication to doing the research.

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Permalink Reply by JaninaWalker on January 13, 2011 at 6:23pm

Thanks for both Kelly, yes my first problem happened before I switched to the Solostar, when I was using the 10ml vial format that I've used for 5 years. I always knew I was using it beyond 28 days but I kept it in the fridge in a juice sized tiny glass on the door shelf...one each for Lantus and Humalog and I place the syringe beside them and keep using the same syringe even more than 60 times, but have had no problem for 29 years.
When I complained once on a 10ml vial it had seemed to not be good within just a few days, so they replaced it. I then got a vial that did last fine for 2.5 months as usual, but then I decided to go with 5x3ml and they last me 2-3 weeks each, so I am within the 28 day warranty.
I plan to take a longer time to decide on a pump and try the Lantus in 3ml size but also keep it in the fridge...I am certain that is the difference that I used in the past 5 years. It means just take it out long enough for the injection and put it right back so there's little temp change.
And thanks Carolyne for asking the question because I may have already asked it in a different group, but got no feedback, or maybe I forgot to put it up,...I'm just active on this site for 6 weeks although I did join in July. So I am a newbie on using the site.

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Permalink Reply by Trudy on January 14, 2011 at 8:09am

Janina, my experience is with the Mini Med pumps, which I wear part time. I use the Sure-T infusion set, which has a metal needle. The Sure-T instructions say to change the set every two days, and I assume that means also the plastic cartridge which holds the insulin. With a good site, I have had no insulin problems traceable to the insulin in the cartridge following those directions.

Like most people, I've done a little experimenting: I have changed the needle part of the set, but reused the cartridge with leftover insulin for another site. When I have done that, I start running a high BG at 1 1/2 days (total of 3 1/2 days for the cartridge/insulin). If you follow the directions on a Mini Med (can't speak for any other pump) and change the infusion set and cartridge every two days, there should be no problem with the plastic cartridge.

Sometimes you can arrange with your doctor, CDE or pump reps. to try different pumps and sets before deciding on one or none. Like many others, I think a pump is great when everything is working well and am grateful to have one. Good luck.

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