Reviewing Set Insertion Technique (or old dogs and new tricks)
I had a hard time getting used to inserting infusion sets when I started using my Ping in 1/11. I sat down and slowly followed the directions line by line for weeks. I don't have the best hand-eye coordination in the world! Gradually I got more comfortable and now just do it, no instructions needed.
So 16 months in I was frustrated yet again this morning by another bent canula. I have often felt I lose too many sets. I know it's possible to develop a bad habit and just keep doing it. So I decided to take the instructions and go over them again to see if I could perfect my technique. I use the Inset 30s. So I read the instructions and when I got to the actual insertion part it said "place your index finger on the top release button and your thumb on the bottom release button." "bottom release button?" What bottom release button!. I had just been putting my thumb and third finger on the side indentations and using my index finger on the top release button. Which when I looked at it is a pretty awkward position! So now we'll see if the correct way makes a significant difference. So I wanted to suggest this periodic review of technique to others.
On this topic, though, I'm curious as to what percentage of sets people have fail on them over time. I asked this question once in my Type 1 Women's Group and one woman said "5%". I was astonished at how low that seemed. So what about you, (whichever type you use). What is the approximate percentage of sets you have fail from any cause?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by t.clayton on -
Well, I use the Inset 30 as well been pumping a little over a year with maybe 5-6 failures, so 5% seems right. Usual location of bad sites are on my upper buttocks, moving around in my sleep tends to stretch the skin around the cannula causing bleeding around and sometimes in the cannula, so I will change it early then. One time I hit a blood vessel and had blood fill the cannula as soon as I withdrew the inserter and changed immediately then as well.
-
Permalink Reply by Zoe on -
Five or 6 failures in over a year??? Yikes! I'm definitely doing something wrong. I look forward to seeing if my procedure correction helps!
-
Permalink Reply by JohnG on -
Change to a set that is inserted at a angle by hand and your troubles will disappear...;-)
-
Permalink Reply by JohnG on
-
I had two no delivery's in 2008 and experience some set fade (poor absorption) three or four times a year and change a set early...no big deal
I use 6mm QuickSets on my arms and 13mm Sill's on the rest of my body.
-
Permalink Reply by Kim on -
I have been using a Medtronic pump and Silhouette canula set since September 2008. I have not had any set failures, although I have pulled 3 or 4 out on my kitchen drawer knobs in the 3-1/2+ years.
-
Permalink Reply by Zoe on
-
Wow! I have at least 3 or 4 a month! When that girl said 5% I should have listened! Kim, is that canula also an inserted by hand one? If you both recommend that I would get Animas' version. Though I am definitely going to see if my corrected technique works before I try to learn a whole new thing (that a lot of people reported being too hard for them!)
-
Permalink Reply by Kim on
-
I inserted them by hand for about the first year, but then it got really uncomfortable and I started using the "Sil-serter" that came with my pump. The inserter for me is more comfortable, and a little easier.
-
Permalink Reply by karen on -
I also use a Medtronic pump and don't have site failures. My sets are SofSets and I rarely have a kinked or bent canula (if I had to count I'd say 3 or 4 total). I insert my sets manually because when I started pumping there was no such thing as an inserter device. I would try without the device and see if that works better.
-
Permalink Reply by Zoe on
-
Thanks, Karen. I am definitely seeing I have been accepting as normal a ridiculously high rate of set failures! I'm going to see if my improved technique helps and also ask for a sample of Comforts from Animas to see if I can do that. Wow, to have my site last 4 days nearly all the time sounds like bliss!
-
Permalink Reply by Annabella on -
What exactly do you mean by set failures?
There's insertion failure where the insertion process doesn't work or the set just looks wrong. I've probably had a couple of those over the last year, with Insets on my hip. Once the inserter collapased the other time the canula just didn't go in.
Then there are the cases where I change early because BGs just aren't reacting properly or the set hurts or one sees blood, I call that a bad site rather than a bad set. I've probably changed out early 4 or 5 times in the last year. I usually leave a set in for 4 days.
I agree with JohnG manual insertion of an angled set has fewer failures, but I can still get it in at too deep an angle.
I use Insets, Inset30s or Comfort Shorts.
In 5+ years I've never had what I would describe as a bent canula, I'm not quite sure what people mean by this.
-
Permalink Reply by Zoe on
-
Wow, again! When I say set failures I include all the possible snafus: insertion doesn't work, I can see through the window on the inset-30 it isn't in right or there is blood, the set hurts or BG's are not reacting properly which would include absorption problems. When I have a bent canula I can see only the teeniest little bit of it through the window and when I pull it out it's bent down at a sharp angle.
Again with the "4 or 5 times in the last year". Yikes! LOL. I like to leave it in 4 days too and haven't experienced any of the degradation of insulin people report after 3, but I rarely keep a set long enough to do that (sometimes through set problems and sometimes because I just didn't put enough insulin in)
I am soooo glad I posted this. If anyone has any other suggestions as to how to prevent problems, bring them on! I can't be the only person with sucky hand eye coordination. The other day I was thinking I really can't afford to be on a pump (after I paid the $500 deductable for supplies). But I still - despite these problems - love it too much to go back
-
Permalink Reply by JohnG on
-
The Comfort™ is the same as the MM Silhouette, Unomedical makes both sets.
Comfort™ Short Infusion Set
https://estore.animascorp.com/ProductDetail.aspx?groupid=77&top...
Advertisement
REsources
Groups
From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...
Congratulations Diabetes Advocates Scholarship Recipients!
The Diabetes Hands Foundation and Diabetes Advocates Program is proud to announce and congratulate the members of DA who were granted scholarships to attend diabetes conferences in 2013! Thanks to a generous grant from Novo Nordisk, in 2013 we were …Continue Reading
La Familia de EsTuDiabetes Sigue Creciendo
El Centro Nacional de Prevención de Enfermedades Crónicas y Promoción de la Salud en el Estados Unidos encontró que a partir de 2002-2009, el 11,8% de los hispanos mayores de 20 años, que viven en los EU, viven con diabetes …Continue Reading
TuDiabetes Team
DHF STAFF
 Manny Hernandez(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)
|
DHF VOLUNTEERS
Lead Administrator
 Bradford (has type 1) |
Administrators
 Lorraine (mother of type 1) |
 Marie B (has type 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook
Spread the word
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
© 2013 A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
