How often do you change your insulin cartridge (reservoir)?

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Permalink Reply by Hector Gonzalez on May 3, 2009 at 5:54pm

Every 5 - 6 days, I change every thing, just pull the reservioir full (300U) and start counting mean time keep in use vials on the refrigerator and just put the vials out in order to achive room temperature the day before next catheheter change. Its very importand to avoid direct sun ligth at the pump special the insulin on it . good look !!

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Permalink Reply by Cathy on May 26, 2009 at 8:57am

Well I do not change my tubing and cartridge at the same time because I change my cartridge every 21 hours. Yep that is right. So I change my tubing every 3 days unless something happens to it. Lately I have found blood around the sticky adhesive so I usually change it when that happens. Glad I am not on a pod. I would be changing the whole thing out every 21 hours.

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Permalink Reply by Larry LeFeber on June 18, 2009 at 6:23pm

I change my reservoir about every three days, whenever it runs out, but I then fill a new reservoir and connect it to my already-hooked-up infusion set. This is mostly a financial decision, since infusion sets cost much more per unit than reservoirs. Back in February 2009 I was using an average of 160 units of insulin per day. In order to help prevent myself from falling into the medicare coverage gap early in the year, I set a weight loss goal based on insulin units. Since the middle of February, I have maintained a daily insulin use average of 80 units. For the past month, the average has been closer to 75 units. I have definitely lost better than 20 pounds, and I find that this method of weight loss for me is an easy system to use for not just a quick fix to a weight problem, but also for weight maintenance. It has worked well for me. I can't profess that it will work for everyone, but my Paradigm 722 "Daily Totals/Averages" under Utilities has come in mighty handy. I refer to it many times throughout the day..

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Permalink Reply by Gina on July 10, 2009 at 9:32pm

Good for you Larry!!!

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Permalink Reply by Katherine Boyd on July 7, 2009 at 8:23am

I don't change at the same time, but I probably waste more batteries that way, from having to rewind the pump to add insulin, and rewind the pump to put on new tubing and cannula. It is interesting what your educator said about the particles of plastic diminishing the quality of your insulin. I wonder if that is true for me? I haven't written down blood sugars in years (because I'm the world's second worst diabetic) so I haven't noticed any trends, but my MiniMed educator rep woman told me if I wanted to save money, I could use the same resevoir over and over again. And I do, because I'm poor and I owe minimed too much money. I am very interested now in finding out if that is why my numbers run higher somedays for seemingly no reason. Thanks for the tip. Oh, I usually go three days before my site gets ripped out dramatically by some drawer pull or belt loop, or the edges peel up so far I risk infection at the cannula site. -=)

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Permalink Reply by Andy Barnes on July 9, 2009 at 7:33pm

I change mine between 3 and 5 days. I put 180 units to start and when I hit a low reservoir I change my siteandtubing and reservoir. most of the time I get about 31/2 days out of a site change. Sometines I have to change my site because of pain from the niddle but not very offen. i am using the MM722 ant the Sure-T infussion set. I love it much better than the ones with the plastic insursion site. Do not have any problem with it crimping under the skin.
The best advise I can give on this is to expermint and go with what works best for you. That is one thing I have learned we all react differently.

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Permalink Reply by Gina on July 10, 2009 at 9:31pm

Thanks Andy ;)

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Permalink Reply by Mike Ratrie on July 20, 2009 at 11:51am

-Do you change you infusion set, reservoir and tubing at the same time?
No - I only change the infusion set every 2 - 4 days
-If not, how often do you change your reservoir?
every 9 - 10 days
-What is your pump's brand?
Accu-Chek Spirit

This has been pretty interesting reading since I thought most people did what I do.

I mostly change my infusion set every 2 days, but sometimes forget since I don't pay much attention to the calendar these days.

On the cartridge, I start paying really close attention to my BG numbers when I beyond about day 7 because ONCE (and only once) the insulin lost potency around day 9 after being in the hot sun.

Now that's probably not too honest since we live on a boat and always try to be where it is warm/hot, so I ALWAYS have to be careful about keeping the pump in a place that's too hot when we go snorkeling or diving.

Oh yeah...I agree with Andy and that guy called Bennet on YMDV (Bennet says that Your Diabetes May Vary), and the more I read others posts/blogs etc the more I realize it is true.

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Permalink Reply by Brunetta on August 1, 2009 at 2:12am

I use quick sets. I change the resevor and infusion set, generally, at the same time. I,usually can go about 3 31/2 days.. I get less absorption after that time, into 4 days. I really do not think the insulin in the resevoir degrades, but my sites seem to "close up" around day 3 1/2 to 4, so I change out at 4 days, MAX. usually I change at day 3 1/2.

When various site problems happen:set rips out, a kink, bent cannula, soreness and pain at the site, blood in the cannula or site::I only change the infusion set and keep the same relatively full resevoir. I can "eyeball" the resevoir to see how many days I have left with the amount in it.

God Bless,
Brunetta

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Permalink Reply by Gina on August 7, 2009 at 10:55am

I agree with you Mike, it's really interesting!

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Permalink Reply by Leticia on August 27, 2009 at 5:18am

I use the MM722 300u in reservoir. I change the reservoir every 2 to 3 days and the infusion set every 4 to 6 days. I use 2 reservoirs to 1 infusion set. The infusion set i use is the quick set 9mm . Until i joined this web site i did'nt know there were so many other options. i just joined at the end of june but i have allready learned so much. There is nothing like talking with other people experiencing the same thing as you. My Dr and educator can tell me all day long what they think due to what they have learned thru books but only another diabetic can truely tell me what it feels like. I love this place...LOL

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Permalink Reply by Anna Kiff (FatCatAnna) on October 5, 2009 at 8:15pm

Do you change you infusion set, reservoir and tubing at the same time? Yes, but I reuse the cartridge (see answer below)
-If not, how often do you change your reservoir? Reuse the reservoir 5 times (every 15 days) Only keep enough insulin in reservoir for 3 days use - average about 90 units every 3 days - any spare left after 3 days - I reuse for the next "fill up".
-How many days in between the changes? Change every 3 days - have gone to 5 when I was a newbie (only pumping since Oct 2007) - but don't want scarring/obsorption probs to occur - not worth the risk of infection as well - Tudiabetes members have taught me well LOL!
-What is your pump's brand? Animas 2020 - best thing since sliced bread

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