40 Comments
Have you ever had an infected CGM site, insulin pump site, or insulin injection site? Select all that apply and explain in the comments.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
While no evidence of any infection needing medical care, a week of an adhesive tape/skin tak leaves a rash (CGM). As the infusion site is designed to change every 3 days (sometimes more frequent?) I’ve always tried to get the most time (initially due to costs, now that’s not an issue I want a reserve in case of a “zombie apocalypse:” shipping disruption).
Sometimes that leaves a “bump” and tenderness from the infusion site but nothing significant. Now with more than a month of each I do change more according to the device recommendation, otherwise no real issues.
The benefits of these devices definitely outweigh any discomfort.
Infected infusion site once in 25 years of pumping. Red, hot and swollen. Got almost as big as half a tennis balls. Antibiotics for 10 days and it almost disappeared after a few weeks. Happened with a flexible infusion set. Shortly after this I began using steel sets and haven’t had a problem.
I’ve only had one infected pump site which I believe was caused by not using an alcohol wipe.
I have skin breakdown from every pump site. I do use a skin barrier which helps but does not solve the issue
CGM: twice with G7 I had a huge red, inflamed bump that with antibiotic ointment took over a week to settle down, and the darker spot is still there.
Infusion site: I get reactions every time, have to change my site every 2 days or absorption is affected, rash, red bump, sometimes a bruise…
I wonder if your infusion site reactions are an allergy to the insulin you’re using, @Cristina?
Yes – sometimes bruises and irritations especially from removing the tape ( I also use skin prep to make sure they stay on)
Early on when I had my first insulin pump,many many years ago
My canula leaves itchy swollen injection sites at times.
No infections after 45,000 injections, several thousand inserts both pump & CGM.
But, there’s always a major but. Welts, black &blue lumps the height of Mt. Everest, hyperlipotrophy that should win an Olympic trophy, and rugged skin ugliness that looks like a WW1 uninhabitable landscape. Sigh!
my never infected skin looks the way you describe your own.
I’ve never had an “infection”. I used to get rashes, until I started using IV preps and skin barriers. Sometimes, I still get itchy when I don’t change my sites on schedule.
Before I started using a Barrier Wipe and Skintac I had a reaction on my skin with an Omnipod and 90 degree weather and Dexcom also because of intense weather.
Minor infection
I’ve not had issues with CGM sites, but occasionally, pump sites will hurt days after use with no visible skin or surface issues.
My infusion site irritations usually heal quickly. But CGM adhesives can take skin when peeled off, and sites in July & Aug can take weeks to entirely heal up and return to a normal color (where I feel safe to use them again). Luckily, it’s rare the rest of the year, only bad during unpleasant summer days.
Easy answer, No!
Just small bumps from time to time at my injection site.
I’ve never had an infection, but sometimes when I’ve put my cannula in at a bad angle, I’ll then pull out the infusion set at the end of a cycle to have it bleeding. Sometimes it bleeds worse than others.
Over many years I have had minor bleeding visible at insertion or as a bruise when I remove infusion set or CGM and their tape. I have had an occasional itchy site and scratching causes rash or welts. The worst thing this year was the switch to Dexcom G7. Their adhesive and supplied patch is useless and the tape I had to use over them and the patches I bought left gray marks on my upper arms for months on end. I switched to abdomen and patches are no problem at all.
I had a sensor site, that I thought was infected (red, warm to touch, swollen, Medtronic sensor fell off); seen by nurse educator and NP in endocrinologist office. No infection, just a severe allergic reaction to the actual metal part inserted into you. Steroids and antihistamines to resolve it.
No problem with CGM. The Omnipod DASH pump works fine most times, but occasionally insulin delivery is not effective before the 3 days elapsed. In such cases, I have to change the DASH and I find the site is swollen and the insertion point is left with a red spot. I don’t know if this is an infection or a skin reaction; anyway it heals quickly after DASH is removed.
I have had a mildly infected site where I can tell from the pain and blood sugar that something is wrong with my pump site. A few other times I have had very severe bruising from both my pump and my CGM site.
No infections, yet raised red area at site when CGM or infusion left in longer than 5 days for pump site & 8 days for CGM site
Mild irritations at pump infusion sites.
I’ve had some skin rashes with the adhesive. It’s weird cause it doesn’t happen all the time
I had an infected pump site that i didn’t get treated soon enough and ended up with a nasty abcess. I was admitted to the hospital and had an incision and drainage surgery. I had to stay in the hospital for five days on IV antibiotics.
I have never had an infected site or skin issues.
The only problem I have had is with the insertion site of CGM not having enough tissue to be comfortable. I cannot use my very small arms as the cannula causes too much pain.
If I inject my units too fast the area around the injection site turns blue. Like a bruise.
I’ve had red, puffy areas from my infusion site that weren’t infections. By the next day, the location of the infusion site looked fine.
I do not use CGM, too expensive in Ukraine
Yes. After 45 years of diabetes with never having had an infected site, it happened last month. I was saltwater fishing and there are a lot of bad bacteria in the sounds and marshes. I try to practice good hygiene when putting on a new pod, but apparently I screwed up.
1,000% absolutely did. Was one of the many, many reasons gladly walked away from the pump eventually. After endless infections, I finally said enough clowns… “acceptable” side-effect to you maybe, NEVER to me.
Contact dermatitis from Dexcom G6. Slight reactions from G7s and infusion sets (tolerable).
I use Omnipod and when I remove it the injection site is always swollen and itchy.
I am scatter-brained sometimes and I forgot to change my pump site on time and the spot got a bit infected,I just kept it clean and added a little neosporin to it and it healed up,I’ve had a few irritation spots,but nothing I couldn’t handle..I just try to keep the sites and areas clean,and I clean the areas I’ve just used as well..lol..if that makes sense..
Sensitivity to the tape/adhesive used with Medtronic devices. Tandem/dexom products no issues
I have had infections when I have tried to push a site for too long. More often, I have had skin sensitivity to the adhesives on my CGMs.
I have had raw itchy skin reaction from dexcom & omnipods in the past. It was awful. I have bery sensitive skin on the back of my arms & on my stomach.