16 Comments
If you use an insulin pump, how many times in the past month have you had to change your pump site more than 24 hours before its session was over?
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Tough to answer because after 72 years of inserting things here and there in my body it’s tough to find new areas that work well. When I DO find a spot that works well I almost hate to change it so I’ve gone as long as 5 days. Often a tougher site just requires more insulin for the same foods. I am one of those skinny people (slender sounds better…LOL) so there’s not a lot of unused territory!
I know the feeling. Steel needle infusion sets are the way to go, if you aren’t already using them. Leaving the plastic cannulas in for too long will ruin the absorption areas you have left. Steel needle sets are not so scary after I started using them, and much more reliable!
Once. My pump fell off my waistband in the restroom, fell to the floor, and a yanked out my infusion site.
I’ve been using a pump for 18 months using Omnipod Dash. I’ve had one pump die during the setup process (a screamer) before I put it on, and had one become pretty loose (on a cruise, multiple times in pools/water fun areas/ocean), but it hung in there with some extra 1st aid tape (no over-patches with me). I sometimes shave the hairs off, more to limit painful removal (I’m a wimp!). I think it depends on the skin oils make-up and sweatiness and I’m lucky not to have the issue. I’ve nearly pulled one off once, but not actually succeeded!
What is a screamer? Is it just part of the Omni Pod Dash?
Once, only because the site was not working very well for me. When it’s good, I ride it until the cartridge runs out.
#BeWell
My pump, Tandem X2 has no sessions warnings. If you fill the cartridge to its maximum 300 units, it will run till the end. You the Pumper should change the cartridge every three days. However, they make it difficult if you are wearing a Sensor because the Sensor quits in ten days, so that is 3 1/3 day per secession. It’s one pain in the butt to have to wear the Sensor on one side and the Q set on the other side of your body.
That’s a loaded question. If you mean early because of site failure none. (Which I picked.) But if you mean changing it early because you go through 300 U in 2 days and they type of insulin you use will cause occlusion alarms if you refill and run past 2 days. Then every time.
By choice I’d rather replace the infusion set after 3 days than fill the insulin cartridge. I fill the Tandem cartridge with 250+ units and use it until there are less than 10 units left. Sometime I replace the infusion set every 3 days and sometimes, if there’s no irritation at the insertion site, I leave it until I run out of insulin.
Had first screamer dash pod. I woke up and was confused for awhile until I figured out what it was.
I have insulin resistance and absorption issues. My sites can crap out before 24 hours or be bad from the start. TruSteel sets help mitigate this as I can just move to another area without wasting an insertion set.
I had the same problem which was really dangerous and the steel needle sets were scary at first, but they are not so painful and what a difference they made in getting insulin into me!!
Interesting answers. I change my infusion set and cartridge every three days as a matter of course. Load the cartridge with 60 units and use aprox 16 units a day. I thought the insulin loses effectiveness after 3 or 4 days in the cartridge..?
I did once about a week ago because I put the infusion set in an area that sometimes just doesn’t absorb well. Luckily with a steel infusion set, I don’t waste an infusion set when I need to change the sight. I must say that having to change the site because of insulin not working well with a particular infusion site happens very infrequently.
None. Then again I don’t need that much insulin anymore, so my steel needle infusion sets may exceed the 2-day mark at times, because I have to load at least 80 units each time with my Tandem t:slim pump system, WHICH I LOVE!!! My total daily dose may be as low as 13-14 units or up to 25 units if my BG spikes.
I’m really not sure what is meant here by “changing a pump site more than 24 hours before its session was over.” Do you mean when the cartridge is empty? Or the three days of wear time for the infusion set? Or?? This question really isn’t clear.
For the cartridge/reservoir to empty, I usually use it for 4 – 5 days. For the infusion set, I have to change mine every 2 – 2 1/2 days, so sooner than the 3 day wear time. So again, it depends on what you mean!