If you use an insulin pump, when a pump site does not last the full amount of time it is supposed to last, do you contact customer service for replacement supplies?

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- 4 hours, 14 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Only "illness" that makes it really difficult to control my blood sugar is getting steroid injections into my cervical spine or fingers. I leave my basal rate on my pump at 250% and need much higher bolus doses and many "extra" doses if my blood sugar remains really high. I tell the MD's that it turns my insulin into tap water and try to avoid it, experience with having gotten these injections over the past few years has helped, but having blood sugars of 400-500 despite much higher basal and bolus dosing is so frustrating!
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
  
  AnitaS has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  When I had surgery last year and couldn't exercise for a few months, my time-in-range was very good. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been as exercise is one of the things that make my diabetes harder to keep under control. During recovery, I didn't have the ups-n-downs in blood sugar that I usually have when I exercise.
- 5 hours, 21 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
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- 5 hours, 21 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Tests New Insulin Program
  How can I get on the Mark Cuban test program ?
- 5 hours, 21 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Tests New Insulin Program
  How can I get on the Mark Cuban test program ?
- 5 hours, 21 minutes ago
  
  Randell Cole has commented in the same post you commented in :
  Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Tests New Insulin Program
  How can I get on the Mark Cuban test program ?
Clear All

If you use an insulin pump, when a pump site does not last the full amount of time it is supposed to last, do you contact customer service for replacement supplies?

How would you go about finding a new T1D healthcare provider if you moved to a new location? Select all that apply.

Sarah Howard

33 Comments

Molly Jones

I chose other as sometimes seemed too often.
I would only contact the company if there seems to be something wrong with the pump they need to be aware of or an issue they could possibly explain to me.
This has not happened very often, in my memory.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
dave hedeen

Question doesn’t appear correct? Pump site hence infusion set, never yet CGM often doesn’t last full 7 days

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Kristen Clifford

As long as I have backups, I just put on a new site.

3

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Lawrence S.

No, I have never contacted customer services for replacement of a canula or tubing. I have enough of those supplies to get me through. I do call for failed CGM sensors and transmitters.

3

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Ron Pierce

Yes, Medtronic makes this process quick and easy.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Gary Taylor

If the canula is inserted correctly, i.e. it doesn’t get bent by scars, then it always lasts the full three days. If the canula gets bent, then it’s my problem and I just replace it without calling support services.

3

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Andrew Stewart

When I used the Omnipod system and I had issue I would always call but now that I’m using the Tandem system, I just replace the infusion set as I have a large surplus.
#BeWell

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Mig Vascos

At times I have to replace the infusion site because of absorbing problems, so I always have more supplies of cartridges and syringes than of infusion sets.
I call Tandem at times and explain the situation of which they take many notes and they send me an extra box of 10 sets.
I have try to get my NP to write a prescription to address this situation and she said she can’t. Tried CCS when I order my supplies to send me 4 boxes of infusion sets and 2 of the cartridges and they say they can’t. So it seems there’s no solution to the problem.

1

2 months ago Log in to Reply
1. Robert Brooks
  
  You hit the nail on the head. Although Tandem calls the infusion sets good for 2-3 days, the insurance company or Medicare dictate the quantity you may receive. I have managed to get a box of infusion sets as an extra once, but it required a doctor’s approval and was of a different type than normal (Soft-Set vs True Steel), so it may have been approved on the basis of trying something different.
  
  2 months ago Log in to Reply
Ms Cris

If just several hours, no. But if 12 hours or more, yes. If there’s a kink in the canula, always. This has led to a new prescription to change every 1-2 days depending on the body area and type of infusion set. It’s annoying, but at least my BG is better controlled.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Liz Avery

I marked sometimes. I generally do not call for infusion sets or reservoirs as I have a few extra. I always call for CGM (sensors) sets as Medicare has a throttle on these supplies.

3

2 months ago Log in to Reply
1. Trina Blake
  
  My insurance has the same thing – I get 3 months worth (9 sensors) and they don’t seem to rec ognize that some months have 31 days or that on occasion a sensor doesn’t last. Once a year, I purchase a box of 3 sensors retail (using GoodRx) so I have a stash.
  
  2 months ago Log in to Reply
2. Lawrence S.
  
  Trina,
  When my sensor fails I call Dexcom for technical assistance. They replace the sensors free of charge.
  
  2 months ago Log in to Reply
George Lovelace

I Chose “Other” as I went to changing the Site every 2 days, been pumping for 24 years Best of Bgs to All!

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Trina Blake

Years ago I had a problem, the sticky pad seemed faulty. It took several tries, I opened a new box. I called Tandem for that situation. Provided the batch number etc and they replaced them. They also sent a return packaging so I cold send the unopned sets back to them to review.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Maggie Morgan

I often have my sensors last longer than 3 days so I’ve built up a stash. That way if one rips out early I don’t have to deal with replacing it.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Lynn Smith

I put Other. It depends on why it did not last. If my pod falls off or quits working for no apparent reason, especially during the first 2 days of use, I usually call. If my blood sugars are running higher on the third day of use, I just do bolus corrections and live with it until the three days is up.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Patricia Kilwein

If I have to change a pump site early, it’s probably because of scar tissue. No one’s fault. If I am running low on supplies I contact my endo Dr to ask for an increase in my prescription. Takes a bit of time to process but always works out.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Marty

I now get enough supplies to change sites every two days when a site seems to be wearing out before the 3rd day. My endo was more than happy to prescribe 45 sets/90 days. I was told initially by my supplier that Medicare wouldn’t cover the “extra” sets so I asked them to increase the amount of insulin they shipped so I could use 2x insulin on the 3rd day. Somehow, the “extra” sets got “approved”. Now I get as many as I need.

1

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Janis Senungetuk

Insurance also;utely limits quantity of all DME. If I need to replace the infusion set before 3 days for any reason not resulting from my error I call Tandem for a replacement. Fortunately I haven’t needed to do that often.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Joan Fray

Nope. I figure it is just part of the whole ( wretched) deal and change the site. I have Kaiser so I pay 20% of supplies

1

2 months ago Log in to Reply
KarenM6

I don’t unless it is obviously a technical issue with the pump.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Louise Robinson

Being on Medicare, I am only shipped the exact amount of supplies needed to last 30 (CGM sensors) or 90 days (CGM Transmitter and pump supplies). If I did not call customer service for replacements when they do not last the full alloted time, I would run out and have to resort to MDI.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Pauline M Reynolds

I am not clear on this point. While my infusion sets last 4 days, I have more than once accidentally pulled it out beforehand.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Becky Hertz

When I used the plastic cannula and they failed, I would contact customer support. I had so many “failed” sites it was obvious it was me. I switched to TruSteel and now if my site fails ( me again) I just move the insertion set to another place.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Jillmarie61

I recently switched to OmniPod5 and they don’t replace the pods.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
1. ELYSSE HELLER
  
  I was recently put on Omnipod 5 so I appreciate your answer. Do you have any idea why we have to go Through Byram to get the Omnipod 5 and why we are only allowed to get a 1 month supply. Is it because of an insurance policy? I hope that once the Omnipod 5 is not the newest rage in terms of insulin delivery technology that this annoying stipulation will no longer appy.
  
  1
  
  2 months ago Log in to Reply
2. Jillmarie61
  
  ELYSSE HELLER, I don’t know who you have your insurance thru, but I do know mine isn’t the same as yours because of what you’re saying. I don’t have to go thru Byram to get refills of my pods, nor do I only get a one month supply. I get three months at a time. Those issues are with your insurance company and/or doctor.
  
  It might be your doctor has only written the prescription for a one month supply, but you might call them to ask why and I would also ask your doctor to write the prescription for three months of supplies if he hasn’t.
  
  I can tell you that OmniPod5 does not fall under DME benefits in CA where I live (I don know if it’s that way everywhere). It is ordered and goes thru pharmacy benefits here. I can order refills when my supply runs low depending on if I need them from my pharmacy.
  
  Since the Pods only carry 200U of insulin, it works out perfectly for me. I usually take the Pod off within a few hours after the time runs out (it will work up to an additional 8 hours) depending how much insulin is left in it . When I take it off I can pull out any insulin left in the Pod, and use it in the next one.
  
  2 months ago Log in to Reply
LizB

My prescription is written to change every 2-3 days so I get enough every 90 days to be able to change early if needed so I never call.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
AnitaS

I had quite a few soft cannulas get bent in my first 3 months of using a pump. I then switched to a steel cannula and have never had a problem since.

2 months ago Log in to Reply
Mike Plante

I absolutely dread calling Omnipod for a pod replacement. It always takes so long and the customer representative is usually clueless and difficult to understand. Last time I had to explain to them what an MRI was and why I had to remove my pod to get one done.

I hope they introduce an online replacement form like Dexcom has.

1

2 months ago Log in to Reply
T1D4LongTime

I have not up to this point. I don’t think Tandem has a Chat or online request form and I don’t have time in the day to sit on hold. For the most part, if they last at least 2 days I consider it ok. Other times, I just inject fast acting insulin and go on with my day until I’ve reached day 3. Insurance and DME rules and time to make the request stresses me more than figuring out my own solution to keep BG in control,

1 month ago Log in to Reply
Andrea Hultman

Medtronic doesn’t offer this service for infusion sites. Only for CGM sensors.

3 weeks ago Log in to Reply