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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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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.
Question doesn’t appear correct? Pump site hence infusion set, never yet CGM often doesn’t last full 7 days
As long as I have backups, I just put on a new site.
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.
Yes, Medtronic makes this process quick and easy.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trina,
When my sensor fails I call Dexcom for technical assistance. They replace the sensors free of charge.
I Chose “Other” as I went to changing the Site every 2 days, been pumping for 24 years Best of Bgs to All!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
I don’t unless it is obviously a technical issue with the pump.
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.
I am not clear on this point. While my infusion sets last 4 days, I have more than once accidentally pulled it out beforehand.
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.
I recently switched to OmniPod5 and they don’t replace the pods.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
Medtronic doesn’t offer this service for infusion sites. Only for CGM sensors.