Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
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If you wear an insulin pump, how do you decide how much insulin to fill it with during a site change? Cancel reply
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I put about 240 units in the pump. it takes about 20 units to fill the tubing and I run it until the ALARM tells me I need to refill it, usually, 3-4 units left. I wear my sites for about four days.
I fill the reservoir completely and keep using it until it is empty, but I change the set every 3 days.
I fill with same amount, approx. 120 units for a 72 kg retired person changing out every 3-1/2 days. How anyone plans for the next 3 days is unfathomable to me. The difference between plans and real life is that with plans we can set the parameters as if they are known. In real life, these parameters are as clear as mud. ✍( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛) ( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)👎
I put the same amount in my pod every time. It is enough for 80 hours which is the maximum lifespan of a pod. If there is some left in it I don’t stress about it. If it gets low at the end I will bolus with a pen instead of changing it early.
My pods require 80 units to work. I usually put in 85 to 95. Normally, that lasts 3 days easily. There are exceptions when I use more, usually holidays, but I have never totally run out. I think my lowest was about 7 units left when I changed it. I think I’m on year 8 of a late onset of Type 1. I have had to increase my carb ratio a bit once, but so far, I am still pretty sensitive to the insulin.
I’m with Liz B, fill Medtronic full and change site every 2.5 days. Insulin is fine, saves insulin in tubing and time!
My Medtronic pump reservoir holds 300 units which I fill to the max each time. Based on my typical usage this lasts me from 4 to 4-1/2 days. Occasionally it begins to lose its potency but if that happens I change it early.
I’m a Medtronic Minimed 670G user, and I was surprised at how many people fill their pump reservoirs with less than the max amount of insulin it will hold. Trying to match the amount of insulin in the reservoir to the amount of time you plan to keep a new cannula in place seems like a lot of extra work. And what if you have to change the cannula earlier than expected? Much easier to just fill up the reservoir and continue using it until it’s empty, plugging the tubing into new cannulas when you change them. In over 20 years of doing that, I’ve never had a problem.
I use 120 U a day so I have to max fill and then refill at day 2 to get to day 3.
My Tandem I fill with 2.75 ml. which lasts about 5 days. I never consider Site Change or Tubing Change, each part is changed when needed.
I fill my resivor to about 220 units. This gives me 5 complete draws from one vial. The problem with drawing the full 300 units is the left over after the 4th draw. What do we do with that?
I use to max fill every time. But now fill for normal 3 day requirements. After many years of wondering I am now sure that insulin in a pump loses potency quickly in the south Florida sun
Generally the same amount but with adjustments, such as whether I have or have not yet boluses from breakfast, or taking into account likely exercise or other physical activities. If I end up with too much, I delay my pump change by a 1/2 day and adjust the next fill upward a bit so that I stick as closely as possible to 3 days.
I use about 25 units per day, so I get just over 3 days. So I change every 3 to 3 1/2 days. But of course it depends on what I am eating. Some days need more insulin like pizza or burgers & fries!
I fill mine with the max amount (300). I do use quite a bit of insulin. It usually lasts 3-4 days, but as I use a steel needle I usually change my site after 2 days (out when my site starts hurting or not absorbing).
I try to squeeze every last drop out of that cartridge!
I fill my MiniMed 770G cartridge to capacity & just plug the same tubing into a new infusion set every few days. I use relatively little insulin so a 300 ml cartridge lasts 13 – 15 days. I’ve been doing it this way since I got my first insulin pump 25+ years ago. I live on Florida’s Gulf Coast and have never had a problem w/ insulin losing potency either from heat or hanging out in my pump for two weeks. For me, unexpected highs usually mean it’s time for a site change.
My endocrinologist mentioned a study that showed that by the third day in a pump resting against a 97.6-degree body, the insulin is about 23% less active than it is initially. This is a reason to load a cartridge with what you will use up in three or three and a half days.
Currently I don’t use a pump, but when I did I filled it with the maximum amount that the cartridge would hold.
Filling my cartridge is an independent task from changing my infusion site. When the current cartridge runs out, I start over with a full, new cartridge.
I liked Robert’s answer re: body temp. Mine is around 96, and I fill the “cartridge” a little above 1.5 which lasts me 3 and a half days. I KNOW I’m supposed to change it EVERY THREE DAYS, but I’ve let some activites get in the way of taking care of taking of me!!! I plan on recharging my battery on time!
I look at the next 3 to 4 days schedule and then decide how much to load. I prefer to change the Tandem cartridge along with the infusion site, although I could fill the entire cartridge and only change the infusion site. My preference is to change the cartridge at home so if I’m away from caregiving my sick relative, I load more to get through until I’m back home.