New to pumping
Howdy all,
I have been lurking for a bit and would like to get a bit of advice. I am
about 10 days into using a pump. I chose the diesetronic (sp) and am happy
with it but I am NOT happy with the tenders infusion set. I am not good
with fast input and they hurt if you push them in slowly.
I cannot find the IV Prep and Skin Prep that I am supposed to use. Can
anyone point me in the direction of where I can get them?
Catie
March 19th, 2003 at 8:05 am
Hello Catie,
Have you tried a medical supply place, most pharmacies do not carry pump
supplies. As far as the sets call up Disetronic and MiniMed ask them for
some samples of their sets to find out which one you might be comfortable
with. I believe both companies sets can be used in either pump. I believe
both companies do sell IV preps also. I had a problem when I first started
pumping with the Minimed Soft set and now use the tender set but other
people love the soft set and Minimed does sell an insertor for easier
insertion of the soft set. You may want to ask a member of your diabetic
health team about them and contact Minimed.
Good Luck
March 19th, 2003 at 12:01 pm
Hi Catie.. Here is one little trick that you can use to stop it from
hurting when you insert the set.. get about 3-4 ice cubes and put
them in a zip lock bag and hold them over the site for about 1-2
minutes or until it gets numbed up.. after that i insert slowly and
don’t even feel it.. hope this helps
March 20th, 2003 at 12:20 am
Never tried that Brian
I tried Emla cream but it is very expensive
cream.
March 20th, 2003 at 4:16 am
I just learned it a few weeks ago from the Insulin-Pumpers Group
March 20th, 2003 at 2:39 pm
Catie,
I probably am repeating myself from recent posts, but thought I would mention
again that I find the bent needle far superior to any of the fancy so-called
painless sets. The bent needle has many advantages:
1. Much less expensive than the Soft Set and others
2. Simple to insert; held in place by tape (I can change sets in 1/2 the time
it took with the Soft Set).
3. No complicated accessories required for installation
4. If it slips out, you can often re-install it and not lose the set (this is
not recommended by the vendor, but I have done this without difficulty a
number of times).
5. No more pain to install than a soft set.
6. No pain at all after installing
Only down side I have heard is the squeamishness associated with having a needle
in you all the time. It took me two years of struggle with the soft set to
finally try the bent needle, and I am very happy that I did. My CDE/nurse
educator at UCSF that taught me pump usage was also a diabetic, and used the
bent needle by choice; she has been using pumps since 1980 or so. I have been
using a pump since 1990, and the bent needle since 1993.
David
Frank wrote:
March 20th, 2003 at 8:31 pm
one bad thing about bent needles is it seems to cause more
irritation in some individuals more than in others and some seem to
get infected more often.. and one other thing i find true about steel
needles is that they don’t last as long as the teflon needles…
don’t get me wrong they are all good i often switch between steel
and teflon needles just for the change..
March 21st, 2003 at 8:51 am
That is fine David, there are always new people to the list and we all find
the information that you provide useful. I know that were are many Pump
users who love the Bent Needle, and it does not hurt to try out a new set.
Minimed and Disetronic do not mind sending out some samples, just ask them
and they will be happy to send them.
To all the members have a Happy And Safe 4th Of July!
March 21st, 2003 at 3:02 pm
Certainly could be true, but I have never had any of the cited problems…no
infections, no pain, no limited use. Not so with the alternatives….
David
Brian Carter wrote:
March 21st, 2003 at 11:10 pm
Frank,
I used the Soft Set and others for several years, with very spotty results.
The worst problem: I didn’t know the thing was failing until the BG hit 500 2
hrs after changing the set!
David
Frank wrote:
March 24th, 2003 at 12:51 am
Hi Frank & Brian:
stretching the skin to make it a little tighter works well too to keep it
from hurting when inserting. When I teach our nurses how to start IVs,
that’s one of the tricks I pass on….reducing the pain is the most important
in all of this…Joan:)
March 24th, 2003 at 5:48 am
yup this is one thing i have always done but never even realized
that i did it…
March 24th, 2003 at 9:32 pm
Brian/Joan How do you do That??
I’m squeezing the skin into a bump and stickin it in, if I hit a nerve I
just move to another site a 1/4
" away
fp
yup this is one thing i have always done but never even realized
that i did it…
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March 26th, 2003 at 1:37 am
ok, depending upon how much body fat you have—if you are thin with little
work tomorrow 
Joan
subcutaneous fat, bunch up —remember the cereal commercial for pinching an
inch? a bit more than than if you can manage. If you’re chunky, like me, and
use the sof-setter, you can flatten the skin by stretching it between two
fingers sort of like a "v"….the needle can’t make your skin bunch ahead of
it and cause more pain, can cause less because less nerve endings are exposed
to the irritant - that wonderful needle! I’d draw a picture, but don’t know
how to send it to ya, so use that imagination! nite