Comments on: Gail

By: norma_1400

norma_1400 — Tue, 11 May 2004 10:24:36 +0000

I was just 5 years when diagnosed and I don’t know what they had told my

parents as to how long I would live, but I do remember the doctor saying

to me that I would never be able to have children because I was a
diabetic and the children would never live.
But guess what? I proved them wrong. I had some problems and my
children were all born 41/2 weeks premature, but they are very healthy
and very much alive. I have 4 children, 2 boys and twin girls plus two
grand kids.
Kathy.

By: elmo_15

elmo_15 — Fri, 25 Apr 2003 06:26:06 +0000

David, interesting I never thot of reusing syringes, but…..why not!! Now
that you brought it to my attention. thanks
fp

By: kristan_180

kristan_180 — Sat, 12 Apr 2003 20:29:01 +0000

I agree totally with your remarks. However, many professionals tell me
privately that what I do is perfectly safe, but not for general consumption as
people can misinterpret things and make mistakes. I have never had a problem
and do not expect to, but I would never recommend any practice not publicly
approved to anyone. The endo at UCSF that I mentioned is a good example of
how
professionals actually behave when no one is really looking. I doubt that
Minimed would ever publicly suggest that you could reuse the tubing; they frown
on reusing the syringe as well, and I am not really sure if this is not just to
sell more of them, not because they cannot be reused. As long as the lubricant
is in good shape, I see no reason not to reuse the syringes, but again, don’t
fight city hall on this one either!

David

By: daphne400

daphne400 — Thu, 10 Apr 2003 04:23:10 +0000

I think David, that you’re talking about re-using the bent needle in another
site? If so, yes, us health professionals will tell you that it’s not a good
idea, BUT, when we’re paying for all this stuff, it’s always another story.
Just like lancets for fingersticks, lots of us reused our syringes to get
more mileage too. Aseptic technique is what it’s called. Your own bacteria
are your own. Careful hand washing, not, I repeat, not cleaning the bent
needle - it has a coating that allows for easier passage thru skin, Alcohol
and other stuff will remove it, and so doing make you really jump when you
are trying to re-insert and can cause site irritation and infection, so it
really means being careful .
It would be great if MiniMed made separate cannulas without all that tubing.
Hate to throw it all away just to replace a cannula that isn’t infusing well.
So, I’m sure we all understand. Later, Joan:)

By: kristan_180

kristan_180 — Wed, 09 Apr 2003 19:19:56 +0000

I agree, of course…I used to use the soft sets, but gave up on them as
they failed at least 50% of the time within hours. The bent needle always
works and has the advantages cited in my earlier message….
David

Gail Darling wrote:

By: avila_1

avila_1 — Wed, 09 Apr 2003 10:53:03 +0000

David,
To each their own, we all have little habits that "they" do not advise.
If it works for you I say go ahead. I cannot reuse mine, because I use
the softsets and the needle is pulled out and all that is left in you
is the cannula. There is no way to reuse the cannula.
Gail

By: avila_1

avila_1 — Wed, 09 Apr 2003 02:45:22 +0000

Jan,
You are correct, I have always been told to change my infusion sets in
the morning or during the day. It is a bad habit changing it at night,
I just always do it after my shower, when I feel cleanest. Also I don’t
think I function as well of the morning. When working I did not get up
and around early enough to change it of the morning. Have not excuse
now, just in a rut. I do feel I cannot see as well of the morning and
it takes awhile for my eyes to adjust.
Anyway, you are doing it the correct way.
Gail

By: kristan_180

kristan_180 — Tue, 08 Apr 2003 18:56:54 +0000

Yes, I DO mean reuse it. This is a very sensitive topic, as reuse of needles
has been a controversial topic for years. There is a rather famous
(infamous?) account about a well known endo at UCSF, also a diabetic, who
routinely reused needles, and was famous for plunging the thing right through
his pants in front of everyone in the cafeteria (just before eating a doughnut,
I heard). His point was that the skin is remarkably resistant to external
stuff, and he often was quoted as saying that there is no evidence supporting
any infection occurring from this or related practices. He also was quoted as
saying that alcohol skin preps were only of benefit to the manufacturer’s
profit/loss statement.

This suggests that if done carefully, a bent needle can be reinserted at a new
site. I do not do this routinely, but find that it works quite reliably,
especially when a set fails prematurely and one hates to endure the cost of a
wasted set….

David

jan hughey wrote:

By: damian150

damian150 — Tue, 08 Apr 2003 11:15:45 +0000

David -
Are you referring to Gail and what problem? When you say *move it (bent
needle) around* do you mean reuse it?
Jan

By: kristan_180

kristan_180 — Mon, 07 Apr 2003 18:33:52 +0000

I know that the pros will tell you not to do this, but when using the bent
needle, you can move it around and avoid your problem. I occasionally
have this problem, and with care can move the bent needle around at least
once (use care keeping things clean, and it works fine).
David

Gail Darling wrote: