pump sites
I’m having a problem finding sites that are comfortable,
and convenient. Right now I have it in my hip. I was putting
it in my stomach, but for some reason my left side was
always pinching. The other day, it really felt like it was
pinching when I put in a bolus, and didn’t stop, so I took
it out, and I don’ think the insulin ever got in, for that
bolus! There was
a wet spot right around the canula and skin area, and it was
insulin! This was in the morning, but the 2nd day of this
injection site.
I’m using the soft-set, would it be better if I went with
the shorter (6mm) canula, or perhaps I should bite the
bullet and try the rapids/silhouette?
I know, I should ask my endo, but I know more about the
pump than she does. She’s learning along with me. Poor,
brave thing. She lives with my Pumper’s manual.
Well, any help from you veterans would be VERY welcome!!
TRacy
December 25th, 2003 at 11:51 am
Hi Tracy.
If you take out an infusion set soon after a bolus, a lot of the insulin
can leak back out of the hole, and onto your skin. It can take an hour or
more for the insulin to soak into the fat properly. So if you have to
change soon after a bolus, some people leave the old set in place for an
hour or two. It’s easy if you use a QR. Just disconnect it.
When I first used a Silhouette, I thought how could anyone stick so large a
needle into themselves! It frightened me so much, I went straight back to
the SofSet with a SofSerter. But a few months later I tried again, and the
needle suddenly seemed a lot smaller! I now use Silhouettes/Tenders all the
time.
I’ve tried the Rapids, but I don’t like having a hard needle stuck in me
all the time.
John
–
December 25th, 2003 at 10:03 pm
yes try the rapids they go in much easier and leave a smaller hole just put
a tegaderm or some tape over it as it seems like it may fall out after you
put it in goes in just like an injection and 10yr daughter says she can’t
feel it after it is in at all
and she uses tummy and her arm for the rapid 6 mm and 8 mm tummy.
kathy
December 26th, 2003 at 4:39 am
Thanks.
Does the Silhouette go in at an angle, or straight in like
the SoftSet? Does it have a plastic canula, or a metal
needle? I have 4 kids, with the youngest being 4 months old,
and get my sites push/sqaushed a lot. Would a metal needle
not be good for this?
Last who makes these, Silhoulettes/Tenders and Rapids?
Tracy
December 27th, 2003 at 9:32 am
Tracy,
When I used the hard needle set I protected it with a holey, metal eye patch
filled with cotton and the edges covered. I taped this over the site. That
way, any squishing was against the eye patch, not the needle. It saved me
from a lot of pain and bleeding. An eye dr. should be able to give you one
if you explain what it is for.
I now use SofSets.
Jan
December 27th, 2003 at 2:41 pm
i am in us in fla
the rapids are made by disetronic
the rapids go in straight like a insulin injection
the tenders go in on an angle
alisha is pretty active and doesn’t even notice the rapid site unless someone
grabs her by the arm where her infusion set is. when in the tummy it is no
problem
the rapid is metal and the tender has a removable needle and leaves a plastic
catheter in.
kathy
December 28th, 2003 at 3:18 am
It gets inserted at a 30 degree angle. A plastic cannula stays in. Minimed
and Disetronic have the same set. One is called the Tender by Disetronic or
you can get the Tender II which has 20 bases instead of 10 which allows you
to just change the base every 2 to 3 days rather then change the whole set.
You have 20 bases and 10 sets. Minimed sells it as the silhouette.. same
exact set but I believe they do not have a silhouette with extra basis. I
love the fact that I only change my complete set every 5 days. I just change
the base on the 3rd day.
December 28th, 2003 at 11:25 am
Tracey I had to start using my upper hip area and having some good results
with the tender set. I do not see any drop off in control with it in my hip.
The only drawback is when I sleep I’m worried about dislodging it but so far
so good.
December 28th, 2003 at 7:33 pm
Thanks John I did not know that about the insulin leaking out.
December 30th, 2003 at 8:51 am
Hi Tracy:
I started out using the soft-set QRs because of my concern with all my
allergies and metal sensitivity. Over time, I’ve found that they just don’t
last for sometimes even 12 hours! So I tried the bent needle - didn’t like
it, and then got some of the Rapids for samples. Started out with the
6mm…lasted up to 3 days, 8 mm about the same if not a bit longer…I don’t
leave a set in more than 3 days since I seen to get over saturation at a
certain point, and then decreased absorption. I find that certain spots seem
to be more sensitive and do feel ouches when the insulin (especially
Humalog) goes in!
I like the soft sets, don’t get me wrong, and Tenders and I don’t mix well,
and I think you’ll get responses from all of us about personal
preferences…alternating different administration sets can work, also
different depths and angles extend the life of our tissue.
Have to remember too that the Softset can kink very easily…they need to
change the design, and you can get leakage of insulin from the site because
it stops absorbing….so give the rapids a try…they are cheaper and I found
out I like them better…flatter, don’t get bumped as easily….Joan:)
January 1st, 2004 at 6:24 am
Tracy Friend wrote:
>Where are you? I’m in Germany, I’m guessing you’re not in
>the U.S. by the time difference!
Hi Tracy -
I’m in Germany as well! Freiburg, down in the bottom left corner near the
Swiss-French border. The Germans are more civilised down here <vbg>. But
I’m a British national and grew up in Bristol, England.
At my clinic here (Freiburg University Clinic) they have about 50 people on
pumps. It seems to be very popular. Several of my friends who have diabetes
use a pump as well.
Several people have already mentioned it, but the Silhouettes/Tenders are
I get them via my local apotheke/pharmacy/chemist/drug store*
plastic and go in at a shallow angle. Perfect for being hit by your kids!
Best wishes
John
* select whichever word is appropriate to your locality!
–
January 5th, 2004 at 1:38 am
I get 6 to 10 days for each set change no problems.
fp