So i’ve only had my pump since yesterday and something jus popped in my head…am i supposed to be out of insulin when I go to change it or am I to just get rid of the insulin…This is all too confusing lol, guess I’ll get better as time progresses…
I make sure I’m out, because I’m a cheapskate. In fact, I re-use the reservoirs, so it doesn’t really matter if I’m out, I just top-off.
If I am not out, and the reservoir needs changing, then I inject the remaining insulin back into the vial to be used another day.
Generally, though, I change infusion sites, etc, when I am totally and completely out. My paradigm pump says I’m out when I have several units left - more than 7 since I can wait until morning after it says I have 0 left.
But - I sometimes can go high during this time, I’m assuming because of bubbles in the tubing introduced by being almost out of insulin. So, beware.
is injecting the insulin back into the vial a good thing? i’m cheap too but I don’t wanna mess anything up, mines is supposed to tell me I’m almost out at 15 i believe…
I don’t change my infusion set and my reservoir at the same time. So I use the reservoir until the insulin runs out.
I change my infusion set every 3 days and my reservoir about every 10 days. When I don’t change them together, then I have to give a little extra “Fixed Prime” or “Fill cannula” to fill the catheter. I give about 0.5 unit extra.
Probably. But, I’ve been doing it for 15 years.
There are a lot of buffers and preservatives in insulin. I don’t use alcohol, or wash my hands, or anything special. I am NOT recommending it to you, just saying it can be done by someone who’s slapdash like me with no untoward effects for 15 years.
Mine tells me I’m almost out at about 15, but then counts down to 0 and still has some left. I refill after I get an no delivery error.
maybe thats were im confused bc my book doesnt explain how to do it with the same reservoir… I didnt kno it would be this much work lol
Yes, they don’t tell you that you can do this. What insulin pump and infusion set are you using? I use the Minimed pump with the QuickSet infusion set (6mm long cannula). When I change my infusion set and not the reservoir, then I insert the new infusion set (without putting insulin through the tube), then I remove the tube from the new infusion set and throw it away. I attach the tube that was already attached to the reservoir (and filled with insulin). Then I do a fixed prime of 1.2 units, which is right for me.
Another option is to only fill the reservoir with a bit more insulin than what you need for 3 days. Then you can just change everything together. You do not have to fill the reservoir all the way if you do not want to.
Jae - I only put in the amount that my daughter uses with about 10 units extra. I change the whole deal every 3 days. It actually hadn’t occurred to me to keep on and on with the same cartridge like Kristen.
I called the pump company 3 times in the first 2 days my daughter had her pump, so if you need to call them, feel free.
I’m using the same Quickset as you, I’m still confused lol they told me that I could call the 800 number and the lady I set it up with also told me I could call her as well…
It’s all confusing to me and I think I will be calling them…
Feel free to call and it is very overwhelming in the beginning… Soon you will be able to do it with your eyes closed (hahaha). I was told to change the infusion set with the cartridge, every three days. Well, my son is using so much insulin right now, that I change out the cartridge after 2 days, and then change out the infusion set. You will figure out what works for you. But please know it is confusing and overwhelming when you start out, but this phase is short lived and soon you will be comfortable with what works for you !! Good luck
Hey Jae, I’ll be right there w/ you soon… I start pumping on saline tomorrow night, for a week i guess as my Endo wnats me in the office when i start insulin… I’ve been on MDI’s since being diagnosed over 14 years ago, so this is a big change for me… Good luck to us! 8)
Yes I called the people today and was on hold for 20 mins for a 2 sec answer they told me i need to change it all out at the same time, so I guess I’ll be wasting insulin. Jeff I’ve only been on the pump for a day and I like it… Good luck to u
I do both… really it just depends. If I have a site falling off that I need to replace, and I only have like 30-40u in my pump, even though that will usually get me through the next day I will just toss it and refill it and change everything out. Otherwise I wait until it’s empty before refilling, unless I won’t have enough for overnight. I do on average change my site every 3 days.
My co-pay for my insulin is the same regardless of how much I get… so I don’t feel too bad about “wasting” a little of it if it means I’m not stressed out about it. There was a time in my D life where I sucked out every last unit from a bottle, and I’m glad to not have to do that now. I get a full vial MORE than I actually need each month just to account for waste from the pump (not just when I do have extra left in there, but with the Animas cartridges, there’s easily 15-20u that you can’t use in the pump, plus what is lost to tubing and priming).
Jae, Glad you called. Sorry you waited on hold that long. My daughter has a Ping, and I’ve always gotten someone quickly, but there was that time when the phones were wonky and kept hanging up on me!
There seem to be a lot of people at the pump companies who can help. I used the main help number, and then got a call from the local support rep, who wasn’t the same person as the sales rep. It did feel confusing until I embraced the idea that they all were dedicated to make pumping work for us.
I was such a fumble fingers at first. A Ping has a lot of steps to a successful change. I finally wrote my own step-by-step list because I felt that I was being so inefficient. (Like the time I kept the used tubing and threw out the new tubing. Head slap!)
good luck!
Once you figure out how much insulin you use in 3 days, then you can just put that much insulin in the reservoir. The ‘1’ marking on the reservoir means 100 units, the ‘2’ means 200 units.
You can check how much you use in three days and then adjust it so you don’t waste so much insulin.
Yes, people at any company will always say the only way to use anything is the absolutely safest method, but in this case it doesn’t really need to be totally changed each time as long as you are reasonably cautious. If you don’t change the cartridge each time and just refill it be careful to change it if your bg tests suddenly start spiking without apparent reason.
For now it’s likely best to change the whole thing each time. As you get used to it you can see what ways you feel comfortable stretching the envelope. Of course if you have good medical insurance that provides enugh insulin and infusion sets it’s less of a factor.
I talked to my doc & the lady who set me up and said i can change tomorrow or push til sat morn. I just didn’t want to watse 100 units of insulin bc i’m goin to be buyin the insulin from out of pocket moeny…capped out with the pump…like you all said its a learning process…
Thanks Jae! I just got hooked up to saline, seems kind of odd to be ‘tied’ to the pump now, but that’s just something i’ll need to get used to… 8)
I don’t change them at the same time unless they happen to coincide with each other. A full 200 unit cartridge will last me about 4 days and I can generally push my infusion site changes to 4 days as well with the help of added adhesive. There have been times when my boyfriend has caught my infusion tubing an pulled out my site and I just ended up wasting that insulin and it’s minimal when that happens. I only pay $10 for a vial of novolog so I don’t mind wasting it because it comes out to a penny per unit.
Though I was told by my Animas pump trainer that the reason that they recommend changing out the cartridge every time, and I do change mine to a new one every time, is because there’s a lubricant inside the cartridge that allows for the pump to push the insulin through easier and replacing the cartridge allows for a easier time due to more/fresh lubricant. Also, there are rings that seal off the cartridges that over time will not seal off as good and I don’t want to have to deal with messing up my pump because of something as crazy as changing out an inexpensive cartridge.
That’s my 2 cents! Welcome to pumping! It’s awesome!
Elizabeth