I'm truly desperate at this point and hoping that others out there on insulin pumps may offer some guidance/tips. I'm on a MiniMed 522 insulin pump (have been on a pump since 1996) and I continue to experience hyperglycemic events that requires I change my injection site. I'm to the point now where I have to change my injection site at least once a day! I will be fine, then all of a sudden I have an extreme hyperglycemic issue that is always the result of either a bent cannula or blood in the cannula. I never receive a NO DELIVERY alarm (which I don't understand). I've worked extensively with my endo and with MiniMed and "I'm doing everything right." I insert the infusion set correctly and I'm rotating my sites correctly. I've tried ALL the infusion sets (sure T, Quick set, Silhouette & the new MIOs...I've even tried infusion sets from another manufacturer). I don't understand why this is occurring?? It's truly maddening! It's impacting my life. I'm a runner (who runs half marathons) but I've been unable to run due to the brittleness/cannula issues I'm experiencing. Please, is anyone else having these issues OR if you had similar issues, what did you do to correct or improve? I greatly appreciate any help or insight. Thanks so much! - Lori
What sites are you using? I am sure you've tried rotating sites, right? The only thing that comes to mind is scar tissue. Have you changed pumps during this time? I was just reading in another forum where someone was getting a significant amount of airbubbles in her tubing. Turned out to be the pump, as the issue resolved once they swapped out her pump. Has Minimed done a pump swap to rule out that issue?
Just out of curiosity, have you tried manually inserting your infusion sets and pinching your skin up when you do? I've just started my pump back in Nov but I had a couple of days where I was getting NO delivery over and over and over. When I contacted Medtronic in sheer fustration the person I spoke to asked what set I was using...I use the Quick-Set and whether or not I manually inserted them, which I do (the inserter is crazy scary looking) he suggested pinching my skin when I insert so the cannula doesn't end up lodged against muscle tissue or infusing between fat and skin layers. I have not had any more problems, ever since then.
Also as MyBustedPancreas has suggested if you have tried everything else with no luck, maybe it is worth seeing if MiniMed will due a pump swap for you.
I’m using Minimed 523 with Quiksets and I’m also having issues with bent canulas. Blood in the canula is usually minimal but, this week was a gusher.
I just read this from the nook “pumping Insulin”. Clogs can occur with low basal rates (0.4 or lower). Pumps have sensors that detect clogs so an alarm should sound once a unit or two is not delivered, it will take longer for pressure to build in the line and trigger an alarm. With a low basal rate, this delay could be several hours, and a blood sugar may already be high by the time the alarm sounds. Hope this helps!
Good rotation of sites (outer & inner upper abs, lower back, top of buttocks, lower abs, outside of legs). MiniMed hasn't done a pump switch...I'm currently out of warranty & would have to cover the cost of a switch. Financially not feasible currently.
Thanks, Christy. Yes, I try pitching my skin before I insert (have also tried not doing so). My problematic issue occurs no matter which way I do. :(
Thanks, Sportster! This may be the issue...I run low basals throughout the day & night (.4 or lower). I don't ever get a No Delivery alarm - only blood in the cannula. This is truly the most viable answer at this point...I'll explore it further.
Now that you mention it I remember the guy I spoke to at Medtronic saying the same thing, at the time I was having problems my basals were set pretty low too, but at a low rate like that it takes a LOT of time for it to trigger the alarm your not getting anything, usually you find out when you go to bolus, but if you are a light eater, you can only imagine how much time might go in between starting an infusion site and eating.
Years ago, I ended up in the hospital in DKA. At the time, I was at a low basal rate and the cause was I had a bent canula. I slept through the night and I didn't get a "No Delivery" alarm. Woke up with very high bg's.
BTW...that was a typo on my previous post. I read a BOOK not NOOK! lol
I would suggest that you could be allergic to the cannula material (usually or always? Teflon). But you said you have the same issues with the MM metal cannula?
Also, bent cannulas can be caused by hitting muscle (can bend after insertion), so it may be that you don't have enough fat for the sets?
Micro alarms are not trustful.
Did you try angled set, inserting manually at a low angle (30°) ?
Which length ? Perhaps you need longer cannulas.
About a month after starting a po for the first time I had similar problems. I tried every type of cannula, different sites, and was also not getting alarms. The last variable I tried was to change from humalog to novolog and it worked!
Pump- not po lol! I have the Minimed 522
Two other ideas - I use quicksets, was getting no del, appeared secondary to bent cannula. Tried everything, no luck, until finally I quit using skin tac before insertion. Problem solved, I now insert (alcohol prep only) and then soak outside of quickset tape with skin tac, stays in place 3 or more days!
Also, do you do site change when you are able to immediately do a "large" bolus of insulin? I also find if I do a site change with what the pump wants to prime the cannula and then just allow my basals to run, I have problems. So I always plan a site change when I can bolus. Again, problem solved (especially w/blood in the cannula).
Good luck!
Are you very thin? When I was super fit and working out a lot, I had very few places that would accept the cannula, and went back on injections.
Hi Lori - I've been experiencing similar problems. I've been on a pump for 6 years and ever since the birth of my second child, only rarely can I get an infusion set to last more than a day. I burned through my last order of infusion sets a full month early. A few weeks ago I went back to shots - I just couldn't tolerate any more of the hyperglycemia that results from failed infusion sets. I don't have much advice to offer, except to report that my glucose control has been excellent since I abandoned my pump. ALthough my Hemoglobin A1Cs have remained fairly constant, the day-to-day management of hyperglycemic episodes resulting from the infusion set failures were making my life miserable. I do hope I can use it again sometime in the future, but for now I am going to manage with injections.
ugh...i just started my Revel pump training today. I was told to use the Silos because I'm really thin, lean too and was told this was the best one for someone who has little body fat, also told to insert at an angle so I don't hit muscle. I'm concerned about this though..that i'll have troubles with cannulas - finding enough places to insert. OH, i hope I don't have to go back to MDI's once I start the pump..ugh!