Ok this is the third change I've done on the tSlim now. I take time to try to make sure all the bubbles are out. And it seems to me that they are. But I've noticed a bubble in the lure lock. I can't get it out either. As much as I tap it the bubble just stays put. I had one occlusion alarm yesterday and wondered if the bubble was the issue.
Have any of you noticed with your insets the same issue? Also I'm using the Comfort 13mm inset with 32" tubing.
Here’s a trick that someone suggested to help avoid the bubbles in the first place. When filling the cartridge, fill slowly…draw out perhaps half of the insulin a couple of times before leaving it. You can also prime bubbles out.
It's on the pump luer lock. I didn't see any bubbles in the syringe at all. When doing to the priming I saw tiny bubbles. But nothing else. Then after I'm all hooked up there is that stupid bubble again. I'm not sure how to prime it out though.
Try this…first stop insulin. Disconnect from infusion site, disconnect tubing from lure lock flick out bubble. Now add some insulin to lure lock enough to slightly over-flow. Reconnect everything and don’t forget to resume. Better than priming that much tubing.
Hi Janice... Well I solved the issue this way. I basically used a pen and tapped the heck out of the luer lock area to break the bubble up while I had a bolus started. It broke up about 90% and moved up the tube. I had to wait till dinner later in the day to bolus again and wait for the bubbles to move to the inset. I just unplugged and let the air out and lost a few drops. I'm all good now. So next time I do a new set I'll just do the same thing to make sure no bubble is trapped in the lock area. Otherwise everything has been super...
When I first load a cartridge and lure lock, I do vigorous flicking to break up bubbles and able to clear it all when I first fill tubing....also, I tend to hold the connection upright while filing so bubbles flow to top of lure lock and flick the whole way through....
I've had one successful change with no bubbles. But I had to really flick it to death to break that huge bubble up. I've taken the time to make sure no bubbles when I load the insulin in. And flick the luer lock like crazy to break it up. In fact my last change I didn't see a bubble at all after I was done. Yet this morning I got an occlusion alarm. And when I checked the line there in the luer lock was that damn bubble again. I don't even know where it came form. It's not hurt me so far. But it's just a bit frustrating is all.
I had the same problem initially. I found that flicking the connection only made it worse; the bubbles turned to a sort of froth that made the change take a long time and use a lot of insulin. I found that the best method, for me, is to (1) rotate the tubing so that the bubbles center in the connection and hopefully make them move along and (2) put tension on the tubing and pluck it to help move the bubbles. Hope this helps!
Any luck with the tslim bubble issue? I got mine last week and to be fair won't have my training until this Friday, but watched step-by-step videos on how to do a site change. My first try seemed OK but noticed the big bubble in the luer lock. Did a site change Saturday seemed to prime air bubbles forever. I ran 180-250 and switched back to my Animas Sunday evening. I'm 6mos pregnant and can't risk running high due to air bubbles or pump issues. Like I said, I won't have my training until Friday but am concerned about the air bubbles issue as a lot of people seem to have this problem.
I was having an issue with bubbles in the luer lock too. I called Tandem when my frustration was at it's breaking point. It was suggested by a customer service rep (who is also a T:slim user) that when you begin to start the priming of the tubing, you keep the luer lock and tubing disconnected until the insulin forms a bubble on top of the luer lock, while holding the luer lock straight up in the air. All the bubbles get a chance to be released into the air and don't collect inside the luer lock. When the "bubble" looks like it is about to break open, connect the tubing and continue with the priming. I have to admit, it has been working like a charm! I flick the lock every few seconds (after the tubing is connected) so that any other bubbles can be primed out and don't get the chance to form into a larger bubble.
I've tried all the other suggestions but this one has worked consistantly. I hope this helps!
Thanks so much, I'll definitely try this! Had my training Friday and she watched me change out the cartridge, etc. and did everything right. No bubbles once I prime the small ones out of the tubing, but a couple hours later they appear and get worse if you flick it. She thought it was an issue with the pump and is having a new one shipped overnight.
I'm considering the t:slim and have been following your posts since you are new to the pump as well. So I'm just wondering how you like it now that you have been using it for a couple of months. Has it been overall a good experience? Any good surprises or disappointments? What is it like to have to carry/attach the t:slim on your body 24/7?
I'm not on a pump yet, so take my advise with a shaker of salt, but a pump-using friend of mine said he consistently got air bubbles in his tubing until he rep advised him to leave his insulin on the table overnight before loading his pump reservoir. He says he's not had a problem since. He's a medtronic guy, however.
Just put on my new t-slim this morning. I had a bubble even though I practiced the techniques as showed me in training. I'm going to let it ride for now to see if I get an occlusion. I guess it just doesn't sit well to know that theres something there that although is not blocking the flow now, could potentially be a problem later in the day. Sigh. Oh the joys of diabetes.
Hi Jimmy -- are you still having these issues? I have not had one set change yet that did not have a bubble in it despite trying everything mentioned in this thread. I have not had a problem (knock on wood) with the bubble yet, so I guess I'm just going with it for right now.
Just an update for all. I've finally got it all squared away. First thing was I was filling the syringe wrong. I was putting the needle in with the bottle bottom down then pushing the air in. This made lots of bubbles in the insulin bottle. I now keep the bottle upright. Put the syringe in from the top and push in the air in. Then flip over and carefully pull in the insulin. Knock any bubbles loose. Draw about 35 extra into the syringe. Then push all the bubbles I can back in.
After that I still have some bubbles. But not nearly as much. When the insulin is filling the tube I watch all the air enter the luer lock and tab a few times. This gathers all the air into a little bubble that's pushed out into the line. That's it. It's gone. And no occlusion alarms anymore. Took me some time to figure this one out. Good luck to all.
1. Open new cartridge and use syringe to pull air out of new cartridge until the plunger is harder than normal to pull. 2. Pull up room temp insulin into 3ml syringe being careful to avoid creating bubbles in the syringe. I find that pulling it up until there is a discernible bubble at the top of the syringe and then pushing that bubble back into the bottle until there is ONLY insulin in the syringe before finishing filling the syringe cuts way down on the air in the syringe.
3. I use Animus insets for the most part so at this point I would insert the new cannula and then disconnect the tubing from the set.
4. Pull up 50-100u into another syringe using the same technique as #2.
5. Finish changing the cartridge in the pump per SOP (do you flick the back of the pump while it's removing air and priming the pigtail to encourage bubbles to the top?) and prime the pigtail until there are no bubbles in the pigtail and a bubble free meniscus at the top of the luer lock. Do not "end" filling at this point but just leave it be for just in case.
6. Detach needle from the 50-100u syringe and attach to the luer lock of the tubing and use that to prime the tubing. Remove the syringe from the tubing and return the needle to the syringe and use the needle end to finish filling the tubing side of the luer lock, flicking away any small bubbles in the lock as the lock is filled, until there is a bubble free meniscus on the tubing luer lock.
7. Attach the tubing to the pigtail. If you've kept the tubing and lock bubble free and made sure there is a meniscus on both sides there will not be any bubbles at all. Examine the tubing to make sure there are no bubbles, they should have been primed out manually with the syringe but make sure. If you are bubble free then finish the fill at the pump.
8. Attach the tubing to the site and prime the cannula.
This process is the only way I've been able to prevent ALL air from getting in my tubing or lock.
