…of the release of small amounts of hydrogen peroxide that is generated by the chemical reaction at the sensor.
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That’s so cool! My last sensor was in for 53 days and I kept wondering why I wasn’t getting an infection.
Where does that factoid come from?
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John Walsh’s Pumping Insulin, Sixth Edition which I just received today. I can’t find my other edition so I ordered this yesterday. I see that I follow most every suggestion, “rule”, etc that Walsh’s book is replete with. No wonder I have few issues with either my CGM or my pump, oh, and my diabetes control, compared to my bad ole pre-pumping days.
Another tidbit: under developement are 1.5 mm long sets to speed up insulin action because they will deliver the insulin to the “capillary-rich intradermal area” just below the skin. WOW, I had no idea.
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I had always assumed that the small size of the CGM sensor likely helped avoid an infection. I’m just glad that it’s a non-issue. We have enough to monitor and pay attention to.
I’ve also had great luck with avoiding infusion site infections. My rough calculation reveals that I’ve used about 3,900 infusion sets in my 32 years of pumping insulin. I’ve only had one infection in that time and it came with an infusion set that I inserted while in Costa Rica. I think the skin provides great protection against infection.
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Strange. I always wondered about that.
We are probably also a little more careful when inserting sensor that will last 1 week+ , than when just doing a BG finger-stick. I shave area before shower for sensor and don’t use alcohol wipe if new sensor is applied after shower. If applied before shower then I usually use alcohol wipe unless 1/2 asleep due to an early morning insertion.
On the other hand, does anyone actually go through the pomp and ceremony of using an alcohol wipe before a finger stick or a new lancet more than a few times a year? It is a miracle that we don’t have more infections from finger-sticks or injecting insulin through our clothes.
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Peroxide is useless for infection - fact
Ask any wound care professional or do some research on the net
Hydrogen peroxide can be used for the initial cleaning of a wound, such as a small scrape or abrasion. … But it should not be used for large open wounds or deep cuts, or for a long time. Hydrogen peroxide works by killing bacteria, whether it is “good” healing bacteria or “bad” infection-causing bacteria.
Marshfield Clinic
This isn’t the same John Walsh who hosted America’s Most Wanted is it?
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Additionally, some of the longer 1.5mm sets will have longitudinal slices in the delivery portion under your skin. Allows added flexibility, faster absorbtion, and longer than 3 day set life (the trials were for 10 day sets).
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Different Walsh, Jim
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I understand they have additional openings in some cannula sets. I was reading about them yesterday but I forgot which ones
It might be more for site cleaning. I think to get grit out of surface abrasions and stuff. Your not supposed to use alcohol either because it harms the tissue. But, this is a debate that will forever rage. I dont even want to see the soap and eater people get involved, lol.
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I thought that too.
I also was guessing that another factor was we don’t pump a liquid hormone into the area every three minutes …
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Exactly!