-Do you change you infusion set, reservoir and tubing at the same time?
Yes, but if the infusion set hurts when I put it in, and does not stop, I change the infusion set right away, but not the resevoir.
-How many days in between the changes?
Generally, 3-4 days
-What is your pump’s brand?
I’m on the MiniMed 722, for 3 years now!
I change my infusion set and tubing every 3 days…sooner if I have had to take more insulin…I was told by the nurse working with the company I got my pump from…I have a Medtronic Minimed Paradigm 722, that after 3 days the insulin isn’t always working right and it does it get warm in the pump…I try to use mine until it runs to the last I can get out…the longest was down to about 1.5 units…There are times that I have had to change the set because of ripping it out of the skin…I have done this too many times, now I am careful of where I put the infusion set…it’s not always good on the outterside of the upper thigh…
I change the infusion site every 3 days. The reservoir and tubing will last me 6 days. I use a MM 522 with Fifty50 reservoir and Cleo 90 infusion sets. I have been diabetic a long time and I am very insulin sensitive… I haven’t noticed any problems with my insulin (Humalog) in the last 3 days of the reservoir.
I change mine about every three days which is typically when my insulin runs out. I use the paridigm 715 : ]
Gina,
I wish I had found this site years ago.
My son was diagnosed as type 1 in 2003. He has been on a pump for almost 3 years. Our most significant challenge has always been site changes. His sites seldom last 2 days. I noticed on this group that Hibiclen is recommended as an antimicrobial skin cleanser. We will definitely try that as the IVPrep that we use, while covered by our insurer, is quite expensive, and if the Hibiclen allows for an every 3 day site change we will better match changing site and reservoir as a joint event.
We have always changed reservoirs separate and apart from sites simply because my son is so lean that a site change might cause immediate bleeding that would block a site. We gave up on thighs for the same reason. His thighs worked well for a year, but as he built up muscle (he is very athletic) a thigh site would kink and fail. We were throwing away so many reservoir tubing sets due to an extreme surplus that I began to order silhouette combo sets. He has a MM722 pump. Combo sets provide five silhouette infusion sets without reservoir tubing and five full sets.
This is working at the moment. Costs our insurer a little less which will ultimately affect increases on the portion of premium charged to group insurance employees.
Cheryl
Every 5 - 6 days, I change every thing, just pull the reservioir full (300U) and start counting mean time keep in use vials on the refrigerator and just put the vials out in order to achive room temperature the day before next catheheter change. Its very importand to avoid direct sun ligth at the pump special the insulin on it . good look !!
Well I do not change my tubing and cartridge at the same time because I change my cartridge every 21 hours. Yep that is right. So I change my tubing every 3 days unless something happens to it. Lately I have found blood around the sticky adhesive so I usually change it when that happens. Glad I am not on a pod. I would be changing the whole thing out every 21 hours.
I change my reservoir about every three days, whenever it runs out, but I then fill a new reservoir and connect it to my already-hooked-up infusion set. This is mostly a financial decision, since infusion sets cost much more per unit than reservoirs. Back in February 2009 I was using an average of 160 units of insulin per day. In order to help prevent myself from falling into the medicare coverage gap early in the year, I set a weight loss goal based on insulin units. Since the middle of February, I have maintained a daily insulin use average of 80 units. For the past month, the average has been closer to 75 units. I have definitely lost better than 20 pounds, and I find that this method of weight loss for me is an easy system to use for not just a quick fix to a weight problem, but also for weight maintenance. It has worked well for me. I can’t profess that it will work for everyone, but my Paradigm 722 “Daily Totals/Averages” under Utilities has come in mighty handy. I refer to it many times throughout the day…
I don’t change at the same time, but I probably waste more batteries that way, from having to rewind the pump to add insulin, and rewind the pump to put on new tubing and cannula. It is interesting what your educator said about the particles of plastic diminishing the quality of your insulin. I wonder if that is true for me? I haven’t written down blood sugars in years (because I’m the world’s second worst diabetic) so I haven’t noticed any trends, but my MiniMed educator rep woman told me if I wanted to save money, I could use the same resevoir over and over again. And I do, because I’m poor and I owe minimed too much money. I am very interested now in finding out if that is why my numbers run higher somedays for seemingly no reason. Thanks for the tip. Oh, I usually go three days before my site gets ripped out dramatically by some drawer pull or belt loop, or the edges peel up so far I risk infection at the cannula site. -=)
I change mine between 3 and 5 days. I put 180 units to start and when I hit a low reservoir I change my siteandtubing and reservoir. most of the time I get about 31/2 days out of a site change. Sometines I have to change my site because of pain from the niddle but not very offen. i am using the MM722 ant the Sure-T infussion set. I love it much better than the ones with the plastic insursion site. Do not have any problem with it crimping under the skin.
The best advise I can give on this is to expermint and go with what works best for you. That is one thing I have learned we all react differently.
Thanks Andy 
Good for you Larry!!!
-Do you change you infusion set, reservoir and tubing at the same time?
No - I only change the infusion set every 2 - 4 days
-If not, how often do you change your reservoir?
every 9 - 10 days
-What is your pump’s brand?
Accu-Chek Spirit
This has been pretty interesting reading since I thought most people did what I do.
I mostly change my infusion set every 2 days, but sometimes forget since I don’t pay much attention to the calendar these days.
On the cartridge, I start paying really close attention to my BG numbers when I beyond about day 7 because ONCE (and only once) the insulin lost potency around day 9 after being in the hot sun.
Now that’s probably not too honest since we live on a boat and always try to be where it is warm/hot, so I ALWAYS have to be careful about keeping the pump in a place that’s too hot when we go snorkeling or diving.
Oh yeah…I agree with Andy and that guy called Bennet on YMDV (Bennet says that Your Diabetes May Vary), and the more I read others posts/blogs etc the more I realize it is true.
I use quick sets. I change the resevor and infusion set, generally, at the same time. I,usually can go about 3 31/2 days… I get less absorption after that time, into 4 days. I really do not think the insulin in the resevoir degrades, but my sites seem to “close up” around day 3 1/2 to 4, so I change out at 4 days, MAX. usually I change at day 3 1/2.
When various site problems happen:set rips out, a kink, bent cannula, soreness and pain at the site, blood in the cannula or site::I only change the infusion set and keep the same relatively full resevoir. I can “eyeball” the resevoir to see how many days I have left with the amount in it.
God Bless,
Brunetta
I agree with you Mike, it’s really interesting!
I use the MM722 300u in reservoir. I change the reservoir every 2 to 3 days and the infusion set every 4 to 6 days. I use 2 reservoirs to 1 infusion set. The infusion set i use is the quick set 9mm . Until i joined this web site i did’nt know there were so many other options. i just joined at the end of june but i have allready learned so much. There is nothing like talking with other people experiencing the same thing as you. My Dr and educator can tell me all day long what they think due to what they have learned thru books but only another diabetic can truely tell me what it feels like. I love this place…LOL
Do you change you infusion set, reservoir and tubing at the same time? Yes, but I reuse the cartridge (see answer below)
-If not, how often do you change your reservoir? Reuse the reservoir 5 times (every 15 days) Only keep enough insulin in reservoir for 3 days use - average about 90 units every 3 days - any spare left after 3 days - I reuse for the next “fill up”.
-How many days in between the changes? Change every 3 days - have gone to 5 when I was a newbie (only pumping since Oct 2007) - but don’t want scarring/obsorption probs to occur - not worth the risk of infection as well - Tudiabetes members have taught me well LOL!
-What is your pump’s brand? Animas 2020 - best thing since sliced bread