I didn't know you could have a bad site with these

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1

Yesterday after breakfast I shot up to 17.2 (310 mg/dl), which I thought was ridiculous for eating only 20g.

After lunch I spiked to 18.5 (333 mg/dl).

After dinner I was only 14.5 (261 mg/dl), but considering I only ate about 12g for dinner, that was ridiculous.

I finally exercised after dinner and was fine for the rest of the evening, even after eating a 25g snack. Last night I did notice a bit of blood on my infusion set, but since my blood sugars were fine by that point, I just ignored it.

This morning I woke up at 8.0 (144 mg/dl), but I'd done a -10% basal rate overnight for exercise, which usually works but sometimes causes me to wake up high. I corrected and pre-bolused ...

After a 20g breakfast I was 17.5 (315 mg/dl) again. So I thought something was definitely up with my site. I bolused a correction as well as insulin for my latte (which I'd already bought, had no idea I'd be so high!) and as it was delivering I noticed that unmistakeable smell of insulin ...

I checked my site and my jeans have a little wet circle right where my infusion set is.

So, I think all my boluses have just been leaking out of the site instead of being delivered. I am using a set with a metal needle and one of the advantages of these sets is supposedly that you don't have to worry about them going bad. Well clearly that isn't quite true ...

I now have no idea how much of that bolus got delivered and how much leaked out, although it seems like the majority leaked out judging by how much insulin was on my jeans.

This site I'm using is a leg site which I usually don't use, so I don't think it could be scar tissue. I usually use my arms or stomach and rarely use my legs.

I am seriously on the verge of taking a pump vacation for a week or two. Between infsuion set issues and my seemingly resistance to insulin, I am just fed up with such crappy control. The one thing stopping me from taking a pump vacation is that my control off the pump is pretty much equivilent to what I have now, except worse because it ping-ponging between highs and lows instead of just having random highs.

So frustrating and annoying ...

2

Did you ever try the Silhouette sets? I don't think I've ever had a "bad" site with them. Some work better than others but I haven't really had any problems. Even when there's blood, they work fine and I only change them if it's spewing out all over the place.

3

I was using Comforts up till a week or two ago, which are the same as Silhouette's except for non-Minimed pumps. I was having problems with itchines and inflammation (and seeming absorption problems) with those sets, which is why I switched to these needle sets hoping that would help with the absorption if my probelm was the cannula. I have had no problems with inflammation like hives/raised bumps with these new sets, but they do still get itchy even with Tegaderm.

I think the pump issues I am having are ridiculous! Never had any issues at all up until this summer, now I seem to be having tons!

4

Jen , what size are the " new to you " infusion sets ? I use the 8 mm ( Sure T's ) ...are you properly inserting ...with a bit of a push ?? I add IV3000 to keep them in place ...some I know, don't do that.
I feel so for you and wish you could/ would get to gether with your Pump Nurse ?? ...how about the pumpers in the Lower Mainland ...can you get to gether with one or 2 ??

5

Yep, I am using the 8mm sets and am pushing them down when inserting. This was the first one that was totally off, I went back to my stomach and my BG seems fine now (aside from needing tons of insulin as usual now), so might just avoid my legs for a while! I wasn't using Tegaderm at first but then the adhesive bits began to itch, so I started putting Tegaderm underneath ... still itches, so I might try IV3000. The place on my leg where I had the site/adhesive (with Tegaderm) today was red and itchy for hours after I removed it. Argh! I am asking my allergist about this because all of this started a few months ago, up till then I pumped for 4.5 years with no problems at all.

I left a message with the nurse at the diabetes clinic about trying a week of CGM so I will follow up with that tomorrow and ask her if she has any experience with this sort of thing ... So hopefully she might be able to help, too.

6

So tummy works better for you !!
Another question : do you know Sandy Struss .who works for Animas and is a Pumper , lives in Vancouver ...maybe, just maybe she has some answers as well ?? Please let me know ...if you want to connect and need phone number etc.

7

I do know Sandy as she used to run the Type 1 support group here. I don't have any contact information for her, though, and haven't seen her in a few years.

8

I sent the picture taken in TO at the CDA Conference to her home e-mail address : no response .
I am trying to find her work e-mail ..she is on facebook !! ..we had the Animas Territory Manager here past week and she is most helpful; she knows, I know S ...so stay tuned .

9

Jen , here goes : sstruss@its.jnj.com and Alanna ( Territory Manager) offered hers as well : achambe1@its.jnj.com .
Hope you have a chance to connect with both pumpers !!