I have been using them for 7+ years with very few issues. However, there seems to be an issue with the ones I received in my last order. Out of the first 20, I had issues with 12. Three had bent cannulas and had to be replaced when my BG rose over 400. Nine had to be replaced when I got repeated insulin flow blocked messages. Medtronic replaced them all and all the replacements worked fine.
With a 60% failure rate ,it seems there is some sort of manufacturing defect, perhaps with the cannula. I noticed that the expiration date on my order was in 4/24 and the replacements had an expiration date in 7/23. I wonder if the specs of the cannula changed between the two manufacturing dates.
Also, I recall reading that Novolog is the recommended insulin brand and I have been using Fiasp for the past two years, but without any issues. I ordered a vial of NovoLog to test on the remaining sets from my order. I’ll report the results.
I have used Quickset and Mio-advanced for this entire period and I have not had any issues. I cannot speak for the other sets. I also have not heard of other issues.
Note:I am a Medtronic ambassador. My opinions are my own. They did not pay me to say nice things. OK, they sent me a shirt and a cup but even I am more expensive than that.
I was given Quick-Sets when I got my first pump 16 years ago. I was having a lot of high - really high - BGs but I wasn’t getting No Delivery alarms on my pump. When I would pull the set sometimes the cannula was bent but sometimes it wasn’t. One day I had to use 5 sets to get one to work. I have been afraid to try them again since then. I switched to Silhouettes and have used those almost all the time since, but have been trying Mio Advance for the last 2 months and really like them. I overused my abdomen with Silhouettes and the Mios are allowing me to use new sites.
Last night two more failed with insulin flow blocked alarms including a replacement set using NovoLog. Medtronic is sending me a 9 mm cannula replacement to see if that works better. If that doesn’t work, I believe my pump is not working properly.
Seems like it. But it could also be that you are hitting scar tissue or something.
I would file a report about this incase it is a manufacturing defect or something else. They should be made aware of it.
Did they ask you to send the malfunctioning sets back to them in the mail so they could investigate? Omnipod always asks for that. If they did, be sure to send them.
I had pretty regular issues with MT infusion. I found that MT pumps were not great at detecting infusion failures when they occurred. That was one of the main reasons I switched to Omnipod.
Does this have anything to do with the newest old warnings that were issued locally here? Can somebody else (like a regular MT user) think this through?
On October 5, 2021, Medtronic notified customers by email and phone that the recall has been expanded to replace all MiniMed™ 600 series insulin pumps that contain the clear retainer ring.
Medtronic provided the following updated recommendations to customers:
If the retainer ring is loose, damaged, or missing or the reservoir does NOT lock into the pump:
Stop use of the pump and contact Medtronic for a replacement pump. If you stop using the pump, you should follow your doctor’s recommendations and perform manual insulin injections. DO NOT insert the reservoir back into your pump while connected because you could mistakenly give yourself a rapid, and possibly large, insulin bolus .
If the reservoir locks in place correctly and the retainer ring is not loose, damaged, or broken:
Continue using the pump until you receive your replacement pump.
Follow instructions provided by Medtronic to replace and use the pump.
check your current and new pump and retainer ring for damage every time you replace the insulin reservoir, or any time it is dropped or bumped.
In November 2019, Medtronic first communicated about this recall with instructions for customers to examine pumps for potential retainer ring damage and to contact Medtronic if the retainer ring appeared to be loose, damaged or missing.
Contact Information
Customers who have questions or need additional information or support about this recall should call the 24-hour Medtronic Technical Support at 877-585-0166.
I’m gonna recommend that with this many failures, you disconnect from that pump and return to manual injection. This many failures in a row is a safety issue. Sorry, I know that’s a real pain, but his is an inordinate number of failures. It’s time to throw in the towel. This issue requires resolution/explanation (independent of what MT does or does not do). That will take time. Meanwhile, you should be on MI.
Are you 100% sure that you are not hitting scar tissue over and over again? If you perform another insertion, I would insert somewhere that I positively NEVER have inserted before, if possible. The bent cannula might be related to that (bad insertion).
If that were the issue, I would expect you to see periodic failures similar to this over time. But it sounds like you had no issues related to that and then a bunch of problems, consistently, all of a sudden.
Is there some O-ring problem, in addition to what’s called the retainer ring problem, where peeps have popped open the case to look at it? I feel like I remember someone popping open the case and visually identifying a problem, but I don’t remember who (so, maybe they never existed).
Here’s where you can find pics of the retainer ring problem. Its easy to check. Look for cracks, missing, or broken in half retainer ring.
Here’s someone talking about an O-ring problem from back in the day. This would be related to infusion set failures. I know stuff has popped up more recently. Pump Reservoir O Ring Failure
Here’s someone mentioning it more recently. If you smell band-aids or see liquid where its not supposed to be, that might be a leaking reservoir. Technology Breakdowns
In summary, look for O-ring problems (related to the infusion sets) and retainer ring problems (related to the pump). It should be easy to do a quick visual inspection for each.
1.) Look for insulin leaking out of the infusion set reservoir (it will be wet and smell like bad-aids). And,
2.) Broken or missing Retainer ring (photo provided by Mila).
Thanks for all of the replies. My pump was replaced about two years ago and has a black ring. In addition to the 9 mm cannula, MT is also sending a SureT infusion sample to try.
The insulin flow blocked alarm usually comes on within 30 minutes of an infusion set change so my BGs do not go dangerously high for too long. Once I get one that works, I can get 3 or 4 days out of it with 85 - 90% in range, sometimes 95% plus. Let’s see how the 9 mm cannulas and or sureT infusion sets work. I am a brittle diabetic, so manual injections just will not work for me.
I find the 9mm tends to bend and kink.
I used the silhouette sets when I was on Medtronic.
They always worked best, I could put them in on a steep angle, almost parallel to my skin. I use a similar set with my Tandem.
I don’t get bent cannulas and they dont butt up against muscle and clog.
Also I insert them manually and I can feel if I’m about to hit a vein so I can move it to another spot before I push it in.
I haven’t had a gusher since I started using them, at least 15 years.
I started using them when I was super lean and nothing else worked. I’ve got a little more weight now, but I still prefer them.
You can also look into the little window to see if it’s in right or getting inflamed.
For the last few years, and I have used quicksets since about 2001, I have had trouble with bent cannulas. I have always used the 9 mm version.
I have also noticed during the past about 5 years that the black rubber ring in the syringe is not as tight as it should be and I get more bubbles than in past years. I use it because it has a 90 degree insert and I do not like the angled insert. It is a pain to use but…
And before anyone suggests it, I have tried the metal insert twice years apart and it does not work for me. I am not skinny and the insert length is too short plus it can cause tissue pain for me.
edit again: I have always used humalog in my pump.
Had another failure (insulin flow blocked) with the same lot as previously. Called Medtronic and the rep advised me to discard the remaining box of 10 from the original lot and is sending me a replacement box.
This morning I inserted the first of the 9 mm sets without an issue and two hours later, including a bolus for breakfast, everything is working fine.
