I've had lots of issues with infusion sets. This one is new and I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem. When I took the reservoir out of my pump and disconnected the tubing, the tubing started filling. The tubing was very rigid. Almost like if you suck on a straw and pull all of the air out. The tubing was just like that. I had ate dinner and didn't feel well after dinner. When I tested my sugar was 393. When I changed the infusion set, I watched the level of insulin in the tube go up after I puled it off. Has anyone else had this issue?? What caused it?
Reverse pressure causes it.
I use silhouettes. So I do it differently. But still the problem can exist on any sets.
The trouble is probably because you don’t inject enough air into your insulin bottle before drawing it. Then when you draw insulin into the cartridge there is a vacuum in it an that vacuum is transferred to the tubing.
To solve this. Inject the vial with the same volume of air that you intend to draw out.
Also remove the cartridge side of the draw needle thingy first. This will allow your bottle of insulin to vent ant pressure that is in there.
I bet this issue is worse when the bottle is near empty. The vacuum condition can get worse and worse as you use the bottle up it adds more vacuum.
My silhouette won’t do this because the tubing is not connected till the last step so the cartridge and tubing are vented until connected.
I cannot help with this issue directly, but to chime in I inject my vial of insulin with double the amount of air that I intend to draw in insulin. The pressurization means I do not have to pull the plunger it self fills. It is important to disconnect extra fast when the reservoir is full. One should remember that using my method means the vial still has pressure even when the reservoir is full.
Another trick I use is to pre-fill the tubing with insulin before I connect it to the reservoir. Usually the reservoir I am removing has a bit of insulin in it that is wasted at the time of the change. So I press that insulin through the tube and prefill the tubing and needle before i attach the new reservoir. Yes it is insulin that is from the previous reservoir, but I figure I was about to put in my body so it will likely be OK to fill the tubing. I knwo not every one will agree with this idea, but it works for me.
I hope one of these tips will work for you. Good luck
Thanks for your input!
Thanks!!!
I was always told not to use that method, Rick
. My instruction is to insert about 30% of the expected fill for the cartridge. I have found this works really well. I had some past problems with cartridge bubbles, and this method pulls air out of the reservoir as it fills. With this method I have overcome the bubble problems.
I am interested. If you "took the reservoir out of the pump and disconnected the tubing," how could it fill? Detached from the pump and the reservoir there is no source for insulin to fill the tubing.
I would certainly call Medtronic. If they do not know what the problems is, make them replace the tubing/reservoir and send your back for analysis. It is the only way to make overall problems with pump supplies go away--research.
When I said I took the reservoir out and disconnected the tubing from the site, I watched the insulin go from the top of the reservoir up the tube...indicating either a huge air bubble or the tube was empty. Upon further investigation...I found out this is called "suck back" ???