Hi Zoe, I forgot to ask, what problems were you having? Were they similar to mine? (I'm sure I read the post and may have even replied to it, but I read so many I can't remember!)
I use the novopen junior and penfill novolog cartridges- it has 1/2 unit dosing. Sorry you're having all these allergy reactions etc. I had the same problem with the dexcomb, allergic to the glue and skin tac etc. made no difference.
I was having them get painful and have to be removed in a day or two. I think that was it mainly. Sometimes a little blood when removed. But it's been several weeks now with no problems.
I am having the same issues just recently in regard to infusion sites. Which pump are you using? Animas? I am using a Medtronic pump and have been pumping for 13 years. I have some site issues through the years but nothing like I have been having recently. The first day of a set change my blood sugar is good but by the second day I am in the 300's. There is a sore red lump when I change out. I am not sure if it actually infected or if the insulin is pooling beneath the skin. I too am allergic to many things. I am having better luck at this point with the metal needle than the plastic cannula. So aggravating! I have an endo appointment next week. Interested to see what he says.
Yes, I am using an Animas Ping. The past two sets I have used I didn't use any Skin Tac and they seem to be better in terms of blood sugar (although I'm still using ridiculously cranked-up settings). I've still had a few random highs, and my sites are itchy on the second day, but they seem much less irritated when I remove them. The tape is coming unstuck on day two without the Skin Tac, though (the first set actually fell out, this second one has managed to barely stay in to the end of day two). I, too, find my blood sugars are good (often low) for the first 12 hours or so after changing a site, and then go high. Let me know if your endocrinologist has any ideas ... I'm seeing mine on November 12th.
Here is my experience that you may find useful. I am using Animas pump and was using Inset infusion sets. My sugars were all over the place; more high than low. The skin under the set itched like crazy. When those rare occasions without itching would happen, my sugars would also normalize. It took me forever to figure out I was allergic to Inset adhesive, so I decided to give Contact Detach a shot.
I haven't had itchiness with them and my sugars are much better. Now the punchline is that there were few times when I had red, itchy welts with Contact Detach. The reason why is that I was sweating more in some areas of my body e.g. stomach and if I was sweating when I put Contact Detach in, I was guaranteed an itchy site. Itchiness is bad enough, but my sugars also were getting unpredictable. My conclusion was that allergic reaction causes insulin malabsorption, therefore, high sugar.
The solution to sweating issue is to blow dry my skin before putting Contact Detach. Also I avoid sweat pooling areas like tummy, back area. That leaves me fewer areas to insert; however, I just broke my own record where I kept Contact Detach in for 7 days because it was not itchy and absorption was great.
Hi Jen. I am late to this conversation and I hope you already have the issue solved. My two cents are that my CD sets stick really well, in fact I re-use them in the following way (which may not work at all for you, but I thought I'd share it anyway in case): Alcohol swab the skin where I want to insert, then insert and run a finger around the sticky paper, then cut a piece of athletic tape a couple inches long such that the ends are curved, not squared off (square corners have a way of pulling up where a curve doesn't), and smooth it on over the set. No Skin Tac or any other IV prep involved and my sets stick great. If you can tolerate athletic tape it might work? To reuse I just pull the set out, clean the needle w/alcohol swab trim off most of the paper circle, reinsert and tape down again. I also had terrible long-to-heal nasty bumps and worse control before contact detach. Good luck!