I inserted my first Sure-T yesterday. After being used to the Silserter to insert my Silhouette, I was quite squeamish to push the Sure-T in and I wasn’t feeling so sure (sorry, couldn’t resist ) because the Sure-T does not have any inserting device for it.
Post-insertion
I had a workaround for BGs running high after set changes when I was on Silhouettes. E.g., after my bath, I reconnected my insulin pump immediately. Then, I inserted my new Silhouette (at a different site, of course) and let it sit for sometime until I confirmed that my BG levels were stable. Then, I switched the pump to the new site and did a fixed prime and that was that. I would then remove the old Silhouette. But the Sure-Ts work differently - there is no “fixed prime” because you need to prime it before inserting it in your skin. I guess I’ll have to figure out a correction bolus at every site change with the Sure-T.
Insulin absorption
The first thing I have noticed is that my sugars are not stable, so far. I’ve been running higher than usual. I have already re-inserted the Sure-T in a different site and made sure that it is completely in. Maybe I need more practice to get it right. I feel that insulin absorption is not happening reliably… I almost feel that if I sit a certain way or stand a certain way there is better absorption and if I twist or bend or change my position the absorption suffers. I’m sure I’m wrong. This is not an issue with the Silserter and the Silhouette - click the spring-loaded thing and the insertion in done consistently and reliably every single time. And no matter what I do, insulin absorption never varied…the response of BGs to boluses and temp basals has always been reproducible and reliable.
E.g. When I go for a brisk walk, I always set my temp basal at ~40% when I wear my Silhouette. Seeing how high I was with the Sure-T, I left my basals at 100% and even then, I barely maintained my BG between 80-120.
Portability
I usually don’t carry a spare infusion set with me because the Silhouette set and Silserter seemed too bulky to carry. But with the Sure-T, I can carry a spare set in my meter case and not worry about an inserter.
So why did I switch to Sure-T? I don’t know…but maybe Dave_ has something to do with it :-). Looking at so many positive comments about the Sure-T I decided to give it a try. Being new to pumping, I had noticed that the Silhouettes were leaving these large holes which healed very slowly at the insertion sites. I’m hoping that the Sure-Ts would be more gentle on my skin and heal quicker.
Can you add any comparisons based on your experiences? How about Sure-T versus Quicksets? Sure-T versus X where X can be anything else?
You’re right…and it’s just too early to make any decision right now. This is only my second day of wearing a Sure-T…and I’ll do a site change tomorrow. I’m not unhappy with them…it’s just that they’re, you know, different.
How do you do the priming if you’re not changing cartridges at the same time as infusion set changes? I had to do a fixed prime of ~3 units to get the priming done before I inserted the Sure-T.
I’m very aware when I prime…and especially so with the Sure-Ts because that needs to be done before I insert it in. I use the 3mL reservoir and take ~40units/day. That means roughly two reservoir changes very 5 site changes (that sounds better than saying “one reservoir change every 2.5 site changes” ).
Well I switched a few weeks ago from Quick Sets. My QS would kink, cause high BG and I’d want to cry because it made me so frustrated.
At first I had about the same absorbtion it seemed. Then my numbers started climbing recently and I figured I needed to readjust my insulin intake. After a few changes, I was only climbing after meals, but even after changing I:C ratios I was having a lot of trouble with PP highs. I’ve never used my arm for sites before, but I’ve always wanted to, so I tried it and it was like magic! have not gone over 140 in days! I just moved it to my other arm because I’m so happy with the absorbtion there.
So it seems that for me, my issues were more site-related than set-related. I also liked that the QS had an inserter -it made it much easier to get the set in harder to reach areas like my back. Not sure how I’ll manage those areas with the T’s.-
I will be more careful when choosing a new site so I can keep up my magic numbers.
I love that if I’m unhappy with where I put the set I can just move it instead of either having to suffer with it where it is or using a whole new one. It is more prtable and is much easier to carry a spare. I will also mention that while I liked the shorter tubing with the QS, the same length with the T’s is shorter because of the “anchor”. While I have no problems with it other than a little adjusting to get used to, I can see that being a bother for other people. I liked the way the QS disconnected better.
Thanks, Amanda. If my numbers don’t show improvement, then I’ll try other sites and see if that changes anything. So, after you moved the site to your arms, did your I:C ratios and basals return to your QS levels?
What do you do with the tubing from the Sure-T? Can we get just the Sure-T part and not the tubing, or a combination pack like the Silhouettes (5-tubing, 10-cannula)? Minimed website didn’t show me such a product.
a short note for now : please contact MM and tell them , you like longer tubing ( as a few of us have done , ie Dave, me …others ) …it’s also costly and waistful having to throw short ones out and use SILS long tubing . I live in Canada and went through the Canadian MM site to add my suggestion/request , which was forwarded to Cal .
When I used the sils, they left the red spots that I called pump bumps. the serter was mean and made me bleed so I always inserted them manually which was kind of scary. They were okay and BGs were okay. The quick sets were better but I am very lean and the canulas would kink. My sites looked better though. BGs were better but I also started using Symlin while on the QS so post prandial spikes disappeared. Now I use the Sure T and love it. BGs are better than ever, no kinked tubing and just a simple snap of the wrist sets the needle neatly under the skin where I want it. No serters to deal with. My sites look amazing and a couple hours after removing a set you can’t even tell where it was even after 4-5 days of wearing it. Sometimes I use less insulin than I think I will and won’t waste any as long as the site still looks and feels good and BGs are not creeping up.
I had issues with Sure-T’s as well. Although, I don’t think I was getting any absorption. The evening I tried it(bad, bad time to try something new…I worked the next morning, but was dying to try a Sure-T, so I made the choice that evening), my BG just kept going up and up(even after a few corrections). I tried a new Sure-T to see if I just did the first one wrong(not sure how you can…it is pretty straight forward!), and again my BG’s kept going up. By 1am I had large Ketones, and felt sick to my stomach. Put in the quickset, did a correction( a full correction again), and my BG came right down. I honestly have no idea what it was. I too read such good things about Sure-T’s(and yes, everything Dave has said sounded wonderful about it!!), and thought for sure it would work wonderfully.
I am currently switching between sils and quicksets(sils on my abdomen, quicksets on my side, and my arms). Those two just seem to work better for me. As they always say YDMV…you may be part of the group that just doesn’t get great results with Sure-T’s!
Danielle, do you know if you have scar tissue? If yes, then no matter what infusion set you use, you will not get good absorption in the area with scar tissue.
But if you are happy with the Silhouette and Quickset, then I guess that is good enough!
I’m using Quicksets now and actually don’t have any complaints. I have not had a single kinked cannula or no delivery alarm since I switched from 9mm to 6mm. But I’m curious to try the Sure-T
I’d like to mention that I didn’t get kinked sets that often on QS but, because I had in the past, I was ALWAYS second-guessing my set. That, in essence, is where I find peace of mind with the T’s.
I’ve pulled many QS out only to find that the cannula was actually fine. Which led to even MORE frustration because not only was I having trouble, now I had just wasted a set…
Yes Amanda. I hear you there. I second guessed a lot because of problems I did have with kinking. I am not quite sure what is more frustrating: Kinked cannulas or perfectly good ones I ripped out. You decide.
Nope, not laughing! I have heard of that happening! The needle was definitely in…I could feel it in there too(when I would lean forward I could kind of feel the needle…not painfully, but I wasn’t used to it since it was my first time trying). I honestly have no idea what was up.
No scar tissue(I rotate fairly good, and have only had diabetes since April 08’). Honestly, it is the oddest thing. Quicksets don’t work on my abdomen either(I use 6mm, as well). I always get no delivery alarms there(which never makes sense, as when I pull the set, it is usually not kinked). It truly is the oddest thing what happened that night with the Sure-T’s.
“I am not quite sure what is more frustrating: Kinked cannulas or perfectly good ones I ripped out.” “the only reason I’m high is carb counting mistakes or other issue unrelated to my set.”
My feelings exactly. I would sometimes agonize over the decision to remove or not to remove? and I’d end up in tears if my cannula was fine in the end.
I think that the T’s will end up helping me tighten my control because I will be spending more time figuring out what I did wrong and less time troubleshooting my infusion site.
There were things I liked about the QS better than the T’s. But I think that for me, the benefits outweigh anything that I might miss about using a different set.
I did another site change today and my BGs have been perfect, so far! I think the earlier site must have had some issues and gave me bad absorption. Due to the Silhouette infusion sets going in at a steep angle, I must have mis-judged the earlier site and hit some scar tissue when I used inserted my Sure-T nearby.
With my Silhouette sets, I used to just rip the cannula out. With the Sure-T I’m very careful. The difference is that a soft teflon cannula is easier to rip out without much thought compared to a steel needle. How do you do it, Dave_?
I’m glad that you’re doing better John! I’m also much more careful when removing the Sure-T’s. I tried to pull the first one out like I used to with the Quick Sets and had this awkward little moment where it was kinda snagging on the skin before it popped out. It didn’t really hurt or tear the skin, but it was uncomfortable. Now I loosen both sides of the adhesive, pulling it up next to the plastic wings and pull the set out by the wings.
Thanks, Dave_ and Amanda! These important details are never discussed in any of the user manuals/literature handed out by the companies. I’m so glad that we have these forums to discuss and learn from each other.
) because the Sure-T does not have any inserting device for it.