Met with the endocrinologist last week and the insulin pump specialist today. She is making the referral today.
I intended to go with the stainless steel needle, but–when she showed me how much more intricate it is to maintain (two positions on the body and a small tube between them instead of the one with a plastic version) and told me she thought that more people found the stainless steel irritating–I opted for the plastic…with the option to change if I want.
I would love to hear opinions and experiences about stainless steel vs plastic from y’all. Also, she says change out every 2 or 3 days… necessary?
Thanks for your help,
Ahnalira
intricate?? oh, please. your endo is being overly dramatic. in fact, dramatic isn’t the right word, but I can’t think of the correct one, other than “MISLEADING”. That’s the word I should use: misleading. or to be more charitable, lets say the endo is “misinformed”…
You don’t have to change the set every 2 days. Three is FINE. Originally, sets like Sure-T’s were for kids, which have a stronger rejection to foreign objects, and for that reason, it was thought that the sets should be changed every 2 days. Thinking on that score has caught up with the reality that there is NO NEED to change that set every 48 hours. None at all. I change mine when the reservoir runs out of insulin. If I eat high carb and use a ton of insulin, the sets/reservoirs need to be changed much sooner than when I am on the “straight and narrow”. I go from roughly 2 to 4 days, on a set/reservoir, depending solely on when the reservoir runs out of insulin.
I tried the Contact Detach steel infusion sets a few years ago. I tried both the 6mm and 9mm depths. I found the 6mm more comfortable. Even though the package insert recommended changing them every 48 hours, I tried to push them to 72 hours. What I found is that the site became irritated and red after two days.
I found that they inserted painlessly but could become more sensitive with time. Not every set became painful but enough did that I went with the Inset 6mm depth plastic cannula.
Steel cannulas are an individual thing. Best thing to do is try them and see for your self. Did you know that suppliers usually allow you to order different styles of infusion sets in the same order? I always get my doctor to write a prescription that orders me to change infusion sets every 48 hours. If you can make them last three days then you develop a nice supply cushion. That’s my insurance against the inevitable insurance/supplier/bureaucratic idiocy.
I use the contact detach 6mm steel sets. I started with the teflon sets and had alot of kinking issues. I am very small so that probably had something to do with it. Since switching I have better control now and honestly i notice the steel sets less. Everyone is different. Try some of both and see what works best for you.
I would definitely never use a plastic cannula again.(unless that was all I had available) I had more irritation with the plastic cannulas, more pain, more sites that deteriorated over time- at which point I switched to 2 days instead of 3 and one serious incident where it failed totally and I went very high- that was when I switched to the steel needle. I do have issues with the metal ones but I don’t worry about a total failure. The only thing I’ve seen with them that compares is that once the insulin wasn’t going through the patch tube and through the needle but that is something that, due to the nature of having the patch and filling the tube before you insert the needle, will be discovered before it’s in you. Once a plastic cannula is in you you can’t do anything except take it out- the steel ones can be removed and reinserted into a new site if there is a problem with absorption.
I also rarely have occlusion problems with the steel needle- I had them frequently with the cannula which can easily kink and shut off insulin supply completely.
I have heard of incidents of the steel needles breaking etc. when there were flaws but so far that hasn’t happened to me- all of those were recalled I believe.
I like the patch set up because if your tube gets caught on something it’s unlikely your whole site will come out.
I do change the set every 2 days, I tend to get irritated if I leave it in longer even if it’s a site that has no problems. Your body is more likely to start reacting to something the longer it has been in contact and with hashimotos you are more likely to have a skin reaction.
Definitely something I am thinking about… I removed ALL Teflon from my home several years ago, and I was quite certain I didn’t want to have Teflon under my skin, either. Then the insulin pump educator explained to me that my Dexcom also has Teflon in the sensor:disappointed: I am not giving up my Dexcom, that’s for sure. AND, truth be told, I do not experience any kind of irritation with the sensor.
Soooo, I just asked the rep to send both types–plastic and steel–so I can give them both a trial and decide based on experience
I have always used the plastic inset.The 90° cannula.I couldn’t get the angle right on the angled insets.I change my inset every 4 days.I put 8 days worth of insulin in my cartridge.I have been pumping for 8 years and I don’t have any scar tissue.
I tried a steel set and found that while I’m moving around and active at work it felt like I was always getting jabbed by the needle. So back to teflon, currently the Comfort Short angled set. I’m liking that so far.
Thanks for asking, meee
I will find out on Monday. The pump arrived on December 31st (with both types of insets,) and we left for Disney World on January 1st… my last trip as an MDI We get home tomorrow (Saturday,) and Monday I go in to learn and get set up. VERY excited!!!
Hi, T Sure is the way to go. I found with the plastic tubing I wasn’t having accurate delivery of insulin. With T Sure delivery is great. No issues. I do usually need to change my site 2-3 days as it sometimes becomes sore.
