- Messages
- 4,783
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
- Dislikes
- black jelly beans
Hi all pumpers! Having had 3 needle port problems in the past 10 days or so with occurrence of a suspicious high BSL which fails to respond to normal, then hefty correction doses and on one occasion I noted staining of the adhesive of the needle port and slight dampness as a bolus dose was going in, on the other two occasions it was only on removal and replacement of the needle port that the bent cannula was seen.
A) how are others are doing with numbers and frequency of these events ?
B) what you find are causes of problems e.g. bent cannulas and reasons for this, insulin leaking beneath the adhesive, etc? and
C) what works best to reduce the 'failure rate' e.g ? better insertion technique, better protection and maintenance of the site, one brand vs another etc ?
D) any other comments, future thoughts on improvement and earlier detection and any useful feedback from pump companies? etc
Some info about me: On insulin pumps for > 7 years and on insulin 52 years.
Current needle port used are the Inset II Unomedical which I used with my Animas Vibe and I continued on with when switched to the Tandem-Slim II pump, as both pumps use a luer-lock fitting at the pump-tubing connection.
My only site area is the abdomen with regular rotation of site placement and (usually) 3 days duration per site.
I wear the pump mainly on my belt but suspend it in a wallet pouch slung across neck and under opposite shoulder when shopping, wearing a rucksack with hip and belt system or when kite flying. At night the pump fits into my PJ pocket where the PJs shirt is turned inside out so that the pocket is inside.
I can only use 6 mm vertical needle ports as even the shortest angle-introduced ports cause the cannula tip to bend.
In hot sweaty conditions ( like this summer coming to Adelaide where will have maximum temps > 40 degrees C) I have to tape over the needle port site to prevent detachment, and sometimes even that fails.
I do tape a loop of tubing to the skin near the needle port in an attempt to prevent any accidental tugging from the tubing on the needle port. All your comments, ideas, criticisms etc all welcome.
A) how are others are doing with numbers and frequency of these events ?
B) what you find are causes of problems e.g. bent cannulas and reasons for this, insulin leaking beneath the adhesive, etc? and
C) what works best to reduce the 'failure rate' e.g ? better insertion technique, better protection and maintenance of the site, one brand vs another etc ?
D) any other comments, future thoughts on improvement and earlier detection and any useful feedback from pump companies? etc
Some info about me: On insulin pumps for > 7 years and on insulin 52 years.
Current needle port used are the Inset II Unomedical which I used with my Animas Vibe and I continued on with when switched to the Tandem-Slim II pump, as both pumps use a luer-lock fitting at the pump-tubing connection.
My only site area is the abdomen with regular rotation of site placement and (usually) 3 days duration per site.
I wear the pump mainly on my belt but suspend it in a wallet pouch slung across neck and under opposite shoulder when shopping, wearing a rucksack with hip and belt system or when kite flying. At night the pump fits into my PJ pocket where the PJs shirt is turned inside out so that the pocket is inside.
I can only use 6 mm vertical needle ports as even the shortest angle-introduced ports cause the cannula tip to bend.
In hot sweaty conditions ( like this summer coming to Adelaide where will have maximum temps > 40 degrees C) I have to tape over the needle port site to prevent detachment, and sometimes even that fails.
I do tape a loop of tubing to the skin near the needle port in an attempt to prevent any accidental tugging from the tubing on the needle port. All your comments, ideas, criticisms etc all welcome.