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Amount of insulin in syringe driver

A

Alison204

Well-Known Member
Messages
52
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hello all,

Just a quick question.... how much insulin do people put in their pump and how often do you change it...

I know this will depend on how much insulin people use daily but the reason I ask is, I fill up roughly half the syringe driver (around 100ml) and change the driver AND cannula every 3 days.

But I was wondering, if I filled up the syringe driver FULLY (around 200ml) could I then just change the CANNULA every 3 days and then change the driver when I've run out of insulin (which if I'm doing half every 3 days would make it change every 6 days).

The nurse told me when I got my pump just over 3 months ago to change EVERYTHING every 3 days but I wondered if people do it differently?

I wondered if there's a reason you should change the insulin every 3 days??

Any advice welcome!
Thanks
Alison x
 
I change the cartridge when it's empty 6 - 7 - 8 days and the cannula every 3 days. Official line is not to leave insulin in cartridge for more than 6 days. I will not compromise on length of time cannula is used for though.
 
I'm a follower of DSN advice so, like you at the mo, I change everything on day 3. I was told something about it degrading in the plastic reservoir but I don't know.
 
Yeah I'm still a newbie so I like to 'play by the rules' hehe! Think I'll ask my DSN when I see them next!

Doing the set changes isn't too much of a bother to be fair.... especially as I've now changed to PINK Inset II sets! #easilypleasedme hehe!
 
As far as I know all insulin except aprida sp* is licenced for 6 days in the pump. It also save wastage and money by using the cartridge for 6 days if you can. Animas though only use a 200U cartridge which for many people would not last that long.

Doing the set changes isn't too much of a bother to be fair.... especially as I've now changed to PINK Inset II sets! #easilypleasedme hehe!
Click to expand...
Lol when I ring for supplies I always say I don't care what colour you send as long as it's not pink :D
 
Pink every time for me
 
I change cannula every 2 days (use flexlink which can stay in for up to 3 days), change cartridge every 6-7 days.
 
All gets changed every 3 days as the pods (Omnipod) have to be discarded after this time.
 
I'm on novorapid pump carts (160U) and change the cannula every three days, full change every 6 days, and I'm throwing away about 90U each time as it is.
 
ElyDave said:
I'm on novorapid pump carts (160U) and change the cannula every three days, full change every 6 days, and I'm throwing away about 90U each time as it is.
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Simple solution is to change the cartridge when you get down to the last few units of insulin. 90 units is a dreadful waste of money.
 
ElyDave said:
yes, but I've been told to change it every 6 days
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To save waisting this amount of expensive insulin, think about transferring it into an empty insulin pen cartridge which isnt hard to do. All pumpers should have a backup with them when they go out and about and not depend on the pump completely just in case problems arise. Wont hurt anyone to use a pen for some of their bolus to use the 90u up.

I cannot see many CCGs funding the Insight if people are waisting pump carts. Much better to use conventional cartridge and fill from insulin vial.
 
I tend to change insulin driver and cannula every 3-4 days unless it gets pulled (happens now and again) which means i get down to 20-30 u of insulin. Obviously if there were any signs something wasnt right i would change earlier.
 
iHs said:
To save waisting this amount of expensive insulin, think about transferring it into an empty insulin pen cartridge which isnt hard to do. All pumpers should have a backup with them when they go out and about and not depend on the pump completely just in case problems arise. Wont hurt anyone to use a pen for some of their bolus to use the 90u up.

I cannot see many CCGs funding the Insight if people are waisting pump carts. Much better to use conventional cartridge and fill from insulin vial.
Click to expand...
I was told that the insulin degrades more rapidly at body temp or near to that, which it is at when the pump is next to your body. So to refill a penfill cartridge would not be the solution on that logic.

The real reason is that I'm on a very low TDD of around 8 units a day. When on MDI I used to end up throwing away part used levemir and novo cartridges every month
 
The pods for the Omnipod holds 200U and I'm using just over a 100U over a three day period, so need to cut back on the amount of insulin that I fill the pod with, like everyone really hate waste.
 
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