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ADVICE/HELP AGAIN PLEASE - ACCU CHEK COMBO

S

stoney

Well-Known Member
Messages
321
Location
South Wales
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Pump
Morning,

I know the rule for changing the flexlink cannula is 2-3 days and the infusion set 6 days. James changed his cannula yesterday (Wednesday) before tea and looking at the amount of insulin he has left it looks like he will need to change his infusion set on Friday morning and not the 6th day being Saturday.

Question 1: James said he only needs to change the infusion set tomorrow then and not the cannula as well, but surely as it will be 2 days from changing the cannula we may as well change the whole thing, otherwise we will be changing more often than necessary am I right?

Question 2: If the cannula had only been in a day and then the next day we realised there was not enough insulin, then do we only change the infusion and keep the same cannula in (now I think I am confusing myself).

Also, James has a fun run day in school tomorrow so will need to do the infusion change before breakfast.

Question 3: Has anyone, to save time, done the insulin cartridge the night before in readiness for the morning, or is this a definite NO NO?

Thanks

Yvonne
 
Hi :)

I think youve got yourself confused with infusion set (cannula) and the cartridge which holds the insulin.

What youve got to try and do is fill the cartridge up with enough insulin to last James the 6 days and add on about 20u to deal with priming the tube and add on another 5u to deal with priming the infusion sets. That way there will be a few units spare to be enough incase James decides to eat more carb for some of his meals or decides to use a TBR. At the moment I think the dsn just wants you and James to get used to changing cartridges and inserting infusion sets after 3 days so with that in mind, you will only need to draw up 3 days worth of insulin plus the extra for the tube etc. Once you get used to filling cartridges and inserting infusion sets you can do them seperately or do them together. Its up to you to do what's convenient to you and James...

With regards to when you fill the cartridge etc..... its entirely up to you really. I sometimes do cartridge changes at night when there's no more insulin left or if there is enough to get me through me the night, I do it in the morning. If my infusion set has only been in 1 or 2 days I will leave it in until the 3rd day even though Ive replaced the cartridge the day before.... it doesn't matter..
 
iHs said:
Hi :)

I think youve got yourself confused with infusion set (cannula) and the cartridge which holds the insulin.

What youve got to try and do is fill the cartridge up with enough insulin to last James the 6 days and add on about 20u to deal with priming the tube and add on another 5u to deal with priming the infusion sets. That way there will be a few units spare to be enough incase James decides to eat more carb for some of his meals or decides to use a TBR. At the moment I think the dsn just wants you and James to get used to changing cartridges and inserting infusion sets after 3 days so with that in mind, you will only need to draw up 3 days worth of insulin plus the extra for the tube etc. Once you get used to filling cartridges and inserting infusion sets you can do them seperately or do them together. Its up to you to do what's convenient to you and James...

With regards to when you fill the cartridge etc..... its entirely up to you really. I sometimes do cartridge changes at night when there's no more insulin left or if there is enough to get me through me the night, I do it in the morning. If my infusion set has only been in 1 or 2 days I will leave it in until the 3rd day even though Ive replaced the cartridge the day before.... it doesn't matter..
Click to expand...

Hi me again

When James fills his cartridge, he puts in 315 units does the usual priming for flexlink it only needs 1unit plus enough to fill the gap (?) so he averages just over 300 units. It seems that he is using around 47-50 units per day with an overall ratio of 1:10 carbs. Breakfast is 77g and when in school he has a snack at first break 11am of 17g, then lunch at 1.30 around 85-90g and a snack of strawberries or some fruit around 15g when he gets home. Then tea averages around 90g and supper 77g also his basal rate profile is 13.1u and there are corrections to take into account.

Quote:Once you get used to filling cartridges and inserting infusion sets you can do them seperately or do them together. Its up to you to do what's convenient to you and James...Un Quote:

Am I understanding right then, that we can fill the insulin cartridge the night before, leave it stand at room temperature over night then do the changeover the morning before breakfast???? :roll:

Yvonne
 
Yes :)

Fill the cartridge up the night or day before and then just put it in the pump when its convenient to you and James to do it.

You need to control the pump and not the pump control you :lol:
 
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