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CANNULA CHANGES AND HIGH READINGS

S

stoney

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

Does anyone get the same problem as James. When he changes his cannula or complete infusion he tends to get high readings for a least a day and has to treat them with corrections and TBR's. I know this is not the answer, but does anyone else get the same and if so what do you do to get them down.

I know he is revising for his GCSE's as well so there's stress added to this as well, but we have had this problem before and the DSN is not that happy for us using TBR's all the time. We are with her again at the end of April, so more tweaking is necessary as the exams start on the 13th May.

Thanks
 
If happening regular and you are needing higher tbr, I would think fasting tests need to be a priority to make sure they are correct. Might be an permanent higher basal is needed and can be fine tuned with the fasting tests. The nurse should of suggested this !

If basal is ok, then the bolus ratios need to be looked at.

This is assuming the priming of tubing is being done and also the priming of cannula

good luck, it can take time to get things sorted when changes are needed.


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This sounds too much of a coincidence if its every time he changes the set.
It sounds as though he may not be priming sufficiently.
I always tap the pump or tap it gently on the table to get the bubbles to the top and prime it for longer than they say. I don't know where the bubbles come from but there's always one!
 
hi;

i used animas pump for 2 years & found it ruled my life, just as i read between your lines; i have used needles for nearly 47 yrs, one of the happiest days of my life was the day i removed the pump from my dia management & reverted to needles, even though i can use 5/day, bgls are less than 7mmol/L and mentally i am happier because i manage my diabetes and not the pump managing me. If you are having so much ongoing problems flick the pump, they dont work for everyone, & high bgls around 18 mmol/l were not uncommon when i used the pump & to add insult to injury, no fault of my own, u cannot see if the canula is inserted correctly is another problem. Until the day we can use nasal sprays or the like for delivery, use a needle.

timwho
sydney
 
Have you tried a different lot number or batch number of your sets?
Flexlinks- need to check he is priming enough through..
Rapid d's.. When connecting the two tubes together whilst priming through... Hold the set tube loosely and flick the connectors with your finger for at least 10 times. I don't know where or how air gets in these connectors when joining them together, but if you tap them when insulin has started going through there is a large amount of airbubbles that will follow through. I always do this with rapid d's when connecting any new set to the main tube. Please note, its the connectors at the set end that need to be flicked whilst dangling loosely from your hand.. NOT the connector to the pump.. This is not in the instructions for rapid d's.
Worth a go..
 
I used flexlink when I first had my pump but had loads of high readings. I much prefer the steel cannulas- so much more reliable and easier to insert. No messing around with introducer gadget either.
 
Thanks for replies. James is now saying he wants to come off pump as there's too many changes every 2 days and cartridge every 5 and what with the high readings he rather just put needles in himself OH DEAR!!

donnellydogs, James is on the flex link and he does everything you mentioned. We have now changed his carb ratio back to all 1:10 from the odd 1:12 it seems so far so good but a change of cannula will I am sure throw that out the window again. He is with DSN on Monday and I also feel tied sometimes to her should I wish to alter something myself for him.

I think the odds are against him at the moment as I don't think revision for GCSE's are helping either plus growth spurts. I just wish he could get out of these doldrums .

I KNOW the pump is a good thing but at his time of life he is not seeing the great benefits.

Hope the DSN can get through to him as he is usually such an easy going young man. I also can't get to grips with this fasting business, as he is either in school or having a lie in on weekends. I would like to show her some results of fasting on Monday. Any help on timings with this would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Yvonne x
 
Hi, I really would advise trying the rapid D cannulas if he hasn't already. They made life so much easier for me. Anything that takes the hassle out of pumping will, I'm sure encourage him to continue with it. Also, I was wondering why he changes cartridges every 5 days? Does he use a lot of insulin? I Change mine every 6 days (or sometimes 7 if I've forgotten to change cannula and gone 3 days, which does happen sometimes.) but I do need quite small amounts of insulin so I never use the whole cartridge.
 
Hi Luckystar96

Yes James is on the slight side not quite 9 stone and still growing and has around 300 grams carbs per day so uses a lot of insulin and it has nearly run out by 5 days. He has not tried the Rapid D's neither does the DSN ever mention trying them but I will mention this on Monday when we see her. He also changes cannula every 2 days as he tends to feel insulin going in if he leaves it for longer which he says hurts. By the way any thoughts on fasting times.

Yvonne
 
Fasting- The DSN will probably say test every 2 hrs, during a period of a few hrs . They gave me a sheet with all the times to fill in. I find I'm too weak without eating any carbs so I can't do it for long, but its a good idea to try and do it because if you can get the basal rates right everything falls into place and you can see exactly what's happening with food/blouses. I personally think you should test hourly when fasting as a lot can happen in 2hrs. This would be difficult at night though!
 
Going to try a few different times of day over the next few days and a 3am one to see how things are going through the night. As I changed his ratio to 1:10 throughout the day his BG's have been good since lunch yesterday although 2 readings were 4.7 tea time yesterday and lunch time today which he does not like, he hates being in the 4's.

Will be back in a few days

:thumbup:
 
I know a young girl age 9 on a pump, she does not do basal testi g at school time. Only rarely even on hols. The mum likes for her daughter to have a routine ( and I see her point with this).
Daughter has tests basically every 2 hrs from hetting up to going to bed. She is also tested at 11pm and 3am.
When we discuss levels and insulin, it is always the first week of holidays and the first week back to school when levels really going high but within 1 week the highs are much, much improved.
The daughter will only have carb ratio's changed if high 2 hours after a meal. At all other times basals are changed.
 
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