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Cannula site infection

AlexandraMarnie89

Well-Known Member
Messages
98
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi,

Can anyone tell me what a site infection would look like please? I've been having problems over the weekend with hypos and now with highs. This morning was bleeding from cannula site so took it out and changed it to the other side of my stomach. During the day it's got more sore/red around the site, bit of a lump and now have a bit of a rash too so not sure what to do? :S
 
You could try a warm or cold pack if it's hurting and some painkillers or go and see your GP as soon as possible.
 
Itching and redness, swelling, hard lump under the skin. If more severe you may see pus.

Whenever a canula site feels odd, change it immediately. Swab the site with alcohol or Dettol and leave it to breathe for a few days. Keep other canulas away from that area for a while. If there is blood, pus or a wound you may want to apply a breathable dressing and pay attention to it.

Prevent infection by:

-Cleaning and swabbing the site before you apply a canula
-Changing canulas early and often
-Change at any hint of trouble (pain, itching, movement, blood)
 
If you continue to have unexplained highs after changing the set, that could indicate ongoing infection. In that case, or in any case where the old site is not healing, see a doctor.
 
Today after posting a reply(so** law). I got this a slight lump and red first time ever, set change tonight stang first of, so changed, bs went up, but now on way down as changed my site. How long have you been on a pump AlexandraMarine89??
 

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Julie1471 said:
Today after posting a reply(so** law). I got this a slight lump and red first time ever, set change tonight stang first of, so changed, bs went up, but now on way down as changed my site. How long have you been on a pump AlexandraMarine89??
Click to expand...
Mine look like that all the time :s I'm scarring badly from cannula sites actually

I've been on pump since 13th may so just over a month. I've had highs again since Sunday night - was 33.2 2 hours ago so took insulin and now flashing up hi again so something's definitely wrong. Feel like I should probably change the site again but everywhere on my stomach is sore and lumpy but I don't feel comfortable using anywhere else as my legs always bled like mad if I used them for injections and I'll probably get the angle wrong if I even attempt to put it in my back/bum fed up now tbh!
 
Nothing wrong with yr photo Julie. I sometimes get marks like those but after a couple of days, they start to fade. Tea tree oil is meant to be good for infusion marks

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
With very high bg levels caused by whatever, always best to use an insulin pen or syringe and deliver the dose and not depend on the pump


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
These are my last few sites, bar the one I'm sure is infected as it's too low to take a photo of - the ones you can see are at least 5 days old and still red and angry (doesn't show just how red as couldn't really get a good photo)
 

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iHs said:
With very high bg levels caused by whatever, always best to use an insulin pen or syringe and deliver the dose and not depend on the pump


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...
Yeah I have done, even though my handset told me not to correct :s what's that about?!!! Have been correcting with pens into my arm all day and so far no good!
 
What correction factor are you using only when more insulin is being used altogether, the correction factor changes. Also a very high bg usually means adding a bit more insulin to the correction calculations


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
What length cannula are you using? Are you putting them in places you injected for a long time? If so it might be scar tissue causing problems. I can't put my sets round my tummy due to years of injecting. Maybe try your hips? You also might be reacting to teflon in the cannula so worth trying steel sets as well.
 
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