Changing to steel cannula

I have a rapid d from accuchek roche, 6mm. I love them and will not go back to a plastic teflon.

Much easier to put in by self than with an inserter from my point of view. If doing when standing up, I will know immediately if I have a tinsy winsy bit of pain just on it's way in, then I take it out and move it somewhere else before pressing the sticky stuff down.

For the last 3 sets I put in from the end of the box though, for some reason I have had quite a bit of redness on the skin where the glue has been, just on my left leg. Never expereinced this before, so don't know whether it was sticky stuff, or me. Now moved to my lower right part of tum for a change, and a new box...so still won't know whether it was the last 3 in the box or my leg....
It wasn't painful, just that even a week on, the redness where the sticky white pad goes is still there. This is a first though, and I showed my DSN on my visit to her yesterday, so she is aware that something hasn't quite been perfect for just the last 3 sets.

I have been using them since November last year. You are advised to change them every 2 days.

Hi,

Like DDogs i also use the rapid-D link with the accu-chek
Combo.

I was pumping using the teflon cannulas for less than two weeks before the teflon cannulas i was using were re-called
For kinking problems.

I was dubious at first but tried the steel 6mm cannula(90 degree insertion). And honestly i would never go back! Its much easier to insert, its comforting to know it wont kink too!

Downside is that they have to be changed every 48 hours but a small price to pay i think! I also find i can wear these higher on my stomach as the cannula is much smaller so doesnt need as much fatty tissue to be worn comfortably! Which is good for me as i only use my stomach for infusion sites but thats a personal preference.

You may find you can use legs easier too, helping stay away from lumps and
Rotate sites really well!

In all honestly i can neverreally say anything bad about steel cannulas from personal experience and would recommend everyone to at least try them.

Good luck!

They are great for all the reasons that people have said except not everyone can wear them. I seem to have unexplained BG highs when I use them and today I found one leaking insulin. My pump company said this can be my body rejecting them (see my thread Problems after Contact Detach set change).

I wanted to use them to stop kinking as I'm slim and feel I could use them in more areas. It seems unlikely I will be able to as nobody can resolve my issues They are much nicer to insert (and I'm needle phobic!) but you can sometimes feel them whereas I never have that with the teflon. It's very individual - some people never feel them. You need Lift Plus spray to remove them as you have to be more careful than with the teflon and of course you have to change more often.

I would highly recommend you get some samples and test them out when you can be relaxed about trying a new set.

Hi Tamsin

Have you had a go with the Mio? It's meant to be fairly good ( a bit like the Animas Inset II). Also, have you tried lying down when putting a Quickset in. It helps to ensure that the cannula goes in correctly.

Tamsin my DSN told the Quickset users in my pump start group to store them in the fridge as the teflon hardens and is less likely to kink. Also the inserters wear out so you might want to check that.

I use the Animas Inset II and was told that with these type of devices to stop kinking:

1. Stand up to insert
2. Use a flat area of skin
3. Don't push the set down onto your skin too hard, especially if you are slim
4. Make sure you push both buttons together equally, otherwise one side hits first and bends the set kinking it.

Hope that helps too

We don't know anything other than the steel cannula because that's the only one we've used. I can't tell you first-hand what they feel like but my daughter says she can't feel them at all. She wears the cannula sited on her bottom and has no problem sitting and doing rolly polly's etc. Once or twice we've inserted a cannula and she's immediately said it's uncomfortable, must have just been in a bad spot. We took it out immediately and re-sited it without problem. She's using the 6mm steel cannulas, you can get longer ones.

When you use a steel set make sure you read the instructions, the priming is different to the teflon ones I believe.