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How do you know if the cannula is right one?

hboyt

Well-Known Member
Messages
102
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Ok so I've had the Medtronic 640g pump just over a month (so a bit new at this game!) last week had 6 days where i could not get bg under 10 Thought first time was the tubing because it kept going up before bed so changed the set and still high. After not coming down enough wondered if the insulin got too warm since when i changed the set next time with new vial within 3 hours was 3.7!! Then a friend mentioned maybe you need a different type of cannula, could be creating pockets of insulin under your skin instead of working. So is there some test to see if the cannula is working or is it just trying them out to see what works?? Would be glad to hear of any other experiences
 
hboyt said:
So is there some test to see if the cannula is working or is it just trying them out to see what works??
Click to expand...
My experience is that you have to try them out and see what works. Contact your DSN and explain the issue, then ask them to provide you with some examples of the different types. You will then be able to test all of them to see how well they work.

Many of us find that we need different cannulas for different locations on the body.

In your example, the other possibility is that the cannula had kinked. The first thing to do when you have abnormal glucose levels that don't seem to be working is to change the cannula. Check it when you take it out to determine whether you are getting kinks.
 
Thanks for your reply tim2000s.
If there is a "kink in the cannula" what does that look like?....sorry to ask a basic question but havent ever noticed anything like that!
Also would you use different cannula for different locations on the tummy? Cause some spots are more sensitive than others. Is that just down to how if it was inserted correctly?
One more question: is it common to feel the insulin going in, almost a stinging feeling when giving bolus? It dosent happen every time is why i ask...
 
hboyt said:
Thanks for your reply tim2000s.
One more question: is it common to feel the insulin going in, almost a stinging feeling when giving bolus? It dosent happen every time is why i ask...
Click to expand...
I had a problem a month ago, for a period of about 4 days after I changed my set and insulin, the bolus doses were stinging like I can't describe. Not knowing what a kink felt like, I assumed it was that (I still don't!) and changed the set, but the pain persisted. I changed the bolus delivery down to slow, which improved it a little, but it was still painful, and it turned out it was a problem with the insulin in the end, Once I used a new vial, it resolved immediately so this may be worth considering?
If anyone can elaborate on how to know there is a kink I would be grateful (from what I have been told, you only know once it is removed - is this true?) ... Thanks.
 
I've attached a few pictures below:





It can also look like the end of the cannula has been compressed. It looks a little like a concertina.
 
I've only had it once with no symptoms other than lack of insulin delivery, so I can't really comment @paulliljeros
 
I've had that stinging feeling when it was kinked. But only once so I'm not expert.


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