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Inset II users

MushyPeaBrain

MushyPeaBrain

Well-Known Member
Messages
647
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Please can you answer a question for me - how often do your Insets fail?

I spoke to my DSN about changing set type as I get worried about whether my Inset is working. She said Insets kink and as long as I'm only getting one about every 2 months it's normal. She said I would find the same issue with other teflons sets.

I am slim build, but not skinny. I can pinch an inch of fat in all the areas I insert, sometimes a little more than an inch. I don't want to go through the stress of trying angled sets for nothing.
 
I have used Insets for a long while now. I have a kink once in a very long blue moon. When and if they fail it's usually because I've hit whatever you have to hit to get blood come back up through the tube or when it stings as soon as the insulin goes in. I take it out and start again. On the whole mine work pretty well. Mine are 6mm.
 
I first had tender links angled ones or whatever they are called, I HATED them. Sure, they seemed to work well but I hated putting them in. Scares me to think about it if I'm honest. Have tried another set from Roche that goes in 90 degrees, don;t know what they're called but everyone has kinked and hurt SO BAD!
 
MushyPeaBrain said:
Please can you answer a question for me - how often do your Insets fail?

I spoke to my DSN about changing set type as I get worried about whether my Inset is working. She said Insets kink and as long as I'm only getting one about every 2 months it's normal. She said I would find the same issue with other teflons sets.

I am slim build, but not skinny. I can pinch an inch of fat in all the areas I insert, sometimes a little more than an inch. I don't want to go through the stress of trying angled sets for nothing.
Click to expand...

Have you tried a 9mm inset? This might just be all it is.
Perhaps ring Animas and ask to try some different sets.
I have found the staff very helpful re sending out dif cannulas to try. Personally think the pump is a load of you know what but the staff are good.

Can you explain exactly what you do for a set change? Perhaps this way some of us can pin point whats going wrong for you.
 
Thanks Candi-girl. I must admit I am petrified of the angled ones but I now have a young son and I need to find a more reliable set so that I don't have to try and manage failed cannulas while caring for a toddler!

CarbsRok this is what I do for a set change:

I fire 50% of my hourly basal rate into the current set and then disconnect. Next I take a hot shower, with the old set still in. After the shower I sit in my towel drying and trying to relax for about 15 minutes.

Next I run downstairs and get the set from the porch (this isn't heated so keeps the set cool and the teflon a little firmer). I am very careful as I take off the wrapper and unwind the tubing not to move too quick or pull anything to hard. I pull back the set with the tubing in the groove and fire it into the air to check it all works ok. If all is well I reload and position the set on myself.

I'm careful to try and get a flat bit of body (I use stomach and hips but I avoid the area I used to inject into around my belly button for fear of scar tissue). I lay the set against my skin, check the tube is in the groove and take several deep breaths. I'm always stood up. I have to try and relax and concentrate to make sure I push both sides of the set at the same time.

Once fired in I push down in the middle to fix the set. I do this several times. Then I slip my fingers down inside the edge of the center to push the sticky bit onto my skin before I pull of the set. I have to do this or it doesn't stick right and my DSN said this was ok.

If all is well I reconnect, fill cannula and push 0.5u through. Next I bolus for my meal plus 50% and wait 2 hours. Sometimes I can tell then the set is ok but other times I need to wait another hour to see that my BG has dropped.

Sometimes though my BG is spot on and it's only when my pump alarms that evening that I find out my set is kinked. Due to this I always leave my old set in until after dinner as back up.
 
MushyPeaBrain said:
CarbsRok this is what I do for a set change:

I fire 50% of my hourly basal rate into the current set and then disconnect. Next I take a hot shower, with the old set still in. After the shower I sit in my towel drying and trying to relax for about 15 minutes.

Next I run downstairs and get the set from the porch (this isn't heated so keeps the set cool and the teflon a little firmer). I am very careful as I take off the wrapper and unwind the tubing not to move too quick or pull anything to hard. I pull back the set with the tubing in the groove and fire it into the air to check it all works ok. If all is well I reload and position the set on myself.
This confuses me! The teflon is injected via a steel needle so no need to firm it up so to speak. I suspect most of your problems are due to firing it the air like you are doing as the force is bound to warp the steel needle and cannula. Also going from cold to warm body would cause precipitation thus this could cause a blockage
I'm careful to try and get a flat bit of body (I use stomach and hips but I avoid the area I used to inject into around my belly button for fear of scar tissue). I lay the set against my skin, check the tube is in the groove and take several deep breaths. I'm always stood up. I have to try and relax and concentrate to make sure I push both sides of the set at the same time.

Once fired in I push down in the middle to fix the set. I do this several times. Then I slip my fingers down inside the edge of the center to push the sticky bit onto my skin before I pull of the set. I have to do this or it doesn't stick right and my DSN said this was ok.
I wonder also if sticking the set in the fridge damages the stickability of the tape? Once you have the cover off of the set run a alcohol swab around the edge of it so no stick around the edge to keep it stuck to the casing
If all is well I reconnect, fill cannula and push 0.5u through. Next I bolus for my meal plus 50% and wait 2 hours. Sometimes I can tell then the set is ok but other times I need to wait another hour to see that my BG has dropped.
You might find better results by using a temp basal for an hour as this lowers blood sugars quicker than a straight correction.
Sometimes though my BG is spot on and it's only when my pump alarms that evening that I find out my set is kinked. Due to this I always leave my old set in until after dinner as back up.
Click to expand...
When you say your pump has alarmed is it saying blockage or not primed? Instead of taking the whole set out just disconnect and fill tubing or prime to see if it was just a kinked tube. Any blockage in the cannulaI would suspect is due either to the change in temp from fridge to body. I doubt the insulin would like this to much as it has a very small cannula to go through or the cannula has been damaged due to you doing a practice fireing. Perhaps ring technical support and ask their opinion.

All I do for a set change is shower the morning it's due for a change and at lunch time pop new set in, fill cannula if the set I'm using needs it and bolus for lunch leaving the old set in for a back up.
Hope some of that helps you.
 
CarbsRok thank you for taking the time to reply. I find your comments very helpful and I am very keen to try the Contact D again. I am going to ask Animas for a new box just incase the other one was faulty.

With regards to putting the sets in the fridge/porch I never did that until the hot weather at the start of this year. I suddenly got a kinked cannula with almost every set so I contacted my DSN. She said the warmer weather softened the teflon and to pop the set in the fridge so it was less likely to kink. I had heard other people suggest this and it worked really well. Almost no kinking for ages. It also hurt less to insert. However as the weather cooled down the sets got too cold so I don't put them in the fridge anymore.

I never have problems with the Insets sticking, only the Contact steels that I tried. They were only half as sticky as the Insets and I guess this isn't right?

I never change my tubing at the same time as set change so the insulin goes into room temperature sets and doesn't cause me any problems.

I have wondered if firing the set once changes anything. I mentioned it to Animas and they didn't see an issue though, as long as it was just the once. Doing this has helped me prevent using a set that doesn't fire right and I'm not sure I'm brave enough to just fire in without checking.

When my pump alarms it's an "Occulsion Detected" alarm. I have to disconnect and prime to stop the alarm and there is never any problem with my tubing. When I get this alarm the cannula is always kinked on removal.

With regards to the temp basal I didn't realise that would lower BG quicker. I used to do this but I stopped when it started to make kinked cannulas harder to spot. When my cannulas kink some insulin still gets through. With a temp basal I found it took until much later that night to spot, as the alarm often doesn't go off until I have bolused 2 meals. However I am open to trying a temp basal again, maybe a higher one is needed.

CarbsRok how do you insert your Contact d? Do you push hard down? Do you always use the tape stuff over the top? I am really keen to try these steel sets again and every detail helps. Also how long do you leave the old set in for? When I tried the steels I removed the old set first as they take up more room and I thought that was easier.
 
CarbsRok I did it!!! I fired in without firing in the air first! Probably sounds silly to people but I'm so nervous of the set I'd got into the habit of doing that to prepare myself. If there is even a chance that firing straight in sorts my issues better I'm prepared to do it.

Have also put temp basal of 150% for 2 hours to see how that works.
 
MushyPeaBrain said:
CarbsRok how do you insert your Contact d? Do you push hard down? Do you always use the tape stuff over the top? I am really keen to try these steel sets again and every detail helps. Also how long do you leave the old set in for? When I tried the steels I removed the old set first as they take up more room and I thought that was easier.
Click to expand...

Hi Mpb,
Once it is primed and read to go I remove the backing and push in gently but firmly into place. I also add a strip of tape over the top to make sure it doesn't get yanked off. (No matter what set I use tape is added)
I also leave the old set in place for a couple of hours. Better safe than sorry.
Today in the post I recieved some 8mm contact D's and they are a lot better than the 6mm. So well worth ringing up and asking to try a couple 1st. Animas are very helpful in this dept. :)
 
I had wondered about the 8mm ones but had thought they might hurt more. Do you mind if I ask why you think they are better? I'm currently using 6mm Insets so I'd like to try the 6mm first, as also I know I can bring myself to insert these. Also my bolus always stings a bit and so I thought 8mm might sting more. When I tried before I was pinching up my skin quite a bit and I wonder if that caused problems?

Can you also please remind me what tape you use and where I get it from?

Do you change your set every other day?
 
MushyPeaBrain said:
I had wondered about the 8mm ones but had thought they might hurt more. Do you mind if I ask why you think they are better? I'm currently using 6mm Insets so I'd like to try the 6mm first, as also I know I can bring myself to insert these. Also my bolus always stings a bit and so I thought 8mm might sting more. When I tried before I was pinching up my skin quite a bit and I wonder if that caused problems?

Can you also please remind me what tape you use and where I get it from?

Do you change your set every other day?
Click to expand...

The 8mm are better due to absorption. I used 9mm for ages but lost so much weight I went down to a 6mm control was ok but having blips every now and then. Since being on the animas the 6mm have been as good as useless. So as a final resort I have tried 8mm and at last normal numbers.
They def are not painful to insert nor are they uncomfy to wear.
8mm is the same size as the insulin syringe needle pos slightly slimmer but same length.
As you had problems with non delivery and insulin coming out when using 6mm perhaps an 8mm would also be a better option.
I don't pinch the skin at all just press it straight in.
If you have problems due to your phobia have you thought about using a numbing cream 1st?
As to the stinging that normally only happens with larger doses of insulin.(+5u)
But whilst playing with the pump last night I found that if you use an extended delivery and set it for 0.1hr it will deliver the dose over a 5 minute period.
Have to say though using the 8mm there is no sting on delivery at all.

I do leave the steel ones in for 3 days but have been told to use for 2 only as scar tissue will build up.
So as from today it will be a 2 day change.
Animas will send you a couple of 6mmand 8mm if you ask them.
Tape used is Mefix 2.5cm x 5m I have it on prescription. But any tape will do as long as you are not allergic to it and area can breath ok.
 
Hmmm, sorry to butt in on your conversation but think I may give the 8mm a shot on my next order instead of the 6mm.
 
candi-girl said:
Hmmm, sorry to butt in on your conversation but think I may give the 8mm a shot on my next order instead of the 6mm.
Click to expand...
Again just ring your pump company and ask to try them. It's better to do that then find yourself with cannulas you can't use :) If they work fine or better results then order them instead of 6mm.
 
Numbing cream doesn't work with the phobia. I use it before giving blood for my HbA1c and it doesn't help. I managed to use the 6mm fine once I realised that they didn't hurt. I have thought about using 8mm but was concerned I would hit muscle with them. Often for me the bolus stings with 1u or more, although not always and sometimes the stinging only starts after a day. I have my speed set on slow and can only bolus 2.5u max in one go.

As you are slim carbdRok and still using 8mm I feel more confident in giving them a go. I just really feel that if I can make these work I wont feel afraid on the pump. It would be life changing to know a set works within hours and wont kink at any point!! Do you sleep on the 8mm ok? Sometimes I could feel the 6mm ones, especially if my toddler kicked them :shock:
 
CarbsRok said:
candi-girl said:
Hmmm, sorry to butt in on your conversation but think I may give the 8mm a shot on my next order instead of the 6mm.
Click to expand...
Again just ring your pump company and ask to try them. It's better to do that then find yourself with cannulas you can't use :) If they work fine or better results then order them instead of 6mm.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will ring them. I will also ask if I can try an inset 30 as well. :D
 
MushyPeaBrain said:
Numbing cream doesn't work with the phobia. I use it before giving blood for my HbA1c and it doesn't help. I managed to use the 6mm fine once I realised that they didn't hurt. I have thought about using 8mm but was concerned I would hit muscle with them. Often for me the bolus stings with 1u or more, although not always and sometimes the stinging only starts after a day. I have my speed set on slow and can only bolus 2.5u max in one go.

As you are slim carbdRok and still using 8mm I feel more confident in giving them a go. I just really feel that if I can make these work I wont feel afraid on the pump. It would be life changing to know a set works within hours and wont kink at any point!! Do you sleep on the 8mm ok? Sometimes I could feel the 6mm ones, especially if my toddler kicked them :shock:
Click to expand...

Oddly enough I feel the 8 mm less than the 6mm. I have just prodded and poked the 8 mm and can not feel a thing. Numbers have been 100% better since putting in the 8mm.
I can sleep on a bed of of nails lol. But no set has ever been uncomfy to sleep on.
Personally it wouldn't worry me having a 2 point rise after a set change. It doesn't mean the set has failed at all just give it time and don't panic.
 
Have just spoken to a lovely lady at Animas who is going to post me out some 9mm sets to try. She also told me Animas 2020s are £2500 and the Vibe £2,800, so that answers my question in another thread.
 
Candi-girl Animas are great like that. Just called and ordered a box of 8mm contact detach (wanted plenty to try as I have a good feeling these may work well for me!) and they are on their way.

I have Inset 30 samples that arrived next day but I've been too cowardly to try them. The first time I fired an Inset II in it took me 30 mins :shock: Luckily that was on saline!! I would love to hear how you get on with both :)
 
I haven't ordered the inset 30 samples, I am going to perhaps try them another time, I'm not sure about them.

I just ripped my site out running up the stairs. Had to stick a new one in and it always takes me 5 mins or so to actually fire it in.

Let me know how you get on too.
 
wow, my samples have arrived already :shock: amazing service. needle looks rather ummm LONG! :crazy: but need a set change tomorrow so will give it a go!
 
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