Medtronic 7 day infusion sets

Peter03 said:

I have been on the 7 day infusion sets for 2 years now and I usually get 7 days with them but we are different also recently started on the Medtronic sensor 4 and am finding the last the full 7 days as well

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I’m really excited about a 7 day infusion and reservoir change. Before I knew better, I extended regular infusion set from 3 to 5 days for costs reasons. I stopped doing that when my Endo said it was important to change after no more than 3 days. With the extended option, I‘ll be able to extend safely. I thought I’d wait to try them after I get the 780G, but may try them now. Anyone know if you can use the extended 7 day with the 670G?

I don’t see why not as it’s the materials used in the Extended sets which are more suitable for longer use.
They look exactly the same as the 3 day sets apart from the cannula connector is a blue colour and the reservoir screw in cap is slightly taller which makes it easier to screw/unscrew into the pump.
After 2 months I’ve had a couple of them start to fail around the 6 day time which I think is acceptable.
Depending on how much Insulin you use, you may still need to change reservoirs which is easy.
Overall they feel much more comfortable to me and with less impact on my cannula sites.
I would check with Medtronic just to be sure though.

Do you know if the extended infusion sets are much more expensive?

Also, I just read on a Medtronic website that the Extended wear infusion sets had a different kind of adhesive. Hmmm….hope I’ll be. Ok with that. I have very sensitive skin.

I’m in the UK so I don’t see the costs as it’s all done through the NHS. If you consider the extended use then that should help to offset costs.
I did ask Medtronic if I could refill the same reservoir (designed for 7 days) if and when it needs a top up, but they advised me to refer to my hospital team.
Medtronic’s official guidance is to replace them.
It would be interesting to know what others do about this.

I see. I have plenty of reservoirs, so I can change those out every 3 days, but I would like to use those 7 day infusion sets. I hope I can tolerate the adhesive. I may ask them to send me a sample to try. Pump supplies are so expensive here. Even with insurance, it’s cost prohibitive to many.

Unfortunately, you would need to use the dedicated Extended Reservoirs, but I think it would be a great idea to refer to Medtronic and request some samples.

If you have installed the infusion set correctly, meaning you did not pull up on the blue plastic needle protective cap during the removal process, then I have no problem leaving them in for a week. One thing to check on is if the tape has started to release prematurely/early then that may indicate a problem with the installation procedure. I am sure after a week that you may have some insulin that has crystallized inside the tube, but it doesn't seem to affect the delivery of the insulin. What I am saying is if I bolus then my BS will drop. The new metal infusion sets are working for a week, so that tells us if the insulin is injected then the transfer and absorption are continuous so that same logic should apply to the plastic as well.

I have been successful using the Minimed Quick set for a 7 day period without using any additional adhesive. I have now noticed a problem with the insulin absorption sometime after the 5th day of usage. My reservoir will typically last between 6-7 days, but I am only eating twice a day to maintain my body weight. Now after many months of monitoring my BS and Insulin on a daily basis, it seems like I need to do additional bolus's on the 6-7th days. After inspecting the infusion set tubing with a microscope, I cannot see any buildup of insulin. So, it would seem that the insulin must be crystalizing around the site over time and reducing the vessel access to what is pumped into the skin. It would seem over time that residual insulin is being absorbed by the body but not thru the vessels. Now how did I come to that conclusion, you well reuse the infusion sites over time and the absorption returns to a normal level. This would also explain why diabetics who inject insulin with a needle into the same sites repeatedly have a problem with absorption. You are then told it is a bad site and not to use it again, but over time it can resolve itself and is not a problem, at least for me. Now the tubing was tested but what happens under the skin is just my speculation from 55 years of T!. strictly based on my observations. Pump 770g

Minimed quick sets are only designed to be used up to 3 days, so I'm not surprised you're having issues if you try to use them for 7 days. Medtronic do an extended set which are designed to be used up to 7 days.

Hopeful34 said:

Minimed quick sets are only designed to be used up to 3 days, so I'm not surprised you're having issues if you try to use them for 7 days. Medtronic do an extended set which are designed to be used up to 7 days.

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The insulin delivery to the same spot creates the problem when you hit the 6th and seventh day with absorption into the bloodstream. I cannot find any blockage in the tubing after careful examination using a microscope for the inspection. That would tend to suggest that **any infusion set** that is used will become problematic before the 7-day time frame has elapsed is the jist of my post. Now, I have not tried using the 13m depth tubing because the deeper you insert that will displace more tissue leading to a greater chance of nicking a vein, With the blood mixing with the insulin it will not be absorbed back into your veins. Been there done that, so I know that can happen! The quick set if installed correctly will easily last you for 7 days or more, remember it is only a piece of plastic tubing the same as used in an IV. Oh, I inspect the tubing to verify that it has not bent or damaged in any way after the extraction.

Bill Wireman said:

That would tend to suggest that **any infusion set** that is used will become problematic before the 7-day time frame has elapsed.

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I’ve used the Medtronic Quick-Set/Mio and Mio Advance Infusion sets over a number of years and I would always see signs of inflammation at or sometimes before the 3rd day change time.

I’ve been using the Medtronic Extended sets now for nearly 3 months and I see absolutely no sign of inflammation at 7th day.

I would always take the advice of the medical professionals regarding Infusion sets.

Infusion set specs: https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/customer-support/infusion-set-support/compare-set
The Extended and Quick Set are actually identical if you read the specifications shown on the link.
This is what I have found in my testing with both capable of lasting 7 days, so in reality both are good choices for that time frame.
I do not know where you read that inflammation was a problem in my posting, as it is not a problem at all.
My statement was that both sets would work for same period of time, but the absorption of the insulin decreases at the site sometime after 5th day.
Why do they suggest changing the quick set after 3 days can be answered by the way it is installed following their directions, as I have done in the past.
The quick set requires you to remove the blue needle protective cap by twisting slightly until you feel a snap, which is a different procedure from the extended sets. This is where that procedure creates a problem with insertion, since the cap is still attached to the tape and tubing. The upward force you apply to remove the cap will lift the tubing and tape upward on the needle. So, when you insert the needle the tubing will roll inward by the force of the skin conforming to the tapered shape. Now the tubing has expanded on the end, looking like a donut which will then compress the skin during the insertion process.

With the 870g the user would not be aware of any reduction during the 7 days of insulin absorption due to the auto bolus feature automatically compensating for any increased demand without the user having to intervene. Although, it may take a little longer during the 6th and 7th days to compensate based on the algorithm presets that have been recorded for the insulin corrections.
Using the info supplied by Medtronic for the Quick Set installation caused me problems from the start, I have posted an update that will allows me to use the Quick Set for 7 days just like the Extended infusion set, remember that they are actually identical in specifications.

https://news.medtronic.com/2022-11-...ps-that-Doubles-Wear-Time-up-to-7-days-in-U-S

@Bill Wireman this info from Medtronic shows that there are differences with their extended sets to their 3 day sets. However if you prefer to keep using the 3 day sets for longer, that's your choice. Personally I wouldn't do it.

This is all really interesting. Are the Extended infusion sets more expensive than regular?

Medtronic refer to their Extended Sets being made from ‘new materials’ which owing to their commercially sensitive & unique nature they won’t disclose.

Medtronic info provided about the extended sets : "The innovative design of the Medtronic Extended infusion set leverages proprietary technology, including a new tubing connector that improves physical and chemical stability of insulin, the reliability of infusion site performance, and reduces the risk of infusion set occlusion. "
Again, what I have found was the occlusions were 100% the result of the installation procedure used for the quick set, this has also been proven to my satisfaction by the results for over the last 8+ months with zero problems. The diameter of the tubing has not changed during the usage time, or I should say when examined under a microscope. What I describe is my observations of how the set is performing in real time usage, which also helped me to detect the problems with the installation procedure of the quick set install that I followed exactly to the letter. If you have a problem, you can sit on your hands and ignore it or try to find the explanation for what is happening. The first clue was the 670G insertions sets did not give me any problems, it was only when upgrading to the 770G using the Quick Sets did the blockage problems start to occur, that should make everyone think and rationalize a solution. This was not a simple problem to resolve, after removing the adapter and checking a bolus everything checked fine. Following up by removing the quick set and again checking the bolus through the infusion set also check out fine. The combination of the ballooning of the tube during the insertion process and the back pressure from the skin combined to give the pump blockage error. The initial testing showed no problems, so I began the collection of the used infusion sets followed by examination using a microscope to find the problem with the tubing. To resolve that problem, I examined the set before insertion using a microscope and noted that the cap was lifting the tape and tubing upward on the needle as it was being removed per the directions provided by Medtronic. If you take the time to use the cap to reseat the tubing after it is fully released from the infusion set then you can save yourself a lot of grief.
I know that just following the directions can sometimes lead you to very unexpected problems! This problem will occur with the insertion either doing it manually or using the serter, as I ordered one to verify after a question on the forums. I will not tell you something without having first-hand experience to reference my answers.

Prancy said:

This is all really interesting. Are the Extended infusion sets more expensive than regular?

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No, the Extended are cheaper now at $20 US for 3 versus $105 of the Quick Set for a quantity 10 at the Diabetic Warehouse or 6.67 versus 10.50 each which is a surprise to me, so I will be changing with my next order. good question!

Bill Wireman said:

No, the Extended are cheaper now at $20 US for 3 versus $105 of the Quick Set for a quantity 10 at the Diabetic Warehouse or 6.67 versus 10.50 each which is a surprise to me, so I will be changing with my next order. good question!

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I’m very pleased to learn the Extended Sets are cheaper for you in the US and that you will be changing to them.