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Pumping with Accu-Chek Combo

S

stoney

Well-Known Member
Messages
321
Location
South Wales
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Pump
Hi Everyone, I know it's been a long time since I have been on here but what with coping with James's fluctuations during his exams, his two weeks work experience and holidays (during which I have fractured my wrist in two places, had an operation and a plate put in and now in a cast - which is a long story) I have been too distracted to come here.

Anyway good news James will be going on his Pump on 31st August, we have been a couple of times to hospital going through everything which I might add is a bit daunting, but nevertheless it's got to be onwards and upwards. He and another lad are going on at the same time and we will be swaping telephone numbers which will help and am told there will be a lot of contact toing and froing to begin with.

He has been inserting the flexlink infusion set on two occasions just getting used to doing it but today during his shower the thing just peeled off.

Any ideas as to stop this happening for when the time comes to him being on the pump.

I will no doubt be a regular visitor when the time comes and hope this cast will be off by then. Stitches are coming out tomorrow and another cast for 2 weeks and then I hope that's it. Typing is not easy one handed.

Thanks

Yvonne
 
Hi Stoney

Sorry to hear about your wrist fracture but hope that you'll be able to use it more once the cast is removed.

There are many many things to learn about using a pump so dont worry if things dont go right when you first start off. There will be plenty of hypos and also some highs as you start to adjust the pump settings. It will all seem a bit mind boggling to begin with and the more you find out, the more you learn but sometimes it still seems to be very confusing. Eventually you will find your way with it all. It can seem as though you might feel as though you are walking around a garden maze but dont know which way to go.....

When I first started pumping the 500 rule was used to work out my pump settings and will also be used I think to work out the settings James will use. But dont worry if you find that the settings are not at all correct. Unless James eats about 500g CHO per day I would think you will have to adjust the bolus carb ratio (which might well need be nearly the same as on MDI) so dont worry about adjusting the settings. If you dont, you might find that bg levels could well go up into double figures so plenty of bg testing needs to be done.

Although basal testing without eating any carb can determine the correct background rates of insulin, it will pay you to try and find out these rates with the pump before James goes to bed and both you and James will have some sleepless nights while you do the finger pricking to find out if the basal rate is too high or too low as James might be a bit hypo for some of the hours during the night and then as morning starts to approach his bg levels will then start to elevate so lots of ajdusting to the overnight basal rates will need to done. A pump dsn at your hospital should be able to help you out but the best way of finding out is to try things yourself.

The Flexlink set is fairly nice and easy to use... Yes it does make a noise but the introducer goes into the skin very fast and there is very little discomfort and even then it only lasts for about 5 secs. If James has problems with the adhesive sticking to the skin it might be that his skin has some grease on it so you can buy some alchohol swabs (ebay for cheapness) and wipe the skin first with that, let it dry and then insert. That should make the adhesive stick ok but if it doesn't phone Accu chek to ask for help as it might be that the set is faulty and that the batch you are using will need to be replaced. Also make sure that James stands or lies down to put the set it as it does need to go into the skin at a 90 degree angle. Get yourself some sprays of medical adhesive remover (LiftPlus, Niltac etc) then taking the set out is not difficult.

Other than that..... good luck with it all. Make sure your GP will prescribe you about 300 strips per month as you will need them with all the bg testing that will need to be done.
 
Thanks iHs for reply.

James has had some consumables delivered ready for his pump. Can anyone tell me why he has received a box of
Flexlink Infusion set Cannulas and a box of
Flexlink Infusion Sets

What is the difference (I can see that there is tubing with one and not the other) but for what reason.

Please bear with me as I may come up with quite a few more silly questions.

Thanks

Yvonne
 
What you have got I think.... is a box of just the sets on their own and also a box of sets complete with the tubes. Tubes can be used for about 6 days before they need replacing but the infusion sets will need to replaced every 3 days.
 
Hi everyone I have another question with regard to the infusion sets. This is the second trial on the infusion set everything ok but when James showers the set starts to peel off. This time we did put Hypafix tape over to see if that helped but that peeled off as well. Is it the shower gel, he uses Lynx and does tend to spend forever in the shower.

Any suggestions as we would like to try one more before he goes on the pump on 31st August. I have read to prepare site with alcohol wipes but have also read that these tend to dry up your skin.

Thanks
Yvonne
 
I've never had this problem in fact I go swimming with mine on and it doesn't come unstuck until I want it too. When he puts them on, is he smoothing the sticky bit down all the way round? Is he very sweaty when putting them on? If not then it does suggest that maybe he has a faulty batch (assuming he's pulling the backing paper off!)

He might just need to try and avoid soaking the set in hot water - perhaps he has his showers very hot, that's the only other thing I can think of ,s sorry!
 
I think that the problem might be the hot shower and spending too long in it. Could try Transpore tape which is fairly good and waterproof.. Another alternative is to try Skin Tac which makes infusion sets stick ok. You can I think get free samples of it from MG Healthcare, Grimsby.......
 
Hi iHs and l0vaduck

Showed James both your replies and he smiled, so asked him about his showers and do you know what he just stands there face on with the water pouring down on his stomach (what does he expect). I have told him he has to change his ways now and we will be trying another set next week again before having the pump. There is no common sense some times :crazy:

Will let you know outcome.

Thanks again

Yvonne
 
Hi Everyone, cast off wrist, doing my exercises, physio next week, but can't drive yet

Well here we are up and running today with the Pump. Wow what a lot of info, James quite cool about it all, me very anxious and Dad just taking it all in. All info set up at clinic this morning, so far so good, got my matchsticks ready for testing through the nights and back in clinic on Monday afternoon for maybe some tweaking.

I would just like to say thanks for all your info in advance it did make it a lot easier to understand with my prior knowledge. Will give you all an update after visit on Monday. DSN is on mobile all weekend if we need her and just had a call from her to find out how things are, so don't feel too alone.

Bye for now
 

Hiya,
glad to hear your arm is mending ok now.
Fantastic news on the pump for James as well. I'm sure you will be fine. Tell James to look after his pocket pancreas :lol:
 
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