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Rash under Medtronic Silhouette Infusion Set

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Georgina1980

Newbie
Messages
2
Dear All,

I have been using a Medtronic Paradigm Pump for about two years and keep getting a nasty exzema-type rash under the sticky adhesive and that is part of the Silhouette cannula. It get's really itchy, red and can be quite bad in the warmer summer months. The rash was so uncomfotable on holiday recently that I had to take a pump break and go back to shots for two weeks to let my skin calm down. I also get quite bad scarring at the infusion site. Does anyone know of any infusion sets which are more hypoallergenic for use with the Paradigm pump?
I am quite lean so the 90 degree angle of sets like the Quick set is far too painful thus need a shallow insertion angle.

Any ideas much appreciated as this is literally quite irritating!!!

Georgina
 
have you tried the cavlon spray (not the cream) this helps to create a barrier between your skin and the adhesive.. You can also get tegaderm which is a very fine covering mainly used for covering high risk presure sore areas but can be used as a barrier..

If you've got a lunar lock to your tubing, you could change brands of infusion sets, the Accu-Check tender links have an angled sets... perhaps a different brand's adhesive will be better suited to you

Hope this helps
 
thanks for the response; following on from your answer I have a few questions.
What is a lunar lock btw? Is that how it cliks in between the cannula and the tubing?
I thought I could only use the medtronic canula's?
Quite confused now although will try the spray maybe. Does that stop it sticking as well though? I can be quite active so it does need to stick well.
 
The lunar lock is the connector that fit the tubing to the actual cartridge in the pump.. Have a look in your pump manual there should be a picture somewhere that details all the different componets on your pump, you looking for the connector that attaches the tubing to the cartridge...

The cavlon spray no it want stop it sticking, you spray it on leave for a minute or until skin feels dry then do your canular, it's important to get the spray as cavlon also comes as a cream, the cream will stop it from sticking...
 
I have been using the Medtronic pump for 10 years with the QuickSet infusion set and started developing a rash the same as you described about 5 years ago (I suspect they may have changed the4 adhesive. I started using Tagaderm (3M) as a barrier between my skin and the infusion set and saw improvement for a couple of years. However, the rash is back and I have not found a way to ultimately "cure it". However here are some tips.

-Make sure it is the adhesive and not the insulin that is causing the rash. You can apply the adhesive without the cannula for 2 to 3 days, remove it, and see if a rash appears. If there is no rash you should see your doctor as it may be caused by a reaction to the insulin.

-Rotate the infusion site every 2 days (and no more).

-Use a tagaderm barrier or spray if this helps

-Use a steroidal cream on the rash after removing the Cannula

-Clean site and hands well before the insertion of the Cannula to minimize chances of infection.

Hope this helps. Since I have not found a cure for this I have to go on pump break about every 3 months for a period of a month or more to let my skin heal.
 
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