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Reusing Medtronic Reservoirs?

indyjholtzmann

Well-Known Member
Messages
54
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hello everyone! I'm in a bit of a pickle at the moment. I FINALLY got my pump last Monday after 2 years of waiting. I've got a Medtronic 640g and I'm already seeing an improvement just a week and a half on.

However, I've reached a bit of a problem and am waiting for my specialist to get back to me but just wanted to ask people here for advice. I setup my Medtronic Eshop account as soon as I got home from the hospital and it said it should be verified in 2-3 days. Waited that long and my account was still being verified. Contacted Medtronic and they said wait 8 working days. I did and it's still not verified, called them today and was now told it can take up to 2 weeks and to call them back Friday.

In the meantime, I'm currently on the 1.8ml reservoirs and was only given one box of 10. My specialist said she'd move me onto the 3ml reservoirs because I'm quite insulin heavy and that's what I'm to order from Medtronic when I can. After just a week and a half, I've only got 5 reservoirs left and need to change again tonight. I don't know if my remaining ones are going to last me until I can finally get an order in for reservoirs and infusion sets and they arrive.

I can work out how to reuse a reservoir BUT is it safe to do so? Of course I hope my specialist comes back to me and says that the hospital has emergency supplies or something but if they don't then I ideally need another way around it, otherwise, I'm gonna have to go back to MDI just 2 weeks after getting the pump.
 
Probably best not reuse the reservoir. I guess the problem being the condition of the old insulin. If you're in North Cornwall I can lend you a few reservoirs! Shame about the Medtronic shop account not being set up. I think mine was done within 24hrs.
 
Hi @indyjholtzmann speak to your DSN they need to contact Medtronic to set this up for you also they should give you some spares so call them first thing.

It’s not wise to reuse the reservoirs even if you could, so please contact you team and they will get you sorted.
 

Unfortunately, I'm mid/south Cornwall but thanks so, so much for the offer! It's annoying because they said 2-3 days and it just seems to get longer and longer and I was hoping to have all of my supplies here by now. I've had so many problems just getting this pump so it's par for the course I suppose, aha.
 

Thanks for the advice. I've left an email for my pump specialist so she should see it tomorrow. Fingers crossed she can provide me with something.
 
I reuse Medtronic Reservoirs all the time with no issues @indyjholtzmann , and many people that have historically self-funded pumps have in the past as well.

There really is very little issue in doing so, and as long as you have moved the plunger up and down a few times before refilling to ensure that the seal lubrication is properly distributed and operating (and have emptied the reservoir) then it doesn't really make much difference.
 
@indyjholtzmann My DSN sorted my Medtronic account for me and was done within 7 days. You will find that Medtronic need your diabetic team to set it up and not yourself. Give your team a phone call and get them to sort it out. They should also have some spare 3ml resevoirs as well
 
I was told to setup the account myself with all my personal details and such and then I had to input my hospital and NHS number so Medtronic could verify my funding. They still haven't verified it and I don't know whether it's a Medtronic problem or hospital problem.

I contacted my specialist and she said she'd contact Medtronic but never got back to me and now she's off until the 23rd but has sent me to someone else who's going to go over my results so far.

I'm really not happy because it's getting desperate especially with Christmas on the way.
 
You can reuse them but I was advised to only do that in an emergency as the plastic deteriorates and effects the insulin. You have also to be mindful of the seals...if they are not sealing properly then you could have delivery problems. I certainly would not reuse them routinely. Helen
 

Hi,
I am on large amounts of insulin (at the moment My bolus averages up to 300 units per day plus my basal dose and corrections on top of that ) and use the 3ml cartridge which I have to fill it sometimes 2x a day. Being on a disability pension means I have to be very careful with money and as such I reuse my reservoirs. I have been doing this since I got my first pump four and a half years ago and have had no problems. I do keep an eye on the plunger to make sure it still works ok, other than that I have reused a reservoir several times to help reduce costs.
Medtronic will definitely advise against. I know many people frown upon this practice and in the end the decision is ultimately yours to make, we do what we have to do.
 
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