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Tubing discolouration

Queenserene_

Queenserene_

Member
Hello all,

I have recently been having a problem in which the infusion set keeps turning orangey/red. I've had the pump since July last year and not had this issue until about a month go onwards.

Every time it happens i change all the tubing and cannula and I have changed sites completely (sites are all fine). Changed boxes of infusion set incase it was a dodgy batch but still happened. Pretty confident it's not off clothing.

I assumed it must be blood but the pump careline people don't seem to think it's likely.

Anyone had anything similar? Any ideas/suggestions much appreciated.

Thank you :)
 

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Obvious question is have you primed the tubing and if so did the discolouration move out of the tubing? If so then you know it's from you. Same as if it's on the outside have you tried removing it with an alcohol swab? What are your blood sugars like, normal or raised?
 
Thanks for replying. When i ran the insulin through it does seem to be coming out clear from what I can tell. Yeah nothing came off the outside.

Readings seem fine and no one seems to think it's anything that's dangerous.

It's just really bizarre!
 
They are going on what I said on the phone only ... but yeah it's a bit odd! They asked me to send some of the infusion sets to them for analysis but said it's likely going to be a while before its done.
 
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Hmm interesting. Yeah they said they've not really come across it. If it is something external or insulin interacting with wire or something I would expect others to have had the same issue!

Thanks for letting me know
 
Helll- Oh no that's weird. I didn't actually. I contacted the company and sent in the tubing and never heard back. Probably worth a try with them as they may know ?
 
Queenserene_ said:
Helll- Oh no that's weird. I didn't actually. I contacted the company and sent in the tubing and never heard back. Probably worth a try with them as they may know ?
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I tried dumping the insulin I was using, and switching to a newer batch (the previous batch was all still fresh, refrigerated until use, and well within date), and up to now (48 hours), there's no sign of discolouration, so perhaps it's coming from the insulin itself.
 
I had the same happen to me this morning I have no idea why this has happened I’ve been on the pump 10years and never had this problem before
 

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Queenserene_ said:
Hello all,

I have recently been having a problem in which the infusion set keeps turning orangey/red. I've had the pump since July last year and not had this issue until about a month go onwards.

Every time it happens i change all the tubing and cannula and I have changed sites completely (sites are all fine). Changed boxes of infusion set incase it was a dodgy batch but still happened. Pretty confident it's not off clothing.

I assumed it must be blood but the pump careline people don't seem to think it's likely.

Anyone had anything similar? Any ideas/suggestions much appreciated.

Thank you :)
Click to expand...

This looks very odd. It could be coming from the interior of the pump. It could also be the result of overheating or some kind of reaction with the plastic. Both of you seem to have the same issue and it doesn't have the appearance of 'blood' from the images. If the discoloring persists with different batches of tubing then you may be able to get a new insulin pump and see if the issue remains.
 
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