Diabetes Talking

Question:

Ned, I’m not sure why changing the site would cause you to throw away the insulin left in your pump.  If I need to change sites, I just make a new insertion and then connect the same tubing up to it.  Disetronic includes both insertiion sets with and without tubing in every box.  I generally only change tubing every other time I change sites or when I change cartridges.  I hope this answer helps. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 2.) What to do with insulin in an infusion set if you have to change the insertion site? That is, I had put in a new infusion set with 180ml of humalog and then about 4 hours later, I noticed I had knocked it out of my abdomen. I started to change it and realized I was about to throw away roughly 170ml of humalog. Is there a better way to handle that insulin? In general this does not happen enough to make it worth the effort.  But I got a box of needles form my pharmacy, and I can reload my syringes when I want to! Ned — Ned Kelly Computer Innovations, Inc (732)345-1250

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says… Is there a newsgroup specially devoted to pump-wearers? I just got my pump last Thursday and it is AMAZING!!! I do have a few questions and thought I might inquire here to see if there was a group for pumpers. 1.) WHat are the best ways to sleep with the pump? 2.) What to do with insulin in an infusion set if you have to change the insertion site? That is, I had put in a new infusion set with 180ml of humalog and then about 4 hours later, I noticed I had knocked it out of my abdomen. I started to change it and realized I was about to throw away roughly 170ml of humalog. Is there a better way to handle that insulin?

Not a newsgroup, but there is a very active ListServe (e-mail) group devoted to Pumpers. To sign up go to: http://www.bizsystems.com/Diabetes/ (note the upper case D for Diabetes). There is a place to sign up for the list right at the top of the home page, plus lots of related links. Because they try to weed out Spam, they do ask you for a brief profile of yourself before letting you on the list. They try not to allow flames and for the most part it tends to be a pretty friendly group. I’ve been getting their mail since April and have learned a lot. There are over 500 people signed up, so there are lots of experienced people to ask questions and get ideas from. Let me know if you have any questions. Sam to email me try srs/AT/teleport/DOT/com

Response:

Is there a newsgroup specially devoted to pump-wearers? Yes, check out Rick Mendosa’a web page he has a list of list servers that deal with diabetes.   1.) WHat are the best ways to sleep with the pump? Place it in the bed next to you.  =-)  Really, just tape down a loop   in the infusion set.  This will help you feel the tugging before the infusion set comes loose.  I can’t stand to put the pump in a pocket while sleeping.  I just let it flop around.  

Close to my belly button works best for me. Direct pump case contact with your skin may yield temperatures that are too high for Humalog.  (Humalog seems to be the least temperature robust of any of the currently available insulins.) I’ve found that using an old men’s suspender as a "belt" works great.  All you need then is a pump case that has some holes so you can loop your new "suspender belt" through the case.  (or go to the store and buy a new set, they’re not that expensive, get the cotton ones, they’re more comfortable) To minimize possible insulin temperature problems (I’m now getting about 20 days from a cartridge because I’m using my pump mainly for basal) with whichever insulin is in it, I now wear my suspender belt on the OUTSIDE of my pajamas. <snip Cheers,  gjj

Response:

2.) What to do with insulin in an infusion set if you have to change the insertion site? That is, I had put in a new infusion set with 180ml of humalog and then about 4 hours later, I noticed I had knocked it out of my abdomen. I started to change it and realized I was about to throw away roughly 170ml of humalog. Is there a better way to handle that insulin?

In general this does not happen enough to make it worth the effort.  But I got a box of needles form my pharmacy, and I can reload my syringes when I want to! Ned — Ned Kelly Computer Innovations, Inc (732)345-1250

Response:

Is there a newsgroup specially devoted to pump-wearers?

Yes, check out Rick Mendosa’a web page he has a list of list servers that deal with diabetes.   1.) WHat are the best ways to sleep with the pump?

Place it in the bed next to you.  =-)  Really, just tape down a loop in the infusion set.  This will help you feel the tugging before the infusion set comes loose. I can’t stand to put the pump in a pocket while sleeping.  I just let it flop around.   2.) What to do with insulin in an infusion set if you have to change the insertion site? That is, I had put in a new infusion set with 180ml of humalog and then about 4 hours later, I noticed I had knocked it out of my abdomen. I started to change it and realized I was about to throw away roughly 170ml of humalog. Is there a better way to handle that insulin?

What infusion set are you using?  Which pump do you have?   Check out the quick release tenders (Disetronic brand) or the MiniMed brand.   If you call MiniMed, ChoniMed, Disetronic ask for samples of the quick release infusion sets.  They will only send you 1 or 2.  But it is a good way to  see what is out there. MiniMed and Disetronic b0oth have web pages.   Hope this helps.  =-) Margaret

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Is there a newsgroup specially devoted to pump-wearers? I just got my pump last Thursday and it is AMAZING!!! I do have a few questions and thought I might inquire here to see if there was a group for pumpers. 1.) WHat are the best ways to sleep with the pump? 2.) What to do with insulin in an infusion set if you have to change the insertion site? That is, I had put in a new infusion set with 180ml of humalog and then about 4 hours later, I noticed I had knocked it out of my abdomen. I started to change it and realized I was about to throw away roughly 170ml of humalog. Is there a better way to handle that insulin? Thanks . . . — -/- Walk Walker

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