Can you see the kink at the end of this cannula?
Yeah, me neither. It’s hardly detectable, but it is there. The kink in the last millimeter of this infusion set really put a kink in my day.
Last week, I started on the Minimed Paradigm 722 after four years on the Cozmo (long story short: I love my Cozmo, but it’s not available where I currently live outside of the USA, so I had to switch pump brands. For a thorough review and ideas on how to Cozmofy a Minimed pump, check back next week!).
A new pump gave me an excuse to try out some new infusion sets. I have been faithful to the long Comfort (same as Silhouette), manually inserted. At first, I used it out of ignorance (no one ever told me that there was more than one type of infusion set). Then because I am a creature of habit.
As it turns out, I have a pretty significant amount of scar tissue (OK, really how is an insulin pumper to know how much scare tissue is “normal”– yes I’m covered is polka dots, but I thought we all were). My doctor and pump rep told me it was time to try a new infusion set that I would wear on my stomach (I hated wearing Comfort/Silhouettes on my stomach). So I was sent home with a bunch of 9mm Quick Sets.
Being a creature of habit, I was skeptical. Rightfully so.
Even using that fancy device (Serter), I seem to keep getting bent cannulas. The bend is barely visible to the naked eye, but my blood sugars know when it’s there. Last week’s basal testing revealed that my morning basals are spot on (can’t say the same for the rest of the day) and I meticulously counted my carbs or breakfast and bolused 30 minutes before eating. So I was pretty disappointed by the after breakfast high blood sugar that stubbornly refused to come down. After a couple hours of troubleshooting, I removed the infusion set and can only figure that THAT was the problem.
How many people can say that their morning was ruined by a 1mm bend at the end of a 9mm plastic tube? I can. Just a reminder that little things make a BIG difference!
November 10, 2008 at 1:04 am
wow! you are right a little issue does cause a BIG problem. I am currently going through the same issue with my pod. Well, I think it’s my POD.
February 14, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I’ve got the same problem with the Quicksets I use for my Paradigm. The Silhouettes seem to go in without kinking, but when I try the Quicksets, I’d say about 50% go in kinked and just don’t work well.
I was actually Googling to try to find a solution when I came across your blog post. But I’m afraid the solution might be to just trash the Quicksets I’ve got.
May 19, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I just got off the phone with the Animas tech support for my series of bent cannulas- last three. They suggested I may have gotten a bad lot. Either way it’s a total PITA. Rather than trash save the bent cannulas call your distributor and they will send new ones and a prepaid envelope to send the crap ones back in.
July 15, 2009 at 6:52 am
I had the same problem with my 6mm Quicksets a couple years ago. I was on holiday overseas in Thailand and my blood sugar started rising and rising and rising. I kept bolusing to no avail. I changed all the components of my pump and my infusion set. Still rising. Now my b/s level was higher than my meter could read…over 30.
How much over 30? I have no idea. (A pet peeve I have about limiting glucose monitor readings). Out of desperation I changed my infusion set again (it had a kink!). Bolused…No change. I was wondering if I had another kink? Changed infusion set again and…another kink! I immediately got my emergency needles and bolused manually.
The story goes on…but long story short, I do not use the quicksets anymore.
October 13, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I to have problem with infusion sites… i think it has to do with scare tissue… anyone have an answer
October 13, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Rotate your sites often using your back/stomach and anywhere else that works. Don’t leave your infusion sets in too long as they seem to take longer to heal. Don’t use the Quicksets. I now use the Cleo infusion sets that have been working great for over a year. Also try a good ointment like polysporin to help the healing and there is apparently some massage therapy that can help break down the scar tissue. Good Luck. Scar tissue sucks.