using reservoir for 6 days

[Moonlitknight]

Hi Guys and gals
I am back from a looong vacation. Kinda glad to get back on a better routine.
I have a question. My 3 month trial period is over and I need to make a purchase. Trying to decide between 715 and 515. The hospital nurse ( not Minimed) told me to try one month changing everything each 3 days, and then for the next two months, leaving the reservoir and tubing and insulin in for 6 days, and just changing the site each 3 days. It makes each second change really quick and easy. I have had no problems with the insulin staying in for 6 days. I am just not sure if it is o.k to do this. Medtronics does not advise it, for what that is worth. So , just wondering if anyone else leaves it in for 6 days. The nurse told me they are just beginning to do trials on this and she says I am one of the first four. Feedback please.
Thanks so much

[JediSkipdogg]

Seeing as you live up North, I don't see why not. When I was on the Animas IR 1000 with a 300 unit cartridge I left it in for 5-6 days without changing it. It never hurt it. The reason it's ill-advised is for the fact that one, it produces less money for the pump makers, but mainly because the heat from your body can make the insulin go bad. However, that's a theory, and as long as you don't seem to have any clogged tubings or need more insulin on day 6 than day 2, then there's nothing to worry about. People in Florida sometimes have this problem fromt he extreme heat.

Which insulin do they have you using? Novolog has about a 15 degree higher temperature threshold than Humalog. So you might want to consider using Novolog if you aren't already. But again, I used Humalog for 2 years leaving cartridges and tubing unchanged for 5-6 days and never ahd a problem.

[Jorj Gaidin]

I use the cozmo, but they only make it available to use 300ml cartidges. In my opinion, being able to fill and replace everything separately makes life much easier. Nothing has ever gone bad (insulin, tubing, etc). I'd shoot for it and find out how far you can push the limits. As long as you know what warning signs you'd be looking for (i.e. high BG) then there is really no danger (with the exception of leaving the site in and it getting infected).

[Funnygrl]

I use no more than 30 units in a typical day. I have a Cozmo with their huge reservoir. And I love the 300 unit reservoir! It's great to only change the reservoir every other site change. I use Novolog and have never noticed a problem.

[notme]

I change everything out about every four days and sometimes it goes about five. I have had little trouble except on days where it is very hot. I think changing out your site is a good idea as that is the problems I have had when going longer. It never seems to be an insulin issue for me. How much smaller is the 515 than the 715? Is this the reason you are considering one vs the other?

[Moonlitknight]

yeah, the 515 has a 180 reservoir and the 715 has 300.
It is only an insulin issue as I change the site every 3 days.

Hey Jedi, even in Montreal, we hit the mid nineties often in the summer
and with awful humidity. I use Humalog and went through a hot period on my vacation with no problems that I could see.
I am concerned about sleeping in the winter when I have to crank up the electric blanket. My bedroom is above the garage, which is not heated, and during the cold months, with the heat on, it is sometimes only 55 degrees in the bedroom. Yikes!!

[spike]

yeah, the 515 has a 180 reservoir and the 715 has 300.
It is only an insulin issue as I change the site every 3 days.

Hey Jedi, even in Montreal, we hit the mid nineties often in the summer
and with awful humidity. I use Humalog and went through a hot period on my vacation with no problems that I could see.
I am concerned about sleeping in the winter when I have to crank up the electric blanket. My bedroom is above the garage, which is not heated, and during the cold months, with the heat on, it is sometimes only 55 degrees in the bedroom. Yikes!!

Are you concerned that the electric blanket will damage your pump or insulin? I and my wife are both pumpers who use an electric blanket because we like to turn the heat way down at night. No problemo.

[jeggeman31]

I use no more than 30 units in a typical day.

LoL that is my Basal, but shy by 6 units.


Anyway I use 80 to 120 units a day. I have than IR1250 so I change it out almost ever other day and I don't have a problem with it. Heck we had a picnic the other day and I ended up pumping 240 units !

** EDIT ** Woops I looked at the thread again, and mis understood it so I guess my response has nothing to do with the thread.


Sorry

[poodlebone]

I have a Minimed 715 with the 300u reservoir. I only change the reservoir/tubing when it's empty, so 10-12 days. I have not had any problems doing this, even in the hot summer weather.

And, Minimed must know people do this because they offer the Silhouette combo packages. A box that contains 5 full sets (cannula + tubing) and 5 cannulas only. That means you have to reuse the tubing once, since there are 10 cannulas.

[Fred&CharlesFan]

Cozmo user, 300u / 3ml cartridge, I change it when it is emptied, which meets my needs for about 9~10 days.
No observed probs with this element of my routine that I can complain about in the past 13mos. Using Humalog.
Set every 3; tubing every 6.

[psilocybin]

i change my resevoir every 10 days about..no problems yet