first site in my leg

[dancingwithbear]

hey all,

with all of this talk of different sites on the body to use and scar tissue i did my first leg site this morning. i have a couple of questions thou because i going into new sites. what kind of infusion sets does everybody use for legs and arms? i usually use quickset 6mm for my stomach but i have some silloutes still left over from before i switched. so i used a silloute. i also use second skin because i was having problems with the infusion site almost falling out a couple of times on the second day. do you use second skin everywhere? any other suggtions for these sites would be cool.

thanks

[dancingwithbear]

well this site is not going to well. i just checked my sugar and im high 298. i havent changed anyhting had a normal breakfast and such.

[tanyatype1]

Good morning! I don't have an answer for you - I've never used my leg before but I think I'll try it too! Outer thigh? I think the inner would be too sensitive. I wonder why you're high though? Is your site sore at all? I've also never used second skin so LOL, I'm really no help at all!:)

[KritterMom]

I'm of absolutely no help. I'm so new at this. All I use is my stomach at this point.:)

[notme]

I use the very very top portion of my leg. It is so high up on my leg that you have to be careful when lowering my undies because the infusion set is just below it. I used to have a problem with infusion sets peeling off and I have finally found something that works for me. I also use 6mm quicksets, 23" long. I cut a circle of IV3000 about the size of the bottom of a bottle of insulin. I put it on first and then put my set over the top of the circle. The IV3000 is cut smaller than the set so you don't see it. However, I don't get the infection problem and the dimple caused by the set without the IV3000. This has worked PERFECTLY for me. I have tried to use no IV3000, but my skin always dimples up around the canula and gets red and sore. With the IV3000, I don't get the sores.

If the leg isn't working for you, find a different area on your leg and try again. I cannot use the sets lower than the very top of my leg. I don't get good numbers either. Try higher up on your leg....high as you can go.

[dancingwithbear]

thanks nancy and everyone else,

im not as high as i can be so maybe thats what is wrong. the site isnt sore or anything different than with a stomach site. so i guess im just not going as high as i can go. nancy you put the iv3000 underneath the infusion site? i also cut a hole but i put it on top of the infusion site.

[kazza]

I use the tenders/silhouttes and use most of my leg from the middle to outer section of my thigh, high up (altho not as high as Nancy) to a hand's length away from my knee. I am almost always high after changing sets, I think due to the difference in absorption rates when compared to my stomach - I'm not sure if that's why or not, I get around it with a quick shot of Novolog from the bottle in the fridge. Usually in about 4 hours or less things are back to normal.

[Lizzy]

When I use a thigh site I put it at least 2" below the elastic of my undies. That way it doesn't get irritated from being too close to the elastic. I sit down and pinch up a little bit to give it more fat to go into. I use the Inset 9mm, 43". Works good for me.

[notme]

How does putting the IV3000 on the outside work for you? I have problems with the IV3000 sticking. It peels for me if I use it outside of the set. Sometimes it peels so badly that it peels the sets right off. I don't cut a hole in it, I just punch the canula through it when I insert. You cannot see the IV3000 under the set, but it does hold the skin away from the canula enough to stop problems. My set is probably an inch away from the undies line.

[Worldcrzr]

Lizzy, I am going to start using the 6mm Insets next month when I order supplies. Since the Inset goes in at 90 degrees, does it hit your leg muscle? How about sleeping, do you feel it at all?

[notme]

I have no trouble with the cannulas hitting muscle in my leg and it isn't because I don't have any. LOL. I put it in a more "fleshy" area, but have no trouble. I do not feel the cannula at all sleeping. I actually have a harder time when the sets are in my backside, because I am a side sleeper. I love this site, I wish I had more area to use it more often.

[Lizzy]

Lizzy, I am going to start using the 6mm Insets next month when I order supplies. Since the Inset goes in at 90 degrees, does it hit your leg muscle? How about sleeping, do you feel it at all?

That's why I pinch up a bit when I inject the set so it stays away from the muscle. The first time I used the thigh I woke up a few times worried about it, but now it's no problem. I only use IV Prep wipe for all my sites and have never had any come loose. I like the 43" mostly because when I have my robe on I just stick my pump in the pocket.

[Worldcrzr]

Thanks for the replies. Right now, I'm using the Comfort Shorts with a 17mm cannula. The thought of putting that in my leg sends shivvers up my spine. I tried giving myself an insulin shot once in my leg and it hurt so much getting the needle in that I didn't do it. I do need other sites besides my tummy and abdomen to put the sets. I used to use the 9mm Cleo but never thought of putting it in my leg. One time I put the Inset sample on my side and it hurt me all night. I got up at 2am and changed it out.

[Worldcrzr]

Would a hole punch work instead of cutting a hole in the IV3000? I use Tagaderm HP since I'm sensitive to adhesive and it seems to work. I put it on my skin and punch the needle and cannula right through it. I never thought of cutting a hole.

[dancingwithbear]

thanks for all the replies,

this site rocks. nancy i cut a hole big enough for the connection part of the infusion set. i have never had a problem with it peeling off. once it is on its on. i will have to try it underneath the infusion set.
kazza i think that was my problem yesterday with my numbers. i bolused for the high numbers and it came down. so i guess it is like you with different absorbtion rates. i will just have to watch it everytime i change to different parts of the body. thanks everyone with the suggestions and help.

[kazza]

you guys are so encouraging - i have a site in my behind for the first time ever. i've never even given myself a shot there so i always thought it would just be weird to have a site there. hardest part was the twisting and turning to get the tender set in. dancingwithbear, like my legs, i had high numbers after the new site but now they're back to normal. now i know what to expect and can hopefully give my poor legs a rest :party:

[sierradawn]

I just inserted a Sure-T in my upper thigh for the first time and it is a DREAM! I didn't even feel the insertion of the set, and my blood sugars are actually so much better I had to lower my basal by.10 units. I had been using my upper bum area on both sides for almost the year. I just hate it on my stomach.....though I will use it if need be.