Infusion Set sites - how can I heal them faster?

[TonyAlmeida]

I'm still fairly new to the Paradigm 712 - it was what my insurance would pay for so no Cosmo or Animas. Maybe I made the wrong decision on pumps - I dunno. Took what I could get.

I hope the regulars here won't think I'm stupid or vain - because I'm not. I'm just a pumping newbie who is scared most of the time anymore, who is trying to pick up the pieces of his life, and who would like to ride his bike sometime without going low.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 since last summer and my endo had me do the 4 shots a day regiment until December and put me on pump therapy for better control.

I had upper respitory allergies when I was young and got weekly allergy shots from age 4 to 10 ..... I've been deathly afraid of needles all of my life ever since, so the 4 shots a day made my life a waking nightmare.

I've asked this in a few other Diabetes Web forums before - never really got a good answer. I use the 6mm-23" QuickSets. I'm very lean and the longer angled sets just scared me. When I first started, the holes where the cannulas poked through the skin healed pretty fast. The last few months, they've started to heal slower and slower. :^( They look like small infected hairs or pimples - they don't hurt and they're not hard - just like any other puncture wound.

My endo really had no useful suggestions.

I take B6 and vitamins in the morning - at first it seemed to help but now it doesn't appear to do anything.

Is there anything else I can do beside put Bacitracin on them after I remove the cannula during site changes?

I'm no runway model - but every once in awhile it just kind of gets to you seeing all the prick marks when you're in the shower and knowing that YOU did it to yourself.

To be honest with you all, I really don't like my life anymore.

[Belinda]

How often do you change your site? You may have to change it every third day or every other. When it looks like it is infected that is not good and maybe you just need to change it more often. I am fortunate that I only have to change mine every 3 to 4 days and have been known to go an entire week with no problems.

The needle aspect is something you will eventually learn to live with. I dislike when others stick me (flu shots, draw blood) they always hurt.

As for the infusion sets you may want to experiement with different ones to see which one works best for you. When I reorder I will be trying the soft sets/quick sets and any other that I find. I was given these with my original pump and never have changed.

Diabetes is something you have to figure out (the lows, highs) how you feel. It gets easier as you get more practice and pretty soon you will be less stressed and worried about every little thing.

By the way... WELCOME to the best site on the web..

[HeatherP]

Hi Tony! I'm not a pumper, but I am T1 on MDI for 13 years. I just wanted to offer encouragement, you're obviously having a tough time of it. I'm sure you'll find that everybody here wants to see you succeed and will be happy to help in anyway possible!

Welcome,
HeatherP

[Vic L]

I can totally relate to your issue about the infusion sets not healing as quickly. As mentioned earlier, changing your infusion set earlier will greatly reduce the time healing. I tend to use a rotating schedule so I can make sure I don't use the same area twice for about two weeks. This allows that spot to heal a lot faster. Another good area to put your infusion set is on the love handles. if you have them.

I can also relate to the feelings you have towards being Diabetic. I hate it! I hate it but since going on the pump I have been more active and less stressed out. I really hated MDI when I was first diagnosed and my doctor telling me to try this and try that to get my BGs under control. I can honestly say I have it under control but by no means am I IN control.

I hate to say it but I still hate having diabetes but I am better equiped to live longer and happier. I do hope you come here more often and speak to some of the nicest people I have ever come across. Mind you I mainly read but when I saw your post I was totally drawn. I had this same feeling not two days ago.

once again welcome,
Vic

[Shalyndria]

Hi Tony :) First off I'd like to extend warmest welcomes to the Forums, we're glad to have you. This is, bar none, the best Diabetes support group to be found anywhere; as exemplified by Bell, Heather, and Vic :)

It is never easy to live with a chronic disease, no matter what the form, and IMO occasionally feeling down about life is a natural facet of being human. But believe me, it will get better as you adjust to your new lifestyle and, as Bell said, with practice. If you find that your emotional downswing is overwhelming and deconstructive to your every day life, you may want to consider seeking help and advice from your medical team. And we're always here should you feel like you just need to vent and relieve some stress :)

As to your set site troubles, I agree with everything Bell and Vic have suggested. It may be beneficial to you to start changing your sites out earlier; say every second day. There are so many factors that could be contributing to your problems; you may be effecting a slight allergy to the teflon cannulas, or irratic or constantly high blood sugar levels could be impeding your healing time. It also sounds to me as though you might need to broaden your site selection to avoid hypertrophy. I was taught that a pumper should avoid a previous site (within two inches) for at least a month to facilitate deep tissue healing. Keeping your skin well hydrated with lotion will also promote healing as well as proper sanitation prior to the injection of a site.

Good luck to you and please feel free to PM or email me if I can be of any help. Keep us posted on your progress :)
Shy

[dpav]

Hello Tony
I had diabetes when I was 8. I hated shots so much I needed to have my sister or brother give me the shot. I had a large stainless steal needle that I had to sterilize and sharpen myself. That was the old days. A lot of things are very much improved now, All but the fear and the disliking of taking shots for most. It just isn't natural to be putting metal into our bodies several times a day.
I think you will get to be more comfortable with the idea and the need to do all you need for your care.

As far as the infusion sight, you are doing good to use the Bactroban and everyone has recommended trying to change the site earlier to get the site to not be as affected by the infusion set. This is a good idea I have done and it works for me so far.

I agree that the silhouette with that long angled cannula was not the most comfortable for me to use. I like the quick sets the best with the shorter 6mm cannula.
I hope all works out better with your changing your site earlier and eventually you will get more comfortable with this lifestyle.
Take care
Don

[DDR_Freak88]

yea i refuse to do my pump sights anywhere but my bottom, its really getting to be one big area of tissue biulding over hwere my pump sights were, im running outta spots and cant get them to go away is ther any strange type of stuff to get ridda or heal it better?

[TonyAlmeida]

The tissue buildup problem is what I'm trying to avoid .... my pump trainer did tell me once that happens, well, those sites are no longer usable. I guess if you leave the area alone for a long time, it may heal. But from what I've been reading - it stays that way and you have to use another region. :( Just another problem caused by DM - with DM there seems to be more problems than there are solutions.

Other than triple antibiotic (Neosporin) - there really isn't much else to put on the area. The use of PerperationH is a myth - causes more problems and redness. You can use Hydrocortizone 2% - but it just bleaches out your skin. And forget about that miracle "K Cream" that the health stores sell for bruises - doesn't do anything.

[overclock]

Where and when do you remove your sites?

I take mine out in the shower. I change mine in the mornings before work. I will soak the area everytime I get in the shower meaning that while in the shower I try to have water constantly flowing over the site. I don't even use the IV prep pads anymore. Usually by the third day they peel off quite nicely. Sometimes I forget to take out the site until I'm out of the shower. That's not fun. Especially if there's hair involved. :eek:

I have used Neosporin but my wife said that I shouldn't because there are natural, beneficial bacteria on my skin that would be killed off and become extinct.

I also tried rubbing vitamin e oil over the site the day after removal. Just bite the end off of a vitamin e oil capsule and rub away. Sure is a sticky mess. Did it help? Don't know. I only did it twice. I have thought about lotioning ALL of my potential site locations everyday and then not lotioning the actual site location to see if that would help. Kind of like the lotion for the finger pricks called Fingers. Same idea.

[TonyAlmeida]

Sites are on my abdomen. I don't have the *flesh* on me to do my legs or arms. Too skinny. And although I know people use their buttocks ..... hate to say it, but how the heck do you remove the site when you can't see what you're doing back there? I'd probably sit on it too by leaning back ....

I used to change just after showering in the morning - but found out that when I did that, I had more *gushers* than when I didn't.

Now, I do it every 3rd day at 4 pm. Just before dinner so I can pump for a full meal (which also tells me if I've got a No Delivery site and I can change the site if need be quickly).

To remove the site - I use RESOLV to loosen the adhesive.

The old sites are not hard masses or lumps of inulin nodules ..... just tiny dull-red pinprick dots where the cannula poked through and annoyed the skin. Easily confused with tiny freckles.