Re-Using Pump Supplies

[wastcougr]

Hello all,

So after being away for a few days, I'm now back again (although I'm sure no one really noticed I was gone). :T Can't say I blame you... :cool:

Anywho, here I go again with more questions! Oh, and things have been going EXTREMELY well with my new baby. The highest bs I've had in the last 24 hours was 118...that has NEVER happened in my 21-year history with this disease. I'm only kicking myself for not doing this several years ago when I first started seriously considering it. Oh well, live and learn, right?

Ok, here are my questions... As for re-using supplies, I understand that some people re-use the resevoirs. I tried doing that this last time I changed my infusion set and had run out of insulin, but do you just use a syringe to inject air into the insulin vial so you can then extract it into the resevoir? I still had about 20 units of insulin in the resevoir when I changed the infusion set, but that means you can't use the resevoir to inject air into the bottle. How do you all do that?

Also, I still have several cartridges of insulin leftover from the change to the pump. I'm using the same type of insulin as I did in the pen, so can I somehow use those to dump into a resevoir?

Finally, as it relates to the above questions, when filling the resevoir using unconventional methods, is using an alcohol swab enough?

Oh, and for those of you that use the Quickset infusion sets... Do you use the Quick-Serter? If so, have you had any issue with it? I find that with mine, it actually only works about 1 out of every 6 or 7 times I push the buttons to trigger it to inject the set. It's highly annoying and wounds me psychologically every time it DOESN'T work...

I think that's it...for now. :D I'm still doing the basal testing routines right now, and I'm not sure when that will be done. But, on the plus side, I've had good results so far. We'll see. Thanks again to everyone that has been so very helpful.

[kansas]

I've never reused a reservoir or any of the other supplies, so I can't answer any of those questions... But, as for the Quick-serter, I gave up on that a long time ago.. Mine never worked right and was a huge pain in my rear-end. I now insert it manually, and it works the first time, everytime. Plus, if you hit a nerve or a sensitive spot, it's much easier to move. And, psychologically, it hurts alot less. :)

[Subby]

Ok, here are my questions... As for re-using supplies, I understand that some people re-use the resevoirs. I tried doing that this last time I changed my infusion set and had run out of insulin, but do you just use a syringe to inject air into the insulin vial so you can then extract it into the resevoir? I still had about 20 units of insulin in the resevoir when I changed the infusion set, but that means you can't use the resevoir to inject air into the bottle. How do you all do that?


I use penfills that don't need the air, so I can't quite answer that one! An alternative method would be to suck it out of the vial with a syringe, then inject into the reservoir (although with my 3ml reservoir it would take a few shots).


Also, I still have several cartridges of insulin leftover from the change to the pump. I'm using the same type of insulin as I did in the pen, so can I somehow use those to dump into a resevoir?


Yep, just use penfills as per normal reservoir filling. In fact I always use penfills for a number of reasons. Not least that they are fresher being smaller lots and smaller and less wasteful to carry around as spares than vials.


Finally, as it relates to the above questions, when filling the resevoir using unconventional methods, is using an alcohol swab enough?


Yep.


Oh, and for those of you that use the Quickset infusion sets... Do you use the Quick-Serter? If so, have you had any issue with it? I find that with mine, it actually only works about 1 out of every 6 or 7 times I push the buttons to trigger it to inject the set. It's highly annoying and wounds me psychologically every time it DOESN'T work...


Back in the day I didn't even know you could manually insert, when I lost my quickserter I actually went back onto injections (hex on my then-nurse for not telling me of the manual option). When I started doing it manually, I wondered why the 'eck use the big bit of plastic. It's big, fiddly, violent, and the sets don't work as well for me as a manual insertion. As for the trigger not working, not sure. It has a stupid double trigger each side, I remember having to try set both off at once for it to work. But I do know that with 21 years you'll have more than enough injection practise to find manual insertion less traumatic and better all round, once you get used to it.

[mortis505]

Hello all,

So after being away for a few days, I'm now back again (although I'm sure no one really noticed I was gone). :T Can't say I blame you... :cool:

I wouldn't go that far. We miss people when we dont hear from them for a time.

Anywho, here I go again with more questions! Oh, and things have been going EXTREMELY well with my new baby. The highest bs I've had in the last 24 hours was 118...that has NEVER happened in my 21-year history with this disease. I'm only kicking myself for not doing this several years ago when I first started seriously considering it. Oh well, live and learn, right?

That should be the motto of DF.

Ok, here are my questions... As for re-using supplies, I understand that some people re-use the resevoirs. I tried doing that this last time I changed my infusion set and had run out of insulin, but do you just use a syringe to inject air into the insulin vial so you can then extract it into the resevoir? I still had about 20 units of insulin in the resevoir when I changed the infusion set, but that means you can't use the resevoir to inject air into the bottle. How do you all do that?

Thats one possible way. You could also try re-using the coupling that fits onto the reservoir/bottle, but you cant be sure of how clean it is.

Also, I still have several cartridges of insulin leftover from the change to the pump. I'm using the same type of insulin as I did in the pen, so can I somehow use those to dump into a resevoir?

Attach a pen needle and start dialing. I've used pens to refill my reservoirs.

Finally, as it relates to the above questions, when filling the resevoir using unconventional methods, is using an alcohol swab enough?

Should be. The areas are kep relatively clean, so it should be enough to use an alcohol swab.

Oh, and for those of you that use the Quickset infusion sets... Do you use the Quick-Serter? If so, have you had any issue with it? I find that with mine, it actually only works about 1 out of every 6 or 7 times I push the buttons to trigger it to inject the set. It's highly annoying and wounds me psychologically every time it DOESN'T work...

I use the serter. Only problem I've had is the sides of it getting tacky. Call MM and explain the problem. They might send you a new one. Or just start doing Manual inserts.

I think that's it...for now. :D I'm still doing the basal testing routines right now, and I'm not sure when that will be done. But, on the plus side, I've had good results so far. We'll see. Thanks again to everyone that has been so very helpful.

Good luck with the testing. And enjoy the baby.

[kgm0612]

I do not re-use pump supplies. I do however, use a Quick-serter and have had some problems with it in the past. I find you need a light touch when you're putting it up against your skin. Don't press it into your abdomen.......just lightly place it where you want it inserted, then press the two buttons together.

If you're still having problems, call Mini Med and tell them you'd like them to replace the one you have. They did that for me with no problems.

Karen

[Gordonm]

I reuse the resevoir. Use it once and refill and then throw it out. I reconnect the blue needle part back up and squirt any remaining insulin out. Pull back and fill with air then go back into the insulin bottle. I have done this so many times I just go through the motions and actually forget all the steps I take. It becomes very routine after a while. I only refill the resevoir when it is empty. I change sets every 4 days and my resevoir last right at 5 days so they rarely get changed together. I'm cheap and hate wasting the insulin. It is a challenge now see how little I can have left in the resevoir.

The quick serter I have used since being on the pump. Never had an issue. My only misfire is when dumb dumb forgets to take the plastic off the needle. I just reset it and remove the plastic nad fire away. The key is to push both buttons at the exact same time.