Stupid Question

[dizzyintx]

My DE said that I have to throw out the 200 units that is left in the novalog bottle. That is such a huge waste. Does anyone else inject air into both vials and draw up the insulin? I new to pumping, so I have no idea how to ask this properly, sorry.:o

[butterflykisses]

If I understand you right, you're talking about when there's no enough insulin left in the vial to completely fill your cartridge so your DE wants you to open a new vial??? That is just crazy!!! I would never waste 200 units, heck, the only insulin I leave in a vial is the amount I can't withdraw. I will do one of two things, depending on how much is in the vial. I will either just fill it with what's remaining and then refill when that's empty. Sometimes I kind of guess how much insulin is left, inject enough air in the vial on the guesstimate, then inject the rest into the new vial of insulin, withdraw what I need from it and then withdraw the rest from the old vial. I haven't died yet. :D

[poodlebone]

Your DE is nuts. I have a 300 unit reservoir and fill it completely, and use it until it's empty. I still change my cannula every 3 days but I just reconnect the existing reservoir & tubing to it. After I fill 3 reservoirs, there's about 100 units of insulin left in a vial. I don't want to fuss with two vials at once so I just rewind my pump and put those last 100 units into my current reservoir and continue to use it until it's empty. I then start all over with a new vial of insulin and new reservoir as needed.

[Subby]

I agree on the 'nuts" sentiment. It's criminal to waste life giving medicine in such a pointless way.

I use 3ml penfills as vials, which can occasionally be a little trickier to "draw" the insulin down, but I find them handier and they don't need air in them to draw (the plunger follows the insulin down by suction). As such, I just use a 3ml penfill for my 3ml reservoir. Anything left over, (Often 30 - 50 or so units) I carry around as my emergency insulin. If I get a few of those stacked up, I just suck them dry one after the other when filling up next. Unless, it's really been a while such as a month or two I haven't used them and they've been traveling with me, in which case I will probably just turf those small amounts.

Within reason, use it all. No reason not to.

[butterflykisses]

I was just thinking too...You would need a prescription that allowed a lot of extra insulin! If your prescription only allowed for what your TTD is and are throwing out 200 units you would be out before your refill date. I know my insurance would not go for that one!

[Granny Shanny]

And despite me not knowing sic 'em about insulin/injecting/pumping, I sure as heck know there are no stupid questions! Don't EVER be afraid to ask! :D :D :D

[Russell A.]

You sometimes have to work at getting most of the insulin out of the vial but it is possible to get the majority of it into your res. I than just grab another vial and top it off. Sometimes have to work a bit of air out of the res.

Yup, AGREED! That is a waste not to.

Russell

[lark 27]

My DE said that I have to throw out the 200 units that is left in the novalog bottle. That is such a huge waste. Does anyone else inject air into both vials and draw up the insulin? I new to pumping, so I have no idea how to ask this properly, sorry.:o

Definitely not a stupid question; however, I might question the intelligence of the DE on this one! I would definitely not waste that 200 u. It looks like a couple options have been written about. I go the route of usually just filling a reservoir iwth the 200 u or 100 u (whatever's left) and use that. Then I'll re-use that reservoir for the next bottle of insulin.

[fgummett]

If on the other hand, you do find yourself with spare insulin there is an organisation called Insulin For Life who will gladly take it off your hands for those less fortunate :)

[dizzyintx]

Thank you all for replying. My DE (medtronics) told me to save it for when I needed to take an injection. That means 200 units are left over every 3 days. I tried to tell her it was a huge waste because I haven't needed to take an injection once since starting out. She said I would mess up my pump, the priming wouldn't work even if you put air in. I thought you could do it.

Thanks!

[xMenace]

Thank you all for replying. My DE (medtronics) told me to save it for when I needed to take an injection. That means 200 units are left over every 3 days. I tried to tell her it was a huge waste because I haven't needed to take an injection once since starting out. She said I would mess up my pump, the priming wouldn't work even if you put air in. I thought you could do it.

Thanks!

Pfft. Your DE is a noob!

I hook different components up all the time. I fill my reservoirs when they are empty and I change my sets when they are needed. I rarely throw out more than what's in the tube.

Tomorrow I change my set only. I'll put anew set in, hook up my pump, and give a 1.0 unit fixed prime.

If I change only my res, I rewind and prime until insulin drips out of my tubing. My tubing may be new and empty or old and full. Doesn't really matter. Hook it up to the existing set with no fixed prime.

[butterflykisses]

Thank you all for replying. My DE (medtronics) told me to save it for when I needed to take an injection. That means 200 units are left over every 3 days. I tried to tell her it was a huge waste because I haven't needed to take an injection once since starting out. She said I would mess up my pump, the priming wouldn't work even if you put air in. I thought you could do it.

Thanks!

Wait, huh? I'm confused. How many units a day do you use? Just wondering how the math works on that one...to have 200 units left every 3 days??? Isn't there 1000 units in a vial? Just making sure I understood your question.

[sarahspins]

Yeah, I'm really confused by this too.. what are you doing, filling the 300u resevoir and only using 100u in 3 days? Why not just fill it with what you need?