[TonyAlmeida]

Well - I figure I'd throw this question out. All the pump companies and pump trainers show you how to put the infusion set IN ..... but how do you take it OUT?

So - how do YOU do it?

Me? I use a Paradigm 712 pump with 90 degree QuickSets (6mm).

Insertion:

0. The old infusion site is still in me at this point, but the pump is detatched.

1. I wash the area I am about to insert into with a clean wet washcloth.*

*Sometimes at this point I hold an ice cube or cold pack over the area to numb it a little for a minute or so. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't.

2. I let the area dry and then only in the area where the infusion set will be, in a circular motion moving from inside out, I apply SMITH+NEPHEW I.V. PREP to the area *thinly* .... the coverage area is only a little larger than the size of the round adhesive of the infusion set.

3. I let the I.V. Prep dry a little as I attach the resevoir to the infusion set, put it in the pump, prime it, and put the primed infusion set into the Quick Serter device.

4. If I see a drop of insulin on the infusor needle - I'll shake it off.

5. Then - I *punch in* ..... groan if I hit a nerve ..... then pull the inducer needle out and inspect it quickly to make sure it's not bent weird.

6. With the inducer needle out, I manually bolus a .5 unit (5/10ths a unit).

7. Then I wipe any excess IV Prep away from around the new infusion site.

8. Then I go for the removal.

[TonyAlmeida]

Removal:

This is what they never taught me in training ..... and like a dummy I never thought to ask .....

0. I use UNI-SOLV adhesive remover wipes by SMITH+NEPHEW.

1. First thing I do - I run a piece of ice or run a cold pack around the area next to the infusion site. Brrrrr ..... cold! But - since I bleed a lot, I kind of want some of the blood to evacuate that area especially on warm days.

2. Using the wipe, I saturate the old infusion set's adhesive (adhesives stick like cement to me so trying to peel it off dry or even wet from a shower doesn't work.)

3. Saturated, I gently peel up the adhesive around the infusion set's plastic hub. That's the easy part ....

4. .... now you have to get at the adhesive * under* the plastic hub. You can do this by gently working an edge of the wipe back and forth under the adhesive of the plastic hub. Once you get an edge of the wipe underneath, you can work it around the infusion set quickly. *

* Do not work the work back and forth all the way to where you touch the cannula with the wipe though - that will sting - just where the adhesive is underneath the plastic hub.

5. By now the infusion set is lose and has let go. I put the wipe down and taking opposite edges of the adhesive - lift out the cannula as quick and straight as I can.

6. I hold a little gauze over the puncture hole where the cannula was to catch any seepage of fluid. Will hold it there with a little wee bit of pressure for a minute (or more if I had a bleeder), then put a tiny bit of Bacitracin (Triple Antibiotic) over the hole.

Then I wipe off any excess UNI-SOLVE, clean up the bathroom, and go on my way.

I don't use a bandaid - that always gave me a bruise. Some people use Hydrogen Peroxide on the hole prior to the Bacitracin - that irritated mine.

[TonyAlmeida]

This takes me - 10 minutes. Sometimes longer if the adhesive just does not want to let go (or I lost my nerve during the *punching in* step).

I change right before dinner (never awake enough in the mornings). Sometimes if I'm paranoid, I bolus for dinner with the new set and only remove the old set after dinner (and after I am sure I won't get a No Delivery Alarm). Lately, NDAs haven't been much of a problem after Medtronic recalled the defective Quick Set Plus.

[PepsiLvr]

I also use the paradigm 712 but I use the silhouette (sp?) infusion sets. I use the IV prep and also only use a thin coat. Actually I just noticed (after 4 months) it says to use friction with the IV preps. (it does work better)

As far as inserting, I don't use ice or anything, it actually doesn't hurt as much as it looks like it does although I still cringe. As far as removal, I found the best way is to just rip the thing off in one smooth fast motion. I've tried to take it off slowly and it hurts like a sun of a gun.

[Belinda]

Ok way tooo much work....
I have a 507C older pump but same concept...I fill the resevoir, hook up the tubing and prime it(leaving it on the bathroom counter for the night). Then I go to bed!! In the morning while I am disconnected I take an IV prep (use to not use anything) and clean a large area on stomach. While drying I make the bed!!! Then I apply the adhesive that is rougher than the other, insert, pull out needle (check for crazy bends) apply other adhesive with the hole, apply square adhesive over the entire site, hit a prime for .5 and voila!!!!


As for removal....just pull the thing off! Remember the agony of pulling a bandaid off as a child? Well that is gone......

[TonyAlmeida]

I tried quickly ripping the QuickSets off dry a few times .... but they use BDI Medical adhesive. Needless to say, BDI also takes a layer of your skin with it that way .... hence the Uni-Solve.

I'm kind of interested that Belinda doesn't wear the pump 7x24 ....

[PepsiLvr]

Maybe the silhouette sets are different from the QuickSets as far as the adhesive goes. I don't have a problem. It sticks a little better than a band-aid and sometimes I have to use waterproof tape if it starts to come off too soon.

Ya, Belinda, how do you get away without your pump for the night?

[notme]

Wow never realized there were so many different ways of connecting and disconnecting. Fill the reservoir, attach the canula to the reservoir and then try to prime the stupid thing while cursing how long it takes some times and other times it is a breeze. (I use a 508, so manual prime). I chose a site, apply IV prep and while it is drying I cut my IV 3000 in a circle to match the canula adhesive. I rip out the old site, stick in the new one and then cap off the needle and do a .05 prime. Takes about 10 minutes unless the stupid canula won't prime.

Nancy

[dpav]

I have the same setup and equipment as Nancy. And I do the exact same thing.
Removal I simply rip it out and rub the site to lower the mounded skin if it is raised a little. Otherwise I simply rub it to force the insulin that is near the skin surface to go in deeper and not come back out. This helps for a faster time of getting the new site to start absorption. For me it is about 2 hour to get back to normal.
Don