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View Poll Results: Do you re-use your cartridge/reservoir? | |
Never
|    | 42 | 44.68% | |
In Emergency situations
|    | 14 | 14.89% | |
Sometimes
|    | 12 | 12.77% | |
I mostly re-use all of a couple of times
|    | 26 | 27.66% |
 | | 
06-19-2008, 06:09 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Australia
Posts: 71
| | | I change it once a month (about 8 re-uses). They are built well, it's just an enviromental waste to throw out after one use.
__________________
Type 1 since Nov 2004
1 month on syringe/vials
Rest of the time on the insulin pen
Got the pump on 10-Apr-06
Current Pump: Animas 1200
Did 2 month trial with Minimed 722 - Aug-07
Lowest A1c was 6.2
Current A1c is 7.0
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06-19-2008, 09:23 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Universe, Planet Earth :P
Posts: 978
| | | I never re-use mine... I get about 2.5-3 days of insulin per reservoir so i just change it all when it's empty.
__________________ 
22 years old, diagnosed T1D on october 14th 2004.
On MDI, Novorapid and Levemir, using the NP4 
Currently back to pumping with my IR1200, April 2008.
Been using D-tron and Animas IR1200 but prefer the pen  |
06-19-2008, 09:32 AM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mid-West
Posts: 7,142
| | | I re-use mine a couple of times & have Never had a problem doing so. As long as the cartridge works (the plunger is able to be moved back & forth without pressure or resistance) & there are no leaks, it should be just fine.
__________________ ALL my love, Carwy & Best wishes for a healthy new beginning! 
Saying prayers for him & all our friends, every day.
_______
"We ALL have our own opinions & beliefs...But I'd appreciate folks a he** of a lot more if they didn't belittle one another when they disagreed!!!"
______
Pumps & Meters Used:
MM506,7,8,11 & 12, Cozmo, Animas 1200 & 1250 Many
A1C: 6.4
Type I 26yrs, pumping 12
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06-19-2008, 09:45 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France
Posts: 785
| | | I don't reuse but then I don't have to pay for it. I get enough supplies to change every three days but as the reservoir lasts 6 days, I'd waste a lot of insulin. (I haven't yet got the knack of how to fill it with just enough.) I'm left with lots of spare tubing which also seems a dreadful waste. |
06-19-2008, 09:48 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 545
| | | Here you can order a box of sets with less tubing - eg 10 sets, 5 tubings. Perhaps you could do that.
__________________
Some boring but vital statistics:
31 year old male. Type 1 since age of 15. On Minimed Paradigm 722/Novorapid since Dec 07.
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06-19-2008, 10:39 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France
Posts: 785
| | Subby, that sounds a good idea. I just have to work out how to ask in French 
I get ideas from here and then totally confuse my nurse and doctors with my fractured explanations. Last time it was tegaderm, fortunately the French for tegaderm was tegadem and I got some by return of post. |
06-19-2008, 01:51 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Knox Vegas
Posts: 244
| | | Yup, I use the same cartridge twice, unless I start getting erratic blood sugar readings.
~Lisa
__________________
*************
Type 1, diagnosed 1977 at age 13.
Pumper since 1999.
Currently use Animas 2020 pump/Novolog
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle. ~Plato
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06-19-2008, 09:48 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 105
| | | I mostly always re-use mine, never had a problem, tried re-using tubing too for a while but I just kept gettign it all clogged up....
__________________
2 years diabetic
Pumping 1.5 of them and lovin it
Yes my name WAS meant to be an irony
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06-20-2008, 05:52 AM
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 613
| | | Since I use about 450 to as high as 600 units a day, I always reuse cartridges several times. Never had any problems, no infection, no absorption problems, mo crystallization...nothing.
__________________ 
Cozmo 1800 Volcano Black
Pumping since Jan 4 2007
A1C: 7.0 on 7/28/08  |
06-20-2008, 09:20 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan
Posts: 919
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by The_QUIET_one  I mostly always re-use mine, never had a problem, tried re-using tubing too for a while but I just kept gettign it all clogged up.... | When I had my disetronic pump you HAD to reuse tubing. You'd get a box of 10 sites, 5 of which would include tubing, 5 didn't.
__________________ 
Type 1 Est.1984
MM 722 and CGMS; Humalog & Symlin
a1c Trying to get below 6... 
6.8 (9.10.08) 
Vitrectomies May 2007 & July 2007
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06-20-2008, 10:41 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 545
| | Interesting replies. I may have to be a rebel and try reusing a bit, with no problems reported, it does seem worthwhile (and I suppose my main concern, hygiene, should be covered if it's handled carefully out of the pump). I don't pay a lot for supplies but it certainly all adds up. Just have to remember to keep a plunger around to do it.
__________________
Some boring but vital statistics:
31 year old male. Type 1 since age of 15. On Minimed Paradigm 722/Novorapid since Dec 07.
|
06-21-2008, 05:16 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 545
| | | So actually reusing showed the extra things to do, like keeping around the transferer-needle-thingy (yes, a techinical term that) and the plunger, from the previous fill. Bit worried about the sterility of these, anyone have any hints to keep these stored safely and handily?
__________________
Some boring but vital statistics:
31 year old male. Type 1 since age of 15. On Minimed Paradigm 722/Novorapid since Dec 07.
|
06-21-2008, 08:30 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 1,115
| | | I've reused cartridges when necessary. Had to dig through my sharps container to find a needle.
__________________
Guardian RT since 3/07
Animas 2020 since 8/07
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06-21-2008, 08:47 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan
Posts: 919
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by someone I've reused cartridges when necessary. Had to dig through my sharps container to find a needle. | I always keep an extra blue thingy and plunger in my kit that I carry around. If I don't have a new cartridge to use, I can easily pull these out for a quick refill. I tried keeping a new cartridge in my purse, but then I'd use it and be up a creek again. I found keeping the blue part and plunger...I'm always prepared, as there is always a cartridge IN my pump. I've also filled cartridges with humalog pens---just spin the dial to the highest dose, insert into the cartridge and "inject". It usually takes 3 times to fill a cartridge.
__________________
Type 1 Est.1984
MM 722 and CGMS; Humalog & Symlin
a1c Trying to get below 6...
6.8 (9.10.08)
Vitrectomies May 2007 & July 2007
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06-22-2008, 08:12 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern Utah
Posts: 842
| | I Always re-use my reservoirs. And, it is perfectly alright to do so. Pump companies tells you that you can't so that you will spend the money to buy a new one for each set change. Really, you can use that reservoir for as much as 3-4 set changes. It doesn't harm the reservoir, it doesn't harm the set, and it doesn't harm you at all. All it does it stretch a box of reservoirs for 2-3 months instead of just 1 month. And with the cost of all the pump supplies and test strips these days, I am all about saving money on these things
__________________  Laura Anne  "Happy Day! All is well! Pumping with Paradigm 712 since November 17th, 2004 Type 1 since April, 1995 |
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