Feb 11
24
Insulin Pump Issues
Positive
Since I switched to using the pump (close to a year now), I have liked it, been in more control as a result of it including my tests-A1C and all the others they do, BG readings, emotions, psychologically, physically, and probably more that I’m not going to name right now.
Negative, the Issue
Anyway, my issue is this:
Does anyone else have problems with their infusion sites with keeping them on, having them stick to the skin, and finding spots where you don’t have them fall/tear off?
I’m very active and most of my body is muscle so it’s hard for me to find spots to inject the site yet when I do, a lot of times, it doesn’t stick or stay for too long.
Side Note: I had the same problem with finding sites and giving the insulin when I was using syringes. Unfortunately, I thought using the pump would be better and decrease this problem but it seems to be the same.
Personal Predicaments
Ok, here are some of my personal experiences and predicaments I’ve had with it:
1. The main spots that seem to work well for me are the abdomen/stomach/belly area, inner thighs, and inner-under tricep area of arm. Why? These are the spots that have some fat and seem to be the only “good” spots. So when I work out and exercise I try not to tone and work these areas as much since I know that these small areas are the only ones that work and it will be like this for life.
2. The stomach area I detest injecting the site into because A. it hurts sometimes more than other spots (I must be extra tender in that area, had the same problem with syringes), it leaves a mark for weeks (Diabetics tend to heal slower the the norm), it itches, and it’s a tough area to keep an eye on so I don’t or it doesn’t pull off or detach.
3. When I’m sleeping it has detached many times even when I check before bed to see if its on correctly.
Then I wake up extremely high and it takes hours to come back to what I call homeostasis. Let me tell you, it is probably one of the most horrible feelings a Diabetic can have having a blood sugar so high and all you can do is wait and get some physical activity to increase the flow and time if you are even mentally stable to do it because I know a few times when it’s happened to me I couldn’t do anything, I was a mess.
4. The pump doesn’t tell you that it’s not delivering insulin all the time.
The first time I had “No Delivery”, that is what the pump tells you, the tube was bent so I had to go through the process of changing the site, again. I knew this because I looked at the site, it seemed fine but when I called the 24 hour service they told me that the tube might be bent (receiver) or the needle injection (giver) might be defective. Sure enough, when I peeled and took off the site, the tube was bent and wasn’t fully receiving the insulin.
Yet, if the tube isn’t bent, it doesn’t seem to tell you there is a problem before it’s too late which has happened to me too many times. At this point you have to go by how you feel, the symptoms, and of course, your blood sugar. The few times I checked my blood sugar it was high, was only getting higher, and was concerned of why it wasn’t coming down. So I figured something was wrong with the pump, infusion site, or something else. I took it off and gave some insulin by a syringe injection. I was so high at this point I could barely cope or function. When I was able to reconnect again to the pump, things were better. It is just so terrible and wrong of the traumatic disgusting experience you have to feel and go through when this happens.
5. The pump is only as good as the user.
So true. I was told this the first day I started the pump and figured I would know what that really meant once I had been using the pump for a while. Sometimes I don’t like when I’m right.
The only real positive thing I’ve seen with the pump that has helped me and I’m sure others (when it’s working), is that it gives continuous insulin throughout the day compared to having many shots of insulin injected throughout the day through a syringe/needle. Of course, you have to have your basal rates set correctly in order to stay in more control and give the right amount, count carbohydrates, when you bolus.
Summary
If you know of any solutions, resolutions, answers-short or long term, other ways or usages to give insulin, new technologies/medical advances, and/or any positive information about insulin pump injection sites and keeping them intact while on the body, please let me know.
Hey, you never know, you may not only be helping me but many others but all it takes is to help one.
Every one has a story and with this disease, Diabetes, the story gets longer everyday.