I have had more issues with the infusion set adhesive wearing off and it becoming unattached. I recently picked up a product called Mastisol, which is a skin adhesive. There is a sister product called Detachol, which is an adhesive remover. I have yet to try it, but if it works as good as the adhesive, it should work well.

Some other products for removing adhesive are:
Unisolve – Adhesive Remover Pads (also pads with Aloe)
AllKare – Adhesive Remover Pads

The Unisolve product seems to be pretty popular in the diabetes community. Whoever supplies you with the infusion sets may also be able to recommend a product they carry or should carry one of the products above.

If you try one of these, please report back as to what you think. Thanks again!

It sounds like you are better armed with information that I was nearly 3 years ago when I started the pump. I actually did get a quick lesson from the trainer about how to insert the infusion set, which was good. I experience the exact same issue you do about where to actually place set the infusion site. When I ask my doctor, all he said was, “anywhere there is fatty tissue”. As you can imagine, that info didn’t help much.

I actually LOL’d about your comment of placing it on the forehead.

Location of the site is key. When my infusion set become loose or loses it’s stickiness, I get stressed over it and having to change it prematurely. I wrote after this post another tip about infusion set locations that can be found at: http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/11/infusion-set-location-tip/

I had a horrible experience about using my thigh, which I will write about in an upcoming post. I have been sticking to the places I can reach in my abdomen and hips (below my waist).

Also, I think this goes without saying, but make sure you get a quick insert device to insert the canula/infusion set. I have yet to do it manually and don’t really want to either.

Thanks for your comments and please let me know if you have any questions. I would be happy to give you any advice as to what works/doesn’t work for me.

I appreciate your insight on these matters…and the insight from all other experienced pumpers!!!! Specially, on the matter of infussion site rotations….The manual recommends changing sites every 3 days, but does not offer any instructions on what they mean by that. Day 1, on the right side of the belly? Day 3 on the left side of the belly? Day 6 on your right hip area? ….Day 21 on your forehead? Anywhere where there is enough fatty tissue to secure the canula, I guess. So many options, so little information from technical manuals on what works for most pumpers.

Any new pumper would find very valuable, and appreciate, any information that can be shared from the experienced pumpers out there!!!!

Thanks,

Olie

Thanks,

Olie

I pretty much load up 200-210 units each time I change my site. I really use up all of the insulin and change at about 20 units left or a max of 3 days. I’ve never heard of the 200 unit rule for each set.

I would hate to say there’s a ‘one size fits all’ method to a max reservoir. I say that because everyone’s insulin absorption rate and carb to insulin ratio is different.

When you say “the skin starts breaking down”, are you talking about around the insertion point, or something else? This is news to me.