Diabetic Recipes
sarainsanfran
Typically, I put in a new infusion site and leave the old site in for a few hours. I rarely have a bad transition. Occasionally, the site will hurt or feel uncomfortable so I replace it with a new one. Even on those occasions, it's immediate so I don't peak from the bad site.
But the last two sites have given me some trouble. I'm rotating like normal, still leaving my old site in for at least two hours, and making sure there isn't any pain. I'm still seeing numbers soar into the 200's without a true cause within several hours of replacing my site. And each time, I've replaced the site on the third high reading and come down within a few hours to a normal range.
I have no idea what has randomly caused this infusion stress since nothing has really changed. Maybe I need to change my site area to a new, untouched area. Unfortunately, I feel like I have no available real estate since the two areas I love to use (my stomach and lower, lower back) are apparently becoming problem sites.
Is this what happens with the pump? Do you use all your sites for so long that all that's left is scar tissue and the remnants of adhesive? Eventually, what do you do?
When I went through my pump training classes before I started on the pump, one woman was just getting back on the pump after taking a 6-month sabbatical to let her body repair so she could have better site absorption. At the time, I thought she was strange and probably abnormal. I was a little alarmed, but figured someone would have told me that sabbaticals are necessary somewhere along the way.
Yet, here I am, wondering...what do I do when I start having issues with my infusion sets? Do I need to take a sabbatical after only one year on the pump? Is my time up?
I suppose I need to push myself to try new site areas like my arms or sides or thighs. Sadly, I have an objection to each one. On my arms, I don't want anyone to see. My sides just scare the heck out of me (hello, vital organs!) even though I know the needle and catheter are not long enough to reach through even a small amount of skin and fat. My thighs are muscular from years of cheerleading so it scares me to put needles and catheters directly into that muscle.
I know I'm making excuses and have valid infusion site areas that have not been touched, but I'm still wondering, what if I can't do it? What if I can't make myself try my arms or thighs? What if my lower back and my stomach can't absorb anymore?
Just, what if...?
If anyone knows the answer to this; I would be very interested. I too am having trouble finding good sites. I have been on the pump for two years and have never been able to get more than 48 hrs. out of a site before the numbers start to creep up. Now for the past couple of weeks, it is more like 24 hrs. I have found that there are only about 3 areas that work for me; so I avoid other areas. I use my hips and one side of my abdomen. The other side doesn't work at all. I have changed infusion set type; but still have the trouble. Any help would be appreciated. Maybe I am not inserting them correctly!!! I don't know.
Hello, I can't wear an infusion site for more than 48 hrs usually, and from talking to my trainer and others in the company it seems that some of us are just more sensitive (lucky us) to foreign objectd (the tube) in our skin. Our white bloods cells get "upset" quicker than some other diabetes, and we have to change more often. i use my stomach, and my lower back. My lower back is even worse
I've been on a pumpb for 14 yrs. and never heard the concept of a sabbatical!!! I do have an occasional issue with a part of my abdomen, but I've changed types of infusion sets. I used bent needle for a long time until I seem to hit a wall of nonabsorption. I then went to soft-set and that lasted several years. Now I use a combination of soft-set or silhouette with longer canula and it works well. Sometimes, my sites last longer than 4 days. I know that's long, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it has become my motto some of the time, not all of the time. :)
I can't figure out how you're getting a site on the lower part of your back. ????
I generally use my abdomen above and below my waist on a rotation basis, the top part of my thigh and very rarely one side or the other.
I'm new to the pump and I'm still in the throws of euphoria about not taking shots and leveling out my bg's. This is absolute heaven. Then I read about sabatacals and site problems. Yeesh, just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...lol.
I watch D-Life every Sunday with my non-diabetic family and I have to say that the education they are receiving is awesome. My older sister died at 41 from diabetes and I am attempting to avoid as many of the complications for as long as possible as I can but we have come a long way from pork insulin and peeing on strips.
I appreciate the input of everyone on this site cause I feel like less of an alien blogging with people who understand what my day is like.
One of the reasons for the spike in BS is because the cathader( spelling stinks) is to close to the under lying muscle. Had this issue a few years ago because I lost a lot of wieght. When I was setting up a new site for the pump the insert I was using was going to deep.