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10/05/09 02:20 PM

"My girlfriend is a type one diabetic. She uses the pump. She is paranoid that her infusion sets are contaminated. Any advice on alleviating her fears?"
Asked By: jnejman  
Category: Pumping Issues

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Expert Answers (1)

10/09/09 12:45 AM

Dear jnejman: Pumping is an effective method of delivering insulin with a very low incidence of infections at the infusion site. Has your girlfriend ever suffered from a contaminated site, or is she just generally over-concerned about germs and infections? I assume she cleans the area thoroughly with an IV Prep solution to both clean and help with adherence. I recommend placing a new site right after showering to ensure the skin is as clean as possible. Infusion sets should be changed every 3 days (maximum) and if there is any redness, irritation, itching, or history of infections or reduction in absorption, then the site may need to be changed every other day, or even daily (in rare cases). While infections can occur, they are rare. Informing one's doctor at the first sign of serious infection for prescription of appropriate antibiotic can stop these rare infections in their tracks. Unless your girlfriend has had difficulty with contamination at infusion sites, indicating a reason for her concern, I would suggest she meet with a qualified counselor to see if she can get to the root of her problem. Good luck.
Answered By: Anne Carroll
Accreditations: RN, CDE
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