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Pump problems

5K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  helenp 
#1 ·
I have a Medtronic MiniMed pump now for 2 1/2 years. Hate it! I think I've said that before and nothing has changed. I get an alarm message of "No Delivery" at least once a month, usually more. I get great big bruises surrounding the infusion site entry at least once a week. I will have pain generating from a new site at least twice a month. This past fall I had 3 No Delivery in one day and no problem could be found. I ended up getting a new pump out of that and this new one has done the same thing once. I swear that on the days I need to change out an infusion set, my BG readings will be very, very high. Having said all this, my doctor, my nurse, the Medtronic "helper", none of these have any advice. Have any of you had similar problems? Just so I know I am not going crazy.
 
#2 ·
Just a thought but It might be that the cannula is wrong for you. Sometimes if you are too slim or too chubby for the ‘standard’ length of cannula needle the insulin doesn’t flow properly. Ask the pump manufacturer to send you some samples (there are angled ones as well as different lengths).
 
#3 ·
Hi Judy, I'm with you. I have been pumping for 12 years and am resigned to this is as good as it gets at the moment. I rarely get the "no delivery" alarm but always make sure the pump is upside down in my pocket and the tube is not constricted by waist bands etc. My biggest problem is for the 12-16 hours after an infusion set change my readings are high. I have tried different cannulae all to no avail. Just recently I radically changed site (from abdomen to outside thigh) and it is better but not sure how much? Changed infusion set yesterday afternoon, had carb free meal, went to bed, woken early morning with an alarm high)....gave myself an injection which brought it down for breakfast...usual bolus dose (no correction) but needed a correction 3 hours later. About 2 hours later alarm Bgs falling rapidly...whatever was causing the problem had cleared about 16 hours after change. Insulin flood. I have sought all sorts of advice but the Medtronic people have no solution other than to change cannula type. It is very frustration to have high readings one day in three! In any other field would you put up with a 16-20% failure rate?
I also dread change infusion set days as it requires so much more attention to just keep correcting (often with injections) and then to cope with the extra insulin on board when it rectifies. I have been told this is not uncommon! I have been advised to try a pump holiday but the two days where is works fine tips me in favour of this not being a good idea. You are not going mad! Helen
 
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