I read about a problem that I am experiencing and was wondering if you could tell me if the Animas pump or another pump has had this problem. Problem: ‘Hub leak’. I have been having a problem with unexplainable (until now) highs, no alarms, no warnings. Usually happened overnight when no boluses occurred. I could smell insulin but could not see any leakages. I asked Disetronic (I am on the Spirit) and they had never heard of this problem and so had no solution for me. My doctor referred me back to Disetronic. Hence the problem continues. I am now on day 4 of high sugars. I have even changed the adapter (cartridge cap). I am 100% certain that it is a ‘hub leak’ as your website called it. Could you please let me know if the Animas pump has many of these issues. I have used 4 different companies needle/lines but they do not seem to be the problem. My sugars are perfect when this is not happening. It always starts when I do a set change. thank you for any info. Thank you for having this website, I thought I was losing it until your website confirmed that this is a real issue. (I have been a pumper for 16 years, and diabetic for 36) Tammy Avelar

Any pump can experience hub leaks where the end of the infusion set or hub is attached to the pump’s insulin cartridge. For pumps with infusion sets, there are three types, listed roughly by how often they occur:

1. a loose hub – can be turned and tightened easily
2. a cracked or “too-tight hub” – look for a hairline crack in the hub itself
3. an infusion line that has partially or completely detached from the hub – look carefully where the line attaches to the hub for defects (this can sometimes be a lot problem where many infusion sets in the same lot will share the same problem)

Patch pumps can also have delivery issues when an auto inserter fails to get the Teflon catheter through the skin, or when the pump is hit and knocked loose.

Your Spirit pump uses an adapter (basically a top that holds the cartridge in the pump) to connect the infusion set to the insulin cartridge. This is different from other pumps in that the infusion set is attached to the adapter first and then the adapter is threaded into the pump onto the cartridge, so there are two seal areas that may fail. Accu-Chek recommends that you “Change the adapter with at least every 10th cartridge change. Also change the adapter if the seals become worn, lost, or if the vents become plugged.”

You are probably changing the adapter regularly. If not, this would be the first thing to do. Also, carefully clean the threads where the adapter threads into the pump body.

The next time you smell insulin near the hub (if you can’t smell insulin, a leak is unlikely), check to see if the hub is loose, check for any hairline cracks in the hub, and then pull on the infusion line and inspect how well it is attached to the hub. That you have tried different infusion sets makes a leak where the line attaches to the hub unlikely, but this process should help you pick out where your hub leak is coming from.

So don’t lose it, and certainly don’t leak it!
John

I have a question regarding your statement: “A good rule of thumb is that 1 gram of glucose raises the blood sugar 3, 4, or 5 points for body weights of 200 lb., 150 lb., and 100 lb., respectively. For example, a 5-gram glucose tablet raises the blood sugar about 20 points at 150 lbs.”

I weigh 140 so it would be 4 points per gram of glucose. My understanding is all carbs eventually turn to glucose. If that is true and something has 5 grams of carbs including 2 grams of sugar, do I multiple 4 points by 5(carbs) or 4 points by 2(sugar) to get the total points raised???

B

Read the rest of this entry »

I have had two insulin pumps over the past 15 years (both Minimed). I was taken off the pumps for the same reason I was put on them: frequent and dramatic low blood sugars. I’m done with Minimed (hated the infusion sets and the proprietary everything) but I’m reconsidering pumps. I am now 37, my sugars still drop to the point where medical intervention is necessary but they’re not dropping as LOW. So… I’m hoping perhaps I’ll have better luck pumping. I’d appreciate any information that you could send for your pumps (specifically the Spirit).

M

Read the rest of this entry »

My daughter (nearly 12) has been dx nearly 6 years. Pumping for 5.

Frustrating time of it these last few days. Need to make several changes it appears. +30% increase in basals is not even touching her numbers. ( i run temp rates to see what, if anything works and when /how much etc) before I actually change the program in the pump.

Is there a magic formula that says if you tighten I:C ratios say by 10% (which is usually where I (or the endo) starts) and it also seems basals need adjusting that I can do X amt for the basal increase and have it balance? I am thinking that surely she wouldn’t need a 30% increase with tighter I:C ratios? I do tend to be aggressive and tackle two things at once. (don’t remember if I have ever changed 3,but i also thought it’s probably time to tighten our Correction factor as well. I am sure our endo has changed 3 things at once. But it’s been awhile. Since it’s easy enough to go back if there are times the increases (in this case)end up being too much.

Our A1c’s have been consistently under 6 for the last couple of years at least. and under 7, i think since after the first year of pumping. The last few days I cannot keep her under 200, or rarely does she stay there. And have been correcting at least .5u and sometimes 1u at a time. No ketones thankfully.

I also know that as parents we call this The Curse of the Endo appt. since it appears that generally all of our kids tend to have these major highs shortly before the endo appts. (ours is in just under 2 weeks).

Thanks,

C

Perhaps one of these days I can get to a CWD conference and sit in on some workshops that you do , or am blessed to hang out at meal time table talk. That i have heard also takes place.

Read the rest of this entry »