Using an infusion set that works well is one of the most important steps in achieving success on a pump. If a particular set causes skin irritation, falls off when you swim or sweat, gets blocked or dislodged, or leaks insulin back to the skin surface, significant control problems may occur. For a satisfying pump experience, you want the infusion set you wear to be comfortable, reliable and easy to use.
An infusion set is the non-glamorous, funny-looking piece of plumbing needed to deliver insulin, and is often the most overlooked ingredient for success on a high-tech insulin pump system. Its role is to allow insulin to flow from a reservoir in the pump through an infusion line into an infusion set with a Teflon tube or metal needle held in place beneath the skin by an adhesive backing on the skin. Small but important, the infusion set is the weakest link in pumping and often makes or breaks the wearer’s ability to control their glucose.