Preparation

Once the infusion set is inserted and secured in place, loop the infusion line a short distance away and tape this loop against the skin with a piece of Micropore™ tape or other adhesive. This safety loop can be placed about an inch away from the infusion site and prevents it from being dislodged should the infusion line be accidentally pulled.

For sites, most pumpers prefer the abdomen, but anywhere that has padding will do. Normal skin contains bacteria, so it's best to use a sterile prep on the new site prior to inserting the infusion set to reduce the chance for an infection. Bacteria move on the skin, so a wide swath is smart. Scrub the infusion site on the skin with an antiseptic solution. Cleanse a site two inches in diameter on the skin.

Insert the infusion set into the skin through the bio-occlusive adhesive. If using an infusion set with a needle, position the metal needle so it is parallel to your belt line but not underneath it. If using a teflon set, fill the dead space in them after insertion.

Bio-occlusive dressings are preferred for the skin. They allow sweating but keep bacteria from passing through to the skin. This can greatly reduce the risk of an infection through the hole created by the infusion set. IV 3000 by Smith and Nephew or J&J's Bio-occlusive Material are great for blocking bugs. Other tapes which are not bio-occlusive but which have good adhesion are Tegaderm HP by 3M, and Polyskin by Kendall.

There are a wide variety of Infusion Sets available. Many have an adhesive surface that sticks to the skin. Shown to the right is a Rapid set which has a small 90 degree needle thats easy to install. In this example, a paper covering is removed from the adhesive surface before placing it through the IV 3000 dressing on the skin.

For sites, most pumpers prefer the abdomen, but anywhere that has padding will do. Normal skin contains bacteria, so it's best to use a sterile prep on the new site prior to inserting the infusion set to reduce the chance for an infection. Bacteria move on the skin, so a wide swath is smart. Scrub the infusion site on the skin with an antiseptic solution. Cleanse a site two inches in diameter on the skin.

There are a number of things to consider when selecting an infusion set such as:

Insulin, Tapes and Dressings

Novolog, Humalog, and Apidra are all approved for pump use. Because it was the first rapid insulin available, many pumpers started out on Humalog and continue to use it successfully in their pumps, although some problems with Humalog stability have been noted.

Tapes, skin preparations, and transparent dressings can greatly aid safe pump operation.

Sterile technique is always important when preparing to use a device, such as an insulin pump and infusion set, that creates a hole in our critical defense called the skin.Three key steps make infections and abscesses less likely:

Diabetes care has improved with many of the technological advances in the field. From improvements in insulin pumps and infusion sets to the implementation of continuous glucose monitors, technology is helping deal with diabetes easier than ever before. More technology companies are getting involved in diabetes everyday. In this section, you will find information on: