infusion sets?

[Hollyb]

Hi,

I'm new here! We are starting the process of getting an insulin pump for my 13-year-old son. I'm seeing conflicting stories about types of infusion sets -- our diabetes team seems to think the angled set with the big scary needle is best in terms of fewest problems with the insertion coming loose or the tube crimping, but I've heard a few kids now say they found that type difficult and painful to insert and were much happier when they went to a 90 degree set with an inserter.

I'm just wondering what your experience has been, what your preferences are? My son right now is not at all keen on the 30-degree type.

I know he can always change down the road but it seems to me a good choice now could smooth the transition to a pump considerably.

[faithe113001]

Hi Hollyb, I have always used a 90-degree insfusion set, and have never had any problems with it. I don't blame your son at all for not wanting the 30-degree kind! That is one big needle.

Good luck with the pump!

[Stacey Nagel]

Jesse's been pumping almost 3 years. Our CDE` also wanted him to use those long scary needles... We chose the quicksets, and now use the insets.. Never had any major problems...
Stacey

[Hollyb]

Thanks for your fast replies. I was reading a transcript of a chat on infusion sets and it seemed like the same pattern -- the professional saying angled sets were better for kids and several chat room people saying their straight-in sets worked just fine.

It's a whole new learning curve, for sure. Can I ask also if you use an automatic inserter or not? Pros/cons?

[BrendaK]

We use the disetronic tenders (the angled set with the long scary needle.) One reason we chose this one was because you can actually see the cannula going in the skin. Carson has been on the pump for 11 months and we've only had 1 site failure. We use EMLA cream to numb the site and Carson is great with the site changes. The needle is very long, but only about a small part of it goes into the skin -- not much more than a regular syringe. The kind we use does not come with an automatic inserter, so I do it by hand. We have also done the site changes a few times with no EMLA cream and Carson says it doesn't hurt any more than a regular shot. Don't let the long needle alone scare you away from this kind of set -- it really isn't that bad :) We have never tried the 90 degree sets, but I do know of a few people that have had lots of trouble with it. They have said that you can't tell if a high blood sugar is from a site failure or something else, so you always have to change a site with a high blood sugar (especially at night). Good luck!

[Red (aus)]

Taylor (8) is about to start pumping, hopefully next week, and we have trialled a few different sets over the past year. We found that the straight in sets were less reliable for her when used in her butt, the cannula came out of the skin but was hidden by the tape. Taylor herself chose to use the angled sets, she said they look bad but don't feel any worse and she feels safer with them. We don't use any numbing cream, ice etc and so far I've done all manual insertions. She says it does hurt a little but it passes very quickly.

[faithe113001]

I also use a serter and love it. I forgot my serter at home once, and had to insert the set manually, but the cannala ended up bent, so I just had to do the set change all over again. I my opinion, the serters are great, they make the intertion quick and less painful.

[munchkingirl]

I use the Inset (it's fairly new, I think), it inserts it for you which is really nice because the depth is always consistent, and it's a straight needle too (versus an angled one). I am quite pleased with it thus far (I've only been using it about a week and a half now, though). I haven't had any problems except that I got my tubing wrapped around a drawer in the kitchen and started to run back to the stove so as to not let something burn - and pulled my site out in the process. But, it was also the day to change it too, so it wasn't a big problem at all. The inset also doesn't hurt except for a little poke (for me, it hurts less than syringes did), which I have found really cool. Actually, though, the whole device that the Inset uses is REALLY scary to me, heehee... yeah, I'm 18 and was kinda freaking out the first and second time I had to do it to myself, I couldn't imagine a little kid trying to use it. Anyways. Later!

Beth