poor absorption at site

[Kaylee's Mommy]

We use to always get 3 days out of Kaylee's sites.. always.. some days 4 because they were working so well we'd forget to change them out..

recently, it seems she's getting only 2 days out of her sites.. by the third day she's high and stubborn in coming down, usually stay around 200, but spiking into the 300s with meals, and then over night she'll go into the mid 200s and end up with ketones..

what could be making the sites now fail after only two days? We do a good rotation, arm, arm, belly, belly, leg, and leg.. so by the time we get back to the arm.. its been a good while..

we use the quick sets 6mm, have always used them.. have never had a problem until recently.. :confused:

she's been pumping for over a year and a half.. she doesn't have any 'lumps' at her sites.. also, the past 3 weeks (before these problems) her TDD went from 13/14u aday to 16/17u a day.. she's long done honeymooning.. so I"m guessing growth spurt.. could this have something to do with the sites giving up before day 3?

[EmmasMom]

I've read some research on this happening, and I think Emma has the same problem with sure T's for some reason.
It's basically your immune system fighting against a "foreign body" and eventually slowing the absorption of the insulin. It's not uncommon for some pumpers to have to change the infusion site prior to 72 hours.
It's more common with teflon cannulas.

I'll try to find the article I was reading and post it for you.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

I just got of the phone with MM because as I was changing her site, I kept getting no delivery, we finally decided it was the reservoir.. while on the phone, I asked her this question, she said that its probably because her body is changing and not suitable for the quick sets anymore.. she's grown probably 5 inches this year alone and weighs about 40lbs.. she said that she's probably lost some layers of tissue, so its going in to deep.. we need an angled set.. BUT Kaylee has gained about 5lbs this year, she's the 'chunkiest' she's ever been.. I'll call her cde tomorrow and discuss it.. we tried the shillouttes, once, and Kaylee got a site infection, she won't let me go near them.. she said thats our only choice for angled.. I don't want to use a set Kaylee is going to freak over every time.. I can do quicksets without emla, she doesn't care.. We do have about 6 months worth of quicksets, so if I have to change every 2 days I guess I have to..

[Treysmom]

Man if its not one thing its another. Poor baby! Gaining a little weight has something to do with what kind of site she's to use. Thats Wild!

[Ali]

I have to change my sets every 48 hours. My insulin needs almost always increase after 48 hours with one set. I have used the teflon and now the steel. I also use the 6mm. I also found that the teflon would kink but still deliver enough insulin to keep me from getting a no deliverey alarm but I would see BS levels trending up (or shooting up) and problems with corrections etc. Often took a half day to figure it out. I switched to the steel needles for this reason. I would get kinks from insertion or during the wear time-the set would kink from activity. Good luck. I had a huge improvement in my care when I started switching very 48 hours and again when I switched to the Sure T sets. Ali

[coconne3]

That's funny this subject coming up. We have only been pumping since November. But the past 2 weeks I have noticed that as we get close to the 48hr mark her numbers go up and stay up. Once we change the site we are fine for a while. My husband and I tossed around the idea of changing every 36hr to see if it helps. I think we'll make the call to the endo tomorrow. Doesn't seem like we should have to change that frequently if people pumping a lot longer than us, are changing less frequently but...