Infusion sets with Minimed pump

[KellyH]

We received our brand new purple minimed pump last Monday. This Thurs we are doing a saline trial for a week (with me wearing it) and the Thurs after we go live with insulin. What is the best infusion set in your opinion for Abby. (I hope to make everything go as smoothly as possible) Our pharmacy sent us the 6mm quickset, however we also got some Sure T's after advice from nurse/pump trainer. I also know there is a Silhouette infusion set? Abby will be 2 in April and weighs 27 lbs. I did read the recent thread regarding Regan's problems with the quickset and possible switch to Sure T's. What is the general consensus?

Should I wear both the quickset and Sure T next week?
Thanks so much - I seem to learn so much from this listserv.

[Reagan's Mama]

You know where we stand right now. I will say though that since we began using the features of the pump correctly, we are getting much better numbers. I am still interested to see how she does with the Sure T.

The man that I spoke with at Minimed said that they recommended the silhouettes for kids over 2 years old. He told me that Reagan couldn't use them yet.

Good Luck!

[Colinsmom]

We just started a few weeks ago and use the quicksets. Colin is almost 4, and weighs 31 pounds- he is quite small. Even so, he barely flinches when we put in in him. Dont get me wrong- he tries to get out of us doing it every time!- but when we actually use the quickset he doesnt seem to even know we did it.

I will be interested to see how the other types work out for you guys though.

[Sari]

Ross started on the silhouttes. He was just 22 months old. I cried every time I had to do it. It is like harpooning your child. We found it excrutiating to put our child through. A short time later we changed to the Sure T's and what a world of difference. There is no applicator or insertion device. You simple peel off the backing and push it into your childs tushie. That's it. Yes, we do numb Ross's butt because we think he was still anxious over the Silhouttes. There have been 2 times where we had to do an unexpected site change and not numb the area and he didn't seemed bothered by it.

Good luck with your decision - my vote is for the Sure T - 100%

[AmyMcCracken]

Kaylie started pumping last April with the Silhouettes. I definitely agreeing with the "harpooning" comment. I used the Silhouette on myself for the saline trial. The needle is a bit intimidating. Anyway, we have been using these for almost a year. They are okay but we are going to talk to the endo next week about switching to the Quick Sets. Mainly because they appear easier to insert. We found with the Silhouettes if the insertion angle isn't quite right the sites go bad quicker.

For your trial I would use one of each. But your sons body type is probably different:D and what works best for you may not work for him.

[pookas]

Here is where we stand right now on the issue and this is just our experience. We switched from the 6mm quiksets recently to the Sure-T's because we're only getting 2 days out of the site. Sunday night, put the Sure-T in and Hunter REALLY liked it. DH took him to pee later on and playfully dropped him into his bed right on his butt where the Sure-T was. Next morning, we get up and these is some blood in the tubing. Breakfast and a bolus then 10am snacktime, BS was 500!!! Blood must have clotted in the needle. SO, do an emergency site change w/ NO numbing cream and Hunter is screaming and crying. Then the site hurt him all day. I asked him if he wants to keep trying the Sure-T's or go back to the quiksets and he wanted to go back to the quiksets asap. Did his site change last night and he's happy again. I love using the quiksets. SO easy to just pop in. But some people, like Hunter, only get 2 good days out of the site. Also, I have a box of the sil's and they look SO barbaric even w/ the serter. Our endo recommends them, but it would be our LAST choice only if no other sets worked. That is our experience and my opinion.

[EmmasMom]

We've been using the 6mm quick-sets since Emma was 14 months-old and I love them. They are very easy to put in, even if the child is wiggling, since the needle isn't exposed prior to insertion. I love that it sticks all on it's own and all I have to do it set the inserter on her and push the button. You don't have to think about the angle or depth or speed, it's just done.
They are almost painless, and she has no trouble with site changes. We don't use any numbing cream for them.
We have never tried the Sure T, so I have no opinion on them... sorry.

My opinion... stick yourself with both the Sure T and the quick-set and wear them around for 3 days and see what you think. I wouldn't use the silhouette unless you have trouble with the other two.

[beckybuckley]

Alyssa is 3 and pretty thin. We started with quicksets in her bottom and only got about 18 hours before the canula would crimp. So we switched to silhouettes, which definitely lasted longer but I HATED insertion. I never knew if I got it in at just the right angle and even with the insertion device, I just really didn't like it. I had hesitated to try the Sure T because of the medal canula vice plastic (or whatever it is) but I got the nerve and we tried it. First I put it on myself to see what it felt like to insert and it was really really really simple. She had never let me use her tummy before, but we can now. I don't use a numbing cream, but mostly because the price at my pharmacy was a little too high and she really hasn't needed it yet. If you read a previous thread of mine, we did have a really bad site change with the Sure T's but it was a comedy of errors that had nothing to do with the infusion set itself. With the other sets, I hadn't used the iv3000 but I did add them to my order because she had 1 fall out. Good Luck!

[camsdad]

My son is 6 and very lean and active, we use the Sure-t and love them. Pros:no insertion device,attaches in two place to avoid pulling on actual site,very reliable delivery of insulin. Cons:needle can be intimidating,but if going from MDI its a piece of cake. Our son had a hard time with the site changes intially because the tape sticks so good. We started using Googone to soften the fabric and glue and changes are a breeze. We like the sure-t. I would recomend getting some of the IV3000 clear tape to put over the needle where it attaches to the body. Just a little more security. You can get them from mini-med. We take one piece and cut it in half . My son plays soccer,baseball and swims and have to this point been very happy with this infusion set. Hope this helps.