Just a question

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trophywench

trophywench

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
- I am asking for reason, which I'll explain once i get a few answers.

How many individual cannula sites do people use and how long is it before they get round to the beginning again?
 
I have no idea how many. I start on my backside as far round as I can reach, do three or four changes there. Move onto sides of my tummy, tracking across three invisible lines on each side. Avoid the middle as it hurts more and usually lands on waistline of jeans then onto other cheek of bum.

I change every two days at a minimum, so I get back to the same area after about 50 days.

I hope that helps
 
I've only ever use my front so start just below my ribs and work across one side then onto the next row once complete I move to the other side and repeat. Have done this since day one of pumping which was many years ago.
 
We only use the tummy, daughter won't let me near her buttocks! We swap sides each time and then just try to avoid where we can see that the cannula has been recently, so not very systematic really. We also find that if we go too far out from the belly button, daughter has less fat and the cannulas tend to be more uncomfortable and have a higher chance of failing, so we do perhaps concentrate them a bit too much in one small area :(
 
Sally71 said:
We only use the tummy, daughter won't let me near her buttocks! We swap sides each time and then just try to avoid where we can see that the cannula has been recently, so not very systematic really. We also find that if we go too far out from the belly button, daughter has less fat and the cannulas tend to be more uncomfortable and have a higher chance of failing, so we do perhaps concentrate them a bit too much in one small area :(
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Well this is the reason LOL - the vast majority of my tummy now does not absorb insulin, having presumably been knackered from injecting into it for years, in the same way as I have nowhere on my outer thighs. The only place above the waistband I can inject into is literally my spare tyre - above that are my ribs - I am very short waisted - so that bit of spare tyre sticks out to begin with. Course if I lose weight now like I did a few years ago, it's just a fold of flabby skin with no fat. There are 3 spots on either cheek (well above each cheek) so that's 6. Two spots on the LHS of tummy, none on the right (doesn't absorb and cannulas hurt) then an additional two on each thigh, on the fronts, slightly inner surfaces.

Course - when I need to correct by pen, I can use that tyre I talked about, so Phew.

I've been 'resting' my tum since I started pumping in 2009 - and the outer thighs for far longer, probably nearing 15 years by now - but so far once they're gone they're gone.

I wanted to know what happens when these 12 places pack up too?
 
Have you thought about your arms TW? I have used my 23'' cannula a few times there and threaded through my bra to reach where ever I have parked my pump (pocket, hid-in band etc). I also found out you can use the bikini line and that works a treat because it had never been used before.

jusme
 
My bikini line has scar tissue all along it's length - from my hysterectomy - didn't think scars absorbed very well? - though I haven't tried it and isn't your pubic bone close to the surface there, like nearly all my bones are? - same reason as we can't use our ribcage for instance, or the side/front of our hip/pelvis bones? (or don't other people's do that?)

How do you keep the cannula still in one place as you attach and remove the tubing when it's on your arm ? All of me is well, flabby, not solid, so whether it's me doing it or my husband when they are in my bum - we both need to use two hands. One to hold the cannula, the other to squeeze the tubing attachment in on both sides and pull it away. You do have to be very firm when attaching it, so if it won't keep absolutely still - it ruddy hurts!

My DSN says I shouldn't use my thighs, but I don't think 8 sites is enough really. Dunno where she expects me to put the damn things!
 
The cannula is still in my arm when I detach the tubing and pump, take a look at Medtronic MiniMed 'Quick Set'. Sorry I never thought about you using a different pump to me. I just feel around and as long as there is no bone with in an inch it gets put in. Yours sounds more complicated than mine.

jusme
 
You defo need the cannula 'superstructure' to stay firmly where it is, to attach/detach the tubing. Imagine the cannula floating on a pond, or in a bowl of set jelly, perhaps? LOL - and you shove something up the back of it - see what I mean? You push, and the side of the tubing attachment open over a wider bit, then click back tight once it's got past the bulge. To remove again, you squeeze the side bits of the tube attachment in a partic place so the jaws open, and you simultaneously pull it back. No idea what anyone with arthritic hands can do. Fortunately neither of us has that prob as yet.

And ... the latest sets I have seem to be even stiffer than last year's vintage. I spose I ought to tell Roche - but usually assume it's just me being ham fisted as per usual TBH.
 
I reckon my rotation gives me around a month between returning to the same target area (though to be honest they are fairly close together so there could be a bot if inaccuracy overlap)

I use 3 rows starting above waistband to one side (roughly vertically above hip bone). Then work around usually getting 4 sites around my side and towards spine. Then back to the front on the same side, but up an inch or inch-and-a-half. Then the third row. Then swap to the other side and begin at the front again. So I reckon that's 3x4 sites at 2.5-3 days each. So 30-35 days per 'side'.
 
My DSN recommended I try Tenderlink cannulas as I was telling her that I was trying to rest my lower abs and having problems with there not being much fat above the waist since my recent weight loss. I haven't tried them yet. Would a shorter cannula give you more options?
 
Shorter than Flexlink 6 ?? Don't want angled ones, you have to put them in yourself and being on the diagonal - they look scary to me cos they're so much longer than the straight ones !

I was using 5mm pen needles, the 4mm hurt because they didn't seem to go in as far as they needed to, so injecting the insulin caused a red and itchy lump and the insulin leaked back out the needle hole so I was clueless how much went in.

A few sundry people have told me over the years when jabbing me, firstly with insulin in hospital then for other reasons (flu or locals, or cannulas for sedation) that I've got tough skin - dunno, never had any other skin LOL
 
trophywench said:
Shorter than Flexlink 6 ?? Don't want angled ones, you have to put them in yourself and being on the diagonal - they look scary to me cos they're so much longer than the straight ones !
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Gulp! Yes the angled ones. Going to try them at some point myself so will let you know how it goes. I must admit the guy from Roche put me off slightly when I first requested a sample by telling me to make sure I contact them or the DSN if I have any problems!
 
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