Study Looks at Achilles' Heel of Insulin Pump Technology

[Amity Island]

A first-of-its kind study is looking at the issue of patients “running out of real estate” due to pump sites becoming fibrotic, irritated and less effective at delivering insulin. The UW Medicine-led study was published July 14 in the journal Diabetes Care, a publication of the American Diabetes Association.

Study Looks at Achilles' Heel of Insulin Pump Technology

Since the insulin pump started widespread use in the early 1980s, it’s become the option of choice for type 1 diabetes patients to manage their glucose levels in a way that doesn’t require testing their blood sugar and injecting insulin multiple times daily. But now, a first-of-its kind study is...

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[Inka]

Very interesting @Amity Island 😎 It absolutely is the Achilles Heel of pump therapy, and it renders things like looping less effective potentially. Apart from illness, every high I have is due to the cannula sites, which is incredibly frustrating. I’ve been pumping for almost 20 years.

 

[Amity Island]

Very interesting @Amity Island 😎 It absolutely is the Achilles Heel of pump therapy, and it renders things like lopping less effective potentially. Apart from illness, every high I have is due to the cannula sites, which is incredibly frustrating. I’ve been pumping for almost 20 years.

Hi Inka,

I've yet to try a pump. They are very good and the only reason i've not give them a go (besides I manage well without them) is having something attached to me. That's me and probably not a very good reason not to use one given all the benefits.

 

[Inka]

Seriously, I don’t notice my pump at all. I often pat myself to make sure I’m wearing it It’s on a soft belt round my waist and I can’t feel it at all. I speak as someone very slim and petite.

 

[nonethewiser]

Hi Inka,

I've yet to try a pump. They are very good and the only reason i've not give them a go (besides I manage well without them) is having something attached to me. That's me and probably not a very good reason not to use one given all the benefits.

Felt same before moving g to pump, but seriously like @Inka says you can forget that your wearing one as you just dont feel them, didnt at start & still dont.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I know someone who opted for a “port” because they had no usable subcutaneous sites.

It was surgically implanted and needed to be changed every 3 or 5 years I think? Delivered the insulin right into the midst of things rather than s/c tissue.

 

[Inka]

I’d worry about infection though @everydayupsanddowns I wish insulin didn’t do this (mess up injection sites). It’s stressful enough as it is, but that seems an unnecessarily toxic little cherry on the top of it all.

 

[martindt1606]

It's certainly my achilles heel. I've a whipple scar just above the belly button that runs across my stomach, 4 years of injecting, and 9 years with a pump. At least 3 times a month my blood glucose goes high, and does not respond to manual generated bolus, for no reason except (assumption) i've stuck the canula in an overused site. Have tried the leg but always seems painful when walking. On the rare occaision that the DNS takes a look / feel she just says everything looks fine....