Why Won't My Infusion Sets Stick?
I experienced a problem when traveling and hope you can advise me. My infusion sets wouldn’t stick. I used the Cleo infusion sets with my CoZmore pump. I held the applicator on for the required 20 to 30 seconds, but when I pulled it off, the set came with it. It sometimes took me three or four tries to get one to work. With the cost, and the fact that I didn’t bring more than 5 to 10 extras along for a month’s trip (space is limited on a motorcycle), I became alarmed!
Smith’s Medical was great when I called them. They sent a box of sets to my father’s house in Tennessee, and the set arrived the day after I did. But the problem continued. I thought it might be the change in humidity, or the skin-prep wipes. I tried with and without the wipes, so I don’t think that was the problem, and I changed my site in the mornings when my skin was cool and dry. Still, I had trouble.
Do you have any idea what might be going on? Have you heard of anyone else having this problem? I sent the bad sets back to Smith’s (they sent me a prepaid UPS label) and am waiting to hear what they discover, if anything.
Sue Tucker
Kamiah, Idaho 
Belinda Childs, ARNP, MN, CDE, BC-ADM, responds: One of the challenges of insulin pump therapy can be finding the right site preparation and the right site for the infusion needle.
As with most things with diabetes, everyone is a little different. In my experience, using the skin prep—not alcohol—is important. You might want to try the adherent Mastisol if other products do not work.
Site placement may also have contributed to the needle coming out or not holding while you were on the motorcycle. Your arms or hips may be a better choice than your legs or abdomen due to your positioning when sitting on a motorcycle, bike, or similar vehicle. On occasion we have had patients place a Tegaderm dressing on the skin first, with a hole cut for the needle to go through, and then place the infusion set on top of this dressing. Another alternative is to place the clear dressing over the needle to help secure it.
Comments
Not sticking
I hear your pain. I can't get the Freestyle navigator to stick. After wearing it for 10 hours to calibrate and then have it come off without giving me any information is frustrating. I tried a lot of things that didn't work. My insulin pump sticks fine so I wonder if the 'glue' they use is different and works better with my skin type. When I used one Tegaderm it didn't work, when I cut it into 2 pieces and placed one on each end this worked the best. I think it allowed the device to give a little but still be held in place. I am trying to change continuous glucose monitor brands to see if a different 'glue' might help. Smiths medical was great for me too with replacements but it didn't help me get the information I need from my CGM.
Margaret Rystrom
Enterprise, OR
Cleo sticking problems
My 12 year old daughter has been experiencing the same problem with the cleo, we went through 10 of them this weekend (aug 09), we have been having this problem for 7 or 8 months. The company is great and will replace when we call to complain , but this is getting crazy.
B. Kerwin
Northborough, MA
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