I use the Minimed 715, there is a "trick" on the reservoirs, before you fill
them with insulin, slowly pull the plunger out while twisting or rotating
it, then do the same thing as you push in back in , do this twice, This
procedure will properly distribute the lubricant around the O rings that
seal the plunger. The lubricant can "pool" on one side if stored for prolong
periods or subjected to heat, as in a hot auto.


"Gregory Poche" > wrote in message
...
>I never see anything on this group about pumping insulin, so I thought I
>would post.
> I just wondered if it was just me, or do many other people have problems
> with their
> pumps, reservoirs, or infusion sets?
> For the last year I have been using a MiniMed 712 pump, and I have tried
> all of
> the available infusion sets @ various canula lengths, and had nothing but
> problems.
> The pump rep recommended one type of set, and knew nothing about the other
> sets.
> In fact she wasn't even diabetic.
> Some sets go in at a 45 degrees others @ 90. lengths are 4mm-10mm. If you
> don't
> have the perfect length and angle, it won't work.
> What happens most all of the time is, I get air through the bottom
> of the reservoir and shortly after, it makes it's way through the tube.
> When there isn't air present in the tube and I take a bolus for a small
> item like a
> piece of candy, and do that 5-6 times within that hour, my sugar goes high
> as if
> I didn't take any insulin. On the other hand if I just take the required
> dose for
> 6 pieces of candy at one time, it works fine.
> In short, small boluses seem to be inaccurate and minimed reservoirs leak
> air.
> Last week I changed pumps to the Animas IR1250 which uses minimed infusion
> sets, but the reservoir is made by animas, and seems to work flawlessly.
> (it's waterproof too!)
>
> Gregory