Site Change

Lack of Back-Up.

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I was in the bathroom at work when I first noticed it. A small, deep purple bruise was forming beneath the clear plastic window of my infusion site.

I was a little surprised, given that it had already weathered 24 hours worth of insulin boluses and a good night’s sleep. But I was also not surprised, given it was placed smack bam in the centre of my stomach where I have the least meat on me.

My mind wandered to the pencil case sitting on my desk, however I soon realised that the spare infusion set sitting in there belonged to my YpsoPump. Not a match for the late Animas Vibe I had replaced it with three weeks ago.

My mind wandered to the demi pen and needles that I carry around with me. However, I soon realised that there was no insulin cartridge in there because I’ve been feeling a little paranoid about insulin going bad until recently.

My mind wandered to the Chemist outside, which would probably loan me some insulin if I presented my NDSS card and promised to return with a script. However, I soon realised that it would be wasteful given all of the insulin I had in my fridge at home.

My mind wandered to the low carb chicken salad that I had packed for lunch. However, I soon realised that there were also amazing croutons in there that I had baked with the chicken juices. Not to mention that my blood sugar might also be a little high if the site was failing.

My mind wandered to the needle that was contained in my YpsoPump infusion set. However, I soon realised that there was no way that I would be able to macgyver it to reapply my failing infusion set into a fresh spot.

My mind wandered to my lunch hour, where I would probably have enough time to drive home and come back. However, I soon realised that even though I lived close enough, I could not be bothered rushing there and back and wolfing my lunch down afterwards.

My mind wandered to my Dad, who I felt super guilty for bothering, but who I also knew wouldn’t ever complain about having to deliver an infusion set to me at work.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had an infusion site fail on me well after placing it. I guess in the back of my mind I’ve been putting off updating my travel kit, telling myself it won’t happen. 

I bring my pencil case carrying all of my diabetes back ups with me almost everywhere I go. I hardly ever need to fall back on it when I’m out and about. And yet the one time I do, I don’t have the right stuff in there!

First Site Change

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I had it under good authority that first site changes are a mess, and boy did I learn my lesson last Thursday morning when I did mine.

I left the old site on my stomach in place, until I was sure that the new one was a success. I opened the insertion device, unwound the cannula, unwound the paper from the adhesive, and pulled back on the inner white plastic. I squeezed on the edges of my insertion device until it “clicked” into place onto my stomach, directly above the old one.

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I pressed down to ensure the adhesive had stuck, and then pulled the insertion device up. This is what was left on my stomach.

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I could feel uncomfortable pinching underneath. My first site certainly didn’t feel like this. I looked at my site, and I knew straight away that I’d gone too far left, and too far up on my stomach. There was hardly enough body fat underneath the site to cushion it. I had to rip it out, and start all over again.

After connecting the other end of the tubing to the insulin cartridge inside my pump, I went to prime it. Insulin wasn’t coming out. I primed again. I still couldn’t see any insulin coming out.

By this point, I had been disconnected from my insulin for at least half an hour. My desk, my bed and my dresser were strewn with diabetes junk. Fucking diabetes. Fucking diabetes, I cursed out load as I searched around frantically for my workbooks. Not to mention I had the live Survivor finale on timeshift that morning, which I’d planned to be watching by this point. After finding the page that talked me through refilling and replacing an insulin cartridge, I primed again. There wasn’t a single drop of insulin coming out of the cannula.

With all avenues exhausted, I decided to give the AMSL diabetes helpline a call and see if they could help.

Guess what? You know how when you start a new insulin pen, you have to prime 10 or so units until the insulin comes out? That’s all I had to do with the pump. Hold down the prime button until insulin came out. I felt so stupid.

On the bright side, my second site change on Saturday was a piece of cake. I think I’ve got this…