Pump cartridge issue

I am on largish doses of insulin (about 70u a day, down from 90+ a day pre pump) and am trying to work out a system of "changes" that impacts less on my day to day life.
I have tried:
1) 1 hours exercise (drops the insulin requirement about 5-6u over the day)
2) 1 carb free meal a day (drops the insulin 6-8u a day) but is a bit haphazard.
3) using a pen for some breakfasts. This seems to work the best I can then easily stretch the cartridge out to 3 days changing at breakfast every third day. (Much more convenient than having it walk back by about three-four hours over the three days.) However, this does interesting things to the data from the pump!

I have read on an American site that some top up their cartridge (they apparently have smaller cartridges {100u} and do it as a cost saving strategy, but I have not gone down that road.

The cartridge I use (after priming) has about 185-190u but over a three day period I need about 210u. My reason for wanting to regulate the times is more for convenience that anything else. The cost saving is a bonus. I am also reluctant to change it every two days and throw out about 50u of insulin or only partially fill the cartridge.

Anyone else in this boat?

Helen

Helen I'm an old DAFNE Grad. 2002 and went on a pump September 2011. My 3ml Reservoir fitted near enough the three day Infusion set life but on occasion I used a little more so I used to top-up the Reseivoir to give a little space. Now, i've been on a weight reduction course and using quite a bit less Insulin so I now change the infusion set but keep the part used reservoir with a new set. I dont get hypo signs very often down to beloe 1.1 on the meter but I'm quite happy. Hay Ho hopethis helps Ian.

HelenP said:
I am on largish doses of insulin (about 70u a day, down from 90+ a day pre pump) and am trying to work out a system of "changes" that impacts less on my day to day life.
I have tried:
1) 1 hours exercise (drops the insulin requirement about 5-6u over the day)
2) 1 carb free meal a day (drops the insulin 6-8u a day) but is a bit haphazard.
3) using a pen for some breakfasts. This seems to work the best I can then easily stretch the cartridge out to 3 days changing at breakfast every third day. (Much more convenient than having it walk back by about three-four hours over the three days.) However, this does interesting things to the data from the pump!

I have read on an American site that some top up their cartridge (they apparently have smaller cartridges {100u} and do it as a cost saving strategy, but I have not gone down that road.

The cartridge I use (after priming) has about 185-190u but over a three day period I need about 210u. My reason for wanting to regulate the times is more for convenience that anything else. The cost saving is a bonus. I am also reluctant to change it every two days and throw out about 50u of insulin or only partially fill the cartridge.

Anyone else in this boat?

Helen

Thanks. How on earth did you lose the weight and how did you top up the cartridge?
My cartridge is 2mL (200u) but after priming you lose about 15u.
Your strategy would preserve the integrity of the data!
Helen

Hi could you give more info on the weight reduction course please. Is it pump specific? type 1 specific? hospital lead? or something you took up on your own?

I would imagine your predicament to be quite the nuisance..............

How many carbs are you eating in a day?

It is unbelievably inconvenient.

Usually I have 40g CHO for breakfast 25g rolled oats, 100mL milk, golf ball size apple (90g) and 8 almonds.
A cappuccino at about 10:00am (15g CHO).
Sandwich (30g CHO in bread) with salad fillings.
For dinner a salad with protein and 30gCHO
So it is a total of between 110-120g CHO most days.

If I eat more than this I put on weight! Snacks include cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and the occasional piece of cheese! and very occasionally some raw nuts.

Its not a lot of carbs to be honest, if you could reduce them further it would be good, but not necessarily required........

the only other way that I know to reduce insulin is exercise.................so even just working some muscles slightly will get your sensitivity down..........

Is the reservoir size on your pump similar across all available models...............?

If I reduce the carbs even further I get very hungry (and angry). Most people I have talked to say (simply!) lose weight....and I haven't tried! I believe it is largely the demon insulin resistance/insulin sensitivity!
I believe all cartridges here in Oz are 200mL. At the moment I have gone back to just using the pump (after 3 weeks of trying to time changers to breakfast every third day) and changing when ever necessary. Next one due between 23:00 and 01:00....depends what I have for dinner. I am going to Montezumas to celebrate my g'son's birthday. Eat carbs and change at 20:00!!!!!
Thanks, Helen

When you say you haven't tried to lose weight, was that sarcastic, or have you actually not tried...........

Do you feel you need to lose weight...........?

If you feel you do, then this will almost certainly be playing a part in your insulin requirements..............

Resistance to insulin will drop as the muscles become stronger and more active, so that's all your muscles, not just the arms and legs etc....

It was sarcastic...very sarcastic! It seems like such a simple suggestion,

I have to work very hard not to put on weight. At one time it was explained to me that insulin resistance...high levels of insulin were a major contributor to weight gain, and I could accept the situation or not. I was told it was important not to put on weight so my calorie intake is relatively quite low.

i have tried the exercise route but in spite of working at it I really did not notice any reduction in insulin required. Marginally more hypos but that was all.
Helen