What goes into taking care of an insulin pump? If so, this blog post is for you. This article covers everything from tips on cleaning your pump to how often you should replace the tubing. Also, in case you do lose any part of your diabetes pump, you can find insulin pump parts that you can get from trusted platforms online.
Clean the pump as directed.
The pump is designed for easy cleaning. You only need to wash it daily with a damp cloth and dry it well. Ensure not to use an abrasive cleaner or other liquid cleaners, as this could damage the pump’s casing. If you have a waterproof model up to several feet deep, make sure not to submerge your pump in water for any reason. Also, be cautious about using any microwave-safe cleaning agents on your insulin pump—you don’t want these chemicals reacting negatively with its components!
Look for tubing damage.
The tubing your insulin pump comes with is meant to last, but it can become damaged over time. Inspect your tubing regularly to look for kinks, leaks, cracks, holes and fraying. If you find any of those things while inspecting your pump or its parts and accessories, replace the damaged part immediately!
Check for air bubbles.
The first thing you should do when you remove your infusion set is to check for air bubbles. Air bubbles can cause insulin to leak out, and they can also cause insulin to go into your body. So make sure you’re checking for air bubbles every day!
To do this, take the needle or cannula off the pump head and then gently rub around where the needle/cannula goes into your skin with one hand while holding onto your pump with the other hand, so it doesn’t slip away from you. This helps break up any clumps of scar tissue that may have formed around where your needle/cannula goes into your body. And if there are no clumps there yet, but there’s some slight resistance when pushing on different parts of that area then congratulations: now there aren’t any more!
Watch out for insulin leaks.
It’s a good idea to check for leaks every day, whether or not you think one has happened. For example, you may see drops of insulin on your skin, around your infusion set site and/or tubing, or even in the reservoir of your pump. If you do notice a leak, take care of it right away! To prevent the loss of valuable medication, which might be absorbed into soft tissue (and therefore wasted), immediately discontinue using your pump until the problem is fixed by an experienced clinician.
Don’t forget to change the infusion set.
Remember to change your infusion set every 3 days or sooner if needed. If you’re using a pump site that may irritate your skin, such as a belly button or shoulder, change it sooner. When you change your infusion site on the same day as changing your insulin pump site (as recommended), double-check that both are in good working order before leaving for the day.
“Finding the right infusion set is an important part of successful insulin pump therapy,” says experts from Tandem Diabetes.
Ensure that any used infusion sets are disposed of properly in an approved sharps container or sealable plastic bag. Don’t reuse them! Also, avoid using damaged pumps or those that aren’t working properly—replacing them is better than risk infection from using a faulty device.
