I've only been using the Animas pump for about a month, and I was hoping to get some opinions on infusion sets. I'm 5'4" and I weigh 135 pounds, but I'm a runner so I'm lean in some places, limiting my site options. I have a decent amount of fat to use around my abdomen and love handles, but not as much on my butt or thighs. I've noticed in certain places I have some ugly bruises when I remove a site so I'm thinking a set switch is in order. I'm currently using the regular Inset with the 9mm cannula. What do you use? What are the pros and cons of the options?
Oops, sorry it entered too quickly! I used to have the same problem. I have some abdominal fat, but lean legs and arms. I would get huge bruises if I used my legs for pump sites, so I could really only use my abdomen. I switched to the 6mm and have had no problems. It seem like a minor difference, but now I can use both my legs and my arms for pump sites and I am able to rotate more often. The switch hasn’t caused any problems with insulin delivery or absorption either, so it has been a huge help!
I usually wear a shirt that buttons and find that if I have the long tubing, I can just feed it up the sleeve (from my upper arm towards my shoulder), and then down towards my belt line (where I usually clip my pump). I have found that this doesn’t work as well with clothes that are baggy in the arm (like a loose tshirt). Otherwise, I’ve done it with polos, my Oxford/work shirts, and workout clothing that isn’t tight/compression clothing, but isn’t too loose either. They also make arm bands for pumps (kinda like you’d have for an iPod) and I have found those to be super helpful for working out. If I keep my pump on during exercise, it always pulls at my waistband. But the arm band, especially when used with an arm pump site, eliminates a lot of tubing tangles during exercise. Other than that, it has just been a trial and error deal–I try put different locations and see what works. I know people who have pods who put them in their trap areas (like shoulder, but in more towards the spine, away from the big shoulder bone), but I’ve never tried that with a pump site. I’m still experimenting to see what works the best!