Problems with Medtronic MiniMed Quick-Set infusion sets ???

[AmiraKW]

I'm a 24 years old patient with chronic type 1 diabetes and I'm living in Germany. I had been using the Quick Set (without plus)infusion sets for about 9 months combined with the Medtronic Minimed Paradigm 511E insulin pump. But then there occured many problems with a 10 p. box of Quick Set infusions sets, I bought in April 2004. Alltogether, five of the infusion sets' canullas bended under my skin, maybe because of defective adhesives, and the insulin pump failed to deliver insulin to my body. 3 times the insulin pump warned "Keine Abgabe" ("No Delivery"). But in one case the insulin pump didn't warn. My blood glucose level elevated to a lethally high level. After 2 days of sickness and pain I was hospitalized with a lethal ketoacidosis. I had to spend 3 days at the intensive care unit. The last of the 5 infusion sets which failed I injected - still at the intensive care unit, but after my blood sugar had been brought to a normal level again by the doctors - under the eyes of several doctors. They said, I did everything right, but one hour later my blood sugar level elevated again. I checked my infusion set. From the outside everything seemed to be alright and the insulin pump had not warned. But the canulla was bended again. Alltogether, only 3 of 10 infusion sets did their jobs.

It seems, possibly Medtronic Minimed not only has a problem with it Quick Set plus infusion sets, but also the same problems with the newly available Quick Set infusion sets.

Did anyone made the same experience with bending of the Quick Set infusion set´s canulla? Please give me an answer.

[JDRF-Team-dm]

Dear AmiraKW,

Thank you so much for contacting JDRF and Med Help. None of us are doctors here, but volunteers who are touched with type 1 diabetes in one way or another.

I can't add more than WAK or LRS, but I do know that they have much more pump information than I do about the Minimed. I do, however, know how terrible it is to be in the hospital and I also hope you are doing well.

Please watch for more comments in this forum and I wish you the best. Let us know what you find out and how you are doing.

dm

[JDRF Volunteer WAK]

I am not a physican but the mom of a child with type 1 diabetes.  My daughter is on the minimed 712 pump.  

I would suggest you call Minimed. I do know that they have offices throughhout the world.  I know in the United States they did have a problem with some of the quick sets.  They are good in the fact that if you have a bad batch they will replace them.

[JDRF Volunteer WAK]

I am not a physican but the mom of a child with type 1 diabetes.  My daughter is on the minimed 712 pump.  

I would suggest you call Minimed. I do know that they have offices throughhout the world.  I know in the United States they did have a problem with some of the quick sets.  They are good in the fact that if you have a bad batch they will replace them.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Hello,
I've been pumping for about 9 years and have been using the Minimed QUick Set infusion sets for about one year.  I have read on another diabetes forum that some batches of infusion sets have had problems.  Those people reported taht Minimed sent them new infusion sets at no cost.

I have some questions.  Do you insert your infusion set "by hand" or do you use the Minimed "serter" device?  I highly recommend using the "serter" even if you need to buy it.  I had to buy mine, but others were able to get one for free.  The serter is an insertion device that ensures a quick, smooth insertion.  That insertion is much more precise than most of us can do by hand.

I have read that the 90degree sets (like QUick Set) are more likely to crimp than the angled sets.  Minimed makes angled sets and an insertion device for it.  I have read that Animas has infusion sets with an integrated insertion device, altho' I am not sure if they are selling them yet.

Are you very slim?  Is there a chance you're inserting into a location that's scarred from injections or insertions?  The Quick Sets come in 6mm and also 9mm cannula length.  If you are slim, I would recommend the 6mm since you're more likely to get into fat (which we want) and to avoid inserting too close to a muscle or bone.

Your experience sounds very scary and I hope you are feeling 100% better now.  Like the others, I'm not a physician, but have had diabetes for over 35 years.

[AmiraKW]

Thank you for all your answers.

LRS, here the answer of your questions:

I inserted my infusion set (90degree) by using the "serter". I´m very slim, but I never inserted into a location that´s scarred, because I changed the insertion location every time and I used the 6mm cannula.

By the way, MiniMed  hasn´t reacted at all, although my doctor informed them about my accident.

[vprrchk]

AmiraKW,

Hi!  I've had T1 diabetes since I was 10, and I am now 20, not a doctor though^^

I just wanted to let you know, I have the same exact problem as you!  I use the 6.0-mm Quick-Set infusion set also, and mine is 43-in long.  I also use the serter, like you.  I've called MiniMed several times, and each time, they would run tests (all of which would show nothing wrong) and say my pump is "fine"  They would just send me replacement sets for the infusions sets that didn't work (usually about 5-7 out of the 10 in the box).  I have gotten to the point where I am so frustrated with the "No Delivery" alarm that I am afraid to change my infusion set when it DOES work.  Do you feel the same?  I am very sorry that you had to be hospitalized for the DKA, it must have been terrible.  I haven't gotten that far with the "No Delivery" alarm, but I have had instances where I change the set before I go to class, and halfway through class I can feel my blood sugars going up.  Usually when I get home from class my blood sugars are over 350.  I wish there was something that I could tell you, other than that I am having the same problem, but I have come to dead-ends with MiniMed and my doctors every time.  I am just thankful that MiniMed is kind enough to send me free replacements (and quickly, too), for the ones that do not work.  

Just some questions, so maybe we might be able to figure this out together :)

1.  Where do you insert your sets?  I found that I have had the least problems with "No Delivery" when inserted into my abdomen, the most in my bottom.  

2.  What type of insulin do you use?  I used Humalog when I first started, but now I am on Novolog.  

3.  Do you also have problems with the angled sets?  I get bad bruising from them.  

Thanks!

~vprrchk

[JDRF Volunteer WAK]

Call Minimed yur self and  talk with a customer service.  they will help.  the phone number for technical assistance is on the back of yur pump.  They might ask questions that tyhe doctor could not answer.  I have found i get better sesponses if i myself ccall.

My daughter is also slim and we have found that the wuick sets were not good for her.  we use the silohuette sets which work much better on slim p[eolpe.   We also insurt by hand  so we can adjust the depth of the insertion.

Good Luck.

[JDRF Volunteer WAK]

Call Minimed yur self and  talk with a customer service.  they will help.  the phone number for technical assistance is on the back of yur pump.  They might ask questions that tyhe doctor could not answer.  I have found i get better sesponses if i myself ccall.

My daughter is also slim and we have found that the wuick sets were not good for her.  we use the silohuette sets which work much better on slim p[eolpe.   We also insurt by hand  so we can adjust the depth of the insertion.

Good Luck.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

One more general thought, as you work with Minimed on this issue...

Be sure to carry syringes and a vial of insulin wiht you *always.*  If you get 2 readings that lead you to suspect delivery problems or if you know you're having a problem, take a shot of insulin so that you hae *something* onboard.  This will at least buy you a few hours of trouble-shooting time.  Yup, I re-learned this lesson the hard way.

I'm digging thru my memory on other issues to check.  One person had detected a small "hairline" crack at the place where the infusion set connects to her (daughter's) pump.  That crack resulted in insulin going into the pump itself and not into her daughter.  Check at the connection site, too.

I was surprised by the many body parts that "theoretically" can work, as long as we avoid bony or muscular areas.  In the past I was not so diligent but now, I make sure that "today's" site is about 1 inch from my last site and that I don't go back to a site for at least *a month*.  I try to use a "pattern" instead of my previous rather random insertion, which led to some thickening of the subcutaneous areas in my "favorite" areas.  I can't use those areas anymore.

Finally, see if you can get yourself another appointment with a certified Mini-med pump trainer in your area, and work with your doctor to insist on a replacement pump, if you believe that there's a pump problem.  It is inexcusable that Minimed not replace the very expensive infusion sets as you work to solve the problem.  Push them (with your doctor's help if needed).  If this problem began rather suddenly, there is almost certainly something wrong.

Keep us posted, okay?

[galzee]

I just want to share what happened with my daughter.  We were using the supposedly new & improved quick set plus and were getting "no delivery" problems as stated in the original posting.  After our final problem with a "no delivery" situation at 3am with my daughter's endocrinologist on the phone, minimed made the decision that she should switch to the silhouette.  We have not had any problems since changing, so my recommendation to you is to request the old style quick set or switch to a different type of infusion set.  This will save you a lot of frustration & time.  I also agree that having your insulin & syringes with you everywhere you go is a definite must.  My daughter was with her ski school and one of her friends who also has diabetes fell on her pump site & her bg skyrocketed while they were skiing.  The girl didn't have anything with her, but my daughter did and because she was prepared, she saved the whole load of kids on the ski bus from having to stop at the ER on their way home!  Hope this helps!

[jdrf team dm]

Dear Galzee,

My son started skiing at 4 years old. He was diagnosed at eight. He taught at the same ski school when he was older and had a class of children with diabetes. He has since gone on to work part time as part of the pro-patrol at our local ski area and never goes anywhere without supplies and snacks.

I just wanted to thank you by bringing this to everyone's attention. It is always important to be prepared, pump or injections.

Thanks,

dm

[ThorPatterson-Ritz]

Interesting problem being reported and one that the FDA ordered an immediate recall on many months ago. It's stange that MiniMed hasn't contacted you although their lack of action wouldn't surprise me in the least. More and more users in the USA are becoming dissatisfied with the MiniMed company since its been taken over by the Medtronic's Corp.  

If you go to the MiniMed webstie there is information about the recall and what to do. It's on their main page along with other problems like their waterproof Paradigm pump isn't waterproof so don't use it in water.  

Honestly I've gone back to using my old 507 MiniMed insulin pump because I had so many problems with the paradigm and the support service.

Some critical problems reported on such sites as DiabetesNet.com will tell you that MiniMed is having problems with:
Programming Issues
Loss of Basal Rates

I have also experienced:
1. A critical motor failure 3 months after owning it and when calling MiniMed support service being told "You dropped it didn't you"?  My answer was unless I fell out of bed at 1am and I didn't think so but that interaction convinced me I didn't need to purchase anything else from them in the future.  

2. Frequency alarm states when pressure is applied to the unit housing during such activity as bending over to lift a heavy object. The unit(s) act as if I have pressed one of the buttons.

3. Initial expensive upgrades where they asked me to pay $450 a month after I bought it. I don't know I kind of figure spending over $5000 the month before would have at least been given some type of sliding scale fee.  

Bottom line is don't expect them to help you much. There are many good insulin pump companies out there these days and at least we have alternatives to MiniMed.

[ThorPatterson-Ritz]

I was curious to see if MiniMed here in the US had anything to say about your issue.  I wrote them and never got a response other then their typical electronic acknowledgement. There must be a European branch of Medtronics. I would suggest you contact them in regards to your problem and inquire into why they didn't pull their quick sets over there as they did in the USA.

Very interesting.

[ThorPatterson-Ritz]

Finally got a reply from MiniMed in which they stated Europe follows that same high FDA standards and the quick sets should have been recalled over there as well.

Here is the MiniMed website about the recall if anyone needs it:
http://www.minimed.com/QSP/qsp.shtml

[JJ2210]

I'm sorry to say but you all sound pathetic... I'm only 17 and my quick set has bent on a right angle whilst inside of me a good few times now... once you start vomiting bile thats usually the sign to change your set and have a big dose of novorapid via pen... if a kid like me is big enough to work that out surely your just over reacting staying in hospital- yes, keytones are dangerous... but you only get one life... so get on with your diabetes and live it up.