The Infusion Set

I need to start this post by making something very clear. When the princess was diagnosed last year and we didn't have any insurance I have never been more scared in my life. To know that I would have a child that would need constant medical attention that could possibly come out of my pocket, and know that it isn't cheap, was enough stress that every time I thought about it I would break down in a sobbing, boogery mess.

Then in January we were finally approved for Medicaid.

I have since been super grateful. All of her medical supplies have been covered at 100%. Even the Dr. visits are covered. Even her pump was covered at 100%!!! You can't get more lucky than that! So with what I am about to complain about please know that I am still grateful!

Ok so here it is. The other day I called the Diabetes Specialty Center where we get all her supplies from. I hadn't received my monthly order yet and I needed to do a site change. When I called them they informed me that they had been audited by Medicaid and they found out they have been giving out the wrong infusion sets. They had a different kind that they were going to send me. I could hear a little hesitation in the girl's voice so I had to ask if there was a big difference in the sets. She said there was a big difference.

Let me show you!

Here are the infusion sets that we have been using. They are the Animas Inset 30's. There is a plastic piece that the connects to tubing so that when she is in the bath or getting dressed it can disconnect really easily. This picture shows the needle in it (just because I still need to use it) but the needle comes out and a small tubing or the cannula stays in her skin. Kind of like an IV. The entire part is sticky so it sticks to her skin really well.


Now here is what we are having to switch to. They are called the Medtronic MiniMed Polyfin with wings. There is nothing to it. There are big differences here. The needle stays under the skin (the entire plastic piece on the end is covering the needle. The plastic piece comes off. It is just the needle that stays in no cannula). Those little wings on the side are not sticky. So that means there is no way for it to stick to the skin. We will have to use this sticky medical tape to have it stick. The other big change is how it connects to the rest of the tubing. The end if this set just connects directly to the end of the tube.

BIG DIFFERENCE!!!

Now here is why I am so scared to use them. She is 5, how in the world is this going to be comfortable for her with that long of a needle under her skin? With nothing being sticky on the set it's self I can see the tubing getting caught on something and it just pulling right out! To top it off they don't have kid size tubing. The tube is almost the entire length as her entire body. This will get in the way a lot! Then another concern is when I disconnect her to take a bath how are we going to stop water from getting in the tube? They are not kid friendly at all! They don't look comfortable, and honestly pretty old school.

I hate complaining about something that I get for free, but isn't my daughter's comfort supposed to be my first concern?

Guys tell me what you think. I am scared to death to use these things.