09 Oct Sticky Situations: Adhesives and Skin Treatments for Pump Users
Pump users know that keeping infusion sites and CGMs in place can result in lots of sticky situations. (Ellie has Medtronic’s MiniMedTM 670G with GuardianTM Sensor 3 and Link 3 transmitter.)
Obviously, each person is different, but we’re pumped to share our favorite adhesives and skin treatments.
FOR KEEPING INFUSION SITES & CGMS IN PLACE
We learned by trial and error. Too often we still lose good sites when swimming or sweating, but we tend to reinforce Ellie’s infusion sites with the products below. As always, discuss any product changes with your healthcare team.
Sterilize the area with rubbing alcohol, let dry, apply Skin Tac, let dry, and then insert cannula at infusion site. We typically select wipes over liquid adhesive for portability/ease of packing.
IV tape doesn’t irritate Ellie’s skin and is shaped to accommodate tubing from the infusion site to the pump.
Our go to!!! Ellie carries this in her kit. It isn’t the strongest tape but can securely anchor her infusion site or CGM, especially in a pinch when the edge of her adhesive is starting to peel. It never irritates the skin, goes on and comes off easily, is stocked at most pharmacies, and provides just enough reinforcement to carry us through until the next site change.
We use this for full coverage of a loose CGM site. (Ellie doesn’t use it at her infusion site, as it won’t allow for disconnecting her pump for showering/swimming.) It works great for securing a transmitter/sensor that you aren’t going to charge or change for a week.
FOR PREVENTING PAINFUL SKIN IRRITATION
Yes, Flonase! Use it topically (not as a nasal spray). Before the consistent topical application of Flonase, Ellie used to have painful blisters/burns at her CGM site. Now, we apply rubbing alcohol (let it dry completely) and then spray Flonase over the surface area. We let it dry completely before putting in a new sensor. Flonase protects Ellie’s skin without compromising her sensor/interfering with her BG readings.
REMOVING STICKY RESIDUE
A small amount of nail polish remover applied by cotton ball will remove sticky residue from skin. It effectively cleans off tacky tape remnants at old infusion sites.
Hope you find what works for you, and when you do, stick with it!