A New Device and Rotating Injection Sites :: Diabetes Self-Management

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Apr 19, 2007

A New Device and Rotating Injection Sites

Andy Stuckey

So I checked my mail yesterday and received a package from one of my friends who left New York a while back for a job in Texas. He sent me a few samples of an injection therapy device known as the I-Port. While it sounds like something Apple could have designed, I promise you that it requires no software or technical knowledge to understand.

You simply stick yourself once to insert the I-Port and then, for the next 72 hours, you can inject insulin through the device. Does anyone who reads this blog use this device or know anyone who uses it? If you aren't on the pump and don't like sticking yourself a lot, it could be worth checking out. I plan on trying it out in the next couple of weeks and I'll let you know how it goes.

In other diabetes-related-supplies-in-the-mail news...nothing. Awesome "diabetes-related-supplies-in-the-mail news" joke, right? Seriously, I'm getting my prescriptions refilled today at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at 168th St in NYC, and I'm headed in for my much-blogged-about visit to the doctor. I've worked out pretty hard over the last couple of days to make me feel a little more ready for the visit.

In other news, I recently had dinner at Bar Tabac in my neighborhood. It's one of my favorite places to eat and I typically introduce folks to my neighborhood with this restaurant. The last time I was there, I got up to use the bathroom and ended up giving myself a shot of two units of insulin in bathroom as opposed to at the table. The reason I say this is that in the bathroom I simply pulled my pants down and gave myself a shot in the leg, where at the table it's typically a stomach hit.

Since it's still winter in NYC, I often find myself not rotating sites as much as in the summer when I have short sleeves and shorts on. Does everyone find this? I hope one day to take my pants down in a restaurant and, when everyone is looking at me like I'm a freak about to stab a needle into my leg, calmly roll up my short shirt sleeve and inject the insulin into my arm, with my pants down, smiling at the crowd. When folks ask what I'm doing I'll just say "I have diabetes," and 98% of the time they will just assume that's normal.

I'll let you know when I do that as well.

Finally, this week was boys' week in the Stuckey house. My friends Patrick, Adam, and Justin were in town playing at B.B. King's and they all stayed at my place for a couple of nights before hitting the road to Baltimore to open for Taylor Hicks on Tuesday night. My wife was quite a trooper to be in a house full of boys. She prefers to go to bed on the early side while the crew in town and myself are a bit more nocturnal.

The guys opened for Leon Russell Monday night at B.B. King's and then they tour all over the country. To see when they will be near you, or just to listen to a good Alabama singer/songwriter, check out www.adamhood.com or on myspace.com/adamhood. Also, be on the lookout for the second video by Murray and me on Heavy.com.

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I just tried out the I-Port on my 4 y/o son. He loved it. We used a numbing cream before inserting it. You have to use a dart throwing like motion to insert it.
There is a quirk to it. The cannula that stays inside you holds .5 units. This means that if you load up 10 units in your syringe only 9.5 actually goes inside you. To get that other .5 you either have to flush with a little saline or load the syringe with 10.5 to get the full ten. Then on your next shot you have to remember there is .5 already loaded and ready to go inside you, however, this .5 unit has been hanging out at body temp since your last shot so there's no telling how 'viable' it still is.
I suppose when you're taking 10 or so units a meal .5 units is not a big deal. When you're 4 and you're only getting 1 unit for your meal, that .5 unit is rather important. We flushed with some saline after each shot. You don't want to flush with more than 1 unit or so b/c the saline kinds burns.

Posted by: Stephanie Roth | Apr 25, 2007 01:36 PM

You're spot on about the seasonal injection site point (no pun intended). Was commenting on that the other day with the wife. Haven't gotten the courage to drop trou in the restaurant yet, but the discreet belly shot works (unless out with clients).

Posted by: sstreim | Apr 25, 2007 03:46 PM

Concerning the I-Port. I got some samples from a distributor in Texas as I live in Oklahoma City. The first one worked great. Didn't hardly leave a mark when I took it out. It was wonderful not having to stick myself so much every day. The second one I didn't pick a good spot and apparently the canula bent. It says to check your blood sugar 2 hours after eating and giving yourself a shot. Sure sign if it doesn't go down. Anyway, you have to have a prescription and I am not due to go till June. There is also Insuflon. Same type of device.
Hope you have good luck.

Posted by: okchockeynut | Apr 26, 2007 11:27 AM

I'm going to try it out when I get back from our tour. Good to know about the burning and the bending canula. "Bending Canula" sounds like a snowboarding move or something only one person in the world can do on the pommel horse.

Posted by: stuckey | Apr 28, 2007 11:39 AM

I am on my third I-Port. The first one was a thing of wonder - I fell in love! The second one went in fine, but I lost it after only one day because I bent the cannula working on with a balance ball. I knew something was wrong when the subtle sting of the injections suddenly went away.

The third one, which I put on today, hurt like hell and is still a tiny bit uncomfortable, but I find my pain tolerance varies throughout the month, so I don't expect them all to feel this noticeable. I'm glad to read Stephanie's comment regarding the "leftover" .5 unit - I was wondering why my blood sugars were running a tiny bit higher w/ the I-Port.

Posted by: LancetQueen | May 08, 2007 11:31 PM

I came across your site by chance, so glad I did. I have been using the I-port for 2 months now and I love it. I have learned that after initial insertion of the I-Port I feel slight discomfort temporarily (15 minutes). If I touch the I-Port and I feel a "pinch" at the insertion site the cannula is likely bent and pushing on my skin.
If the I-Port had a clear window area in which to check if it was bent it would save me a few I-Ports. At this point in my life a pump would not work for me. I am so happy to have less pain, less bruising, and better control with the I=Port.

Posted by: TooSweet | Apr 27, 2008 09:02 AM

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