Here’s a first for me: blood in the pod cannula. My G6 sensor reading was really off this morning so I decided to change my pump…just in case…and I was glad I did when I saw the blood. I will call Insulet for a replacement but I got to wondering if this has happened to other pod users.
5 Likes
I have not ever seen it, but I don’t really look at the cannulas too closely when I remove the pod.
Maybe it nicked a capillary and the blood got mixed in with the insulin inside the cannula.
That’s really strange. You’d think that any insulin delivery would keep the cannula clear of blood.
2 Likes
I’ve sometimes seen dried blood on the adhesive when I change a pod – I assume from rolling on it in the night, or maybe it dates back to the insertion – but my BG readings haven’t gone high because of it. Glad you intervened in time!
4 Likes
I’ve had one similar incident in the several years I’ve been on Dash pods. It was the same pod that caused a sizable bruise and resulted in a “gusher” on removal; took about two minutes of direct pressure to resolve. I chalked it up to an oddity, probably hit a a small vein or artery on the abdomen. The cannula had blood about 1/3 to 1/2 way up, I presume due to pressure differential between the blood supply and the insulin flow. Of course I don’t know, just suspect.
3 Likes
It can’t be uncommon, since by chance I just noticed it’s mentioned in the Technical User Guide:
If you see blood in your cannula, check your glucose more frequently to ensure insulin delivery has not been affected. If you experience unexpected high glucose, change your Pod.
This suggests that the presence of blood in the cannula isn’t automatically a reason to change the pod.
3 Likes
If you see blood in your cannula, check your glucose more frequently to ensure insulin delivery has not been affected. If you experience unexpected high glucose, change your Pod.
Am I missing something? How would you see blood in the cannula if the pod was still attached?
I know there is the little window on the pod, but in actual use, unless the pod is on your bicep, there are not a lot of places were you can look through the pod window while it is attached.
1 Like
That’s what your significant other is for. Or a random stranger. 
2 Likes
I remember some one posting about using an inspection camera to a smartphone for looking in the window.
1 Like
I have never found the pod window to be much help in assessing BG problems.
I think that was @T1Allison?
Thanks for posting that!
4 Likes
I get blood backed up into the cannula not infrequently…I won’t say it is frequent…but it is common enough for me that I am not surprised when it happens.
It’s easy for me to see it bc the cannula is bright effing pink or red for it’s entire visible length.
The results that I typically see in this situation are Day 1: Normal podding experience, Day 2: It transforms into a SUPER POD…so I’m guessing the insulin is mainlining into some type of blood vessel…and then Day 3: the cannula is fully backed up with blood and my numbers are terrible.
I like to imagine this is an epic battle of Good vs Evil only held at bay by osmotic pressure until one side wins.
YDMV
6 Likes
Nothing ever happened with this.
1 Like
@Eric Am I reading the dates right on this? Seems the article itself is from 1989 and it refs other from 1990 to 1999? I feel like Mr Peabody in the Way Back machine. I didn’t know this was considered at all and appreciate the education. I’d assume adding heparin could lead to counter claims of blood thinning and leakage at the cannula site.
1 Like
I didn’t read the link @Eric posted, but I assume it is in referrence to a pump implanted in the body. That would be similar to the Chem (Med) port that I have for IV infusions directly into the vena cava. I see my oncologist after lunch and they will flush the cannula with heparin. This has to be done every 90 days to keep it clear. When it was used for chemo and immunotherapy they would flush it with saline and then heparin.
I just went to the link and am unable to read it. I found work is still being done on an implantable insulin pump. I assume that there will be a port for filling it with insulin similar to my Chem Port. I imagine that the use of a flush with heparin will be a regular routine to keep the catheter/cannula open. I am unclear as to where this tube is delivering the insulin. Is it in blood or something else.
This is more up to date.
2 Likes
That was just one link I found. I don’t remember the timeline, but I recall it from way back as an idea.
As you know, faster insulin has been something that we have been wanting for a long time! I remember heparin being discussed.
It was the same idea for Fiasp. It was simply an additive to the insulin, just a different one.
3 Likes
I’ve had quite a few “bleeders” when I’ve removed pod. In my thinking it’s hard to imagine that it was actively bleeding ‘into’ the canala while in use… but I’ve definitely had a lot of blood all over everything more than once on removal. As Eric said I attribute it to it hitting a vein on way in
3 Likes
I haven’t had those issues with my Omnipod but I have had that issue a few times when I was momentarily on a Medtronic pump. It really doesn’t affect anything. It’s just scary looking.
2 Likes