When Luke made the switch from being MDI (multiple daily injections) to using the insulin pump, he cut his insulin pokes down from 5-6 shots a day to 1 site change every three days. It’s been a.maz.ing.

Last night was a site change night. Before gathering his supplies, Luke asks me, “Are you going to record this? Do you want it for your blog?”

But, of course!

When it’s time to change his site, we have to first gather all of the supplies, which he will list off for you in the video. (I swear he was going to say “and a cartridge in a pear tree” at the end!) We keep all of these supplies in one box in the front closet, minus the vial of insulin. That’s kept in the fridge. (If anyone has a magical way to store & keep all of these supplies organized, please let me know!) Luke does an amazing job explaining what he is doing, but if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

And without further ado, Luke’s Smells Like Insulin debut…

Now for a little close-up on a couple of these fancy schmancy tools. This first picture is of the infusion set. I took the picture after he had already put his site in. Around that needle, before using, is the little sticky patch and cannula (the little tube that you will see in the next photo). In the video, when Luke pulled this back, he was setting up the needle to pierce his skin & insert the cannula. I am in awe every time he does this. He doesn’t even flinch! He often gets asked if it hurts.

“It goes so fast, I hardly feel it. But the site aches for about a half hour after I do it.“

This next picture is of the part that is placed on/into his body at each site change. That little tube? It’s called a cannula. The needle in the photo above fits right through the cannula. The only time that needle is in his body is when it’s inserting this cannula under his skin.

The cannula is connected to the tubing that delivers insulin. When Luke enters his carbs & glucose level into his pump, the pump calculates the correct dose of insulin & administers it through the tubing and this little tiny cannula is how it gets into his body.

Pretty amazing stuff, isn’t it?

And, yes, it ALWAYS smells like insulin after a site change. Always.