Reddit reviews Smith & Nephew IV 3000 1-Hand Transparent Dressing, 100 Count

I use a lot of IV3000 things with cut outs around the sensor itself and that usually lasts longer than the sensor itself does (probably because I've been using expired ones), at least 14 days though. That's really only because I have a bunch of those laying around because I get them with my pump supplies for some reason. S&N also sells the stuff as tape, Opsite Flexifix, but I had better success with the IV3000 things.

When I do it, I use 3 IV3000s and cut 1 in half vertically, 1 in half horizontally, and just cut a hole in the third. You can use an old sensor as a guide or just get better at it over time. I made this really poor diagram to show. While I use an alcohol swab to clean my skin before I insert the sensor, I use an IV Prep wipe to kind of soak the sensor's adhesive after it's on, then let that dry and then stick on the cut pieces.

I know a lot of people also use kinesio tape or derivatives thereof, or even buy precut patches for that purpose, Simpatch is one 'brand' of patch, and a lot of other ones you can find on Amazon.

Overall, I've noticed that it's most important to get the edges to stay down, if you've got that, the sensor will usually keep working even if it's been jostled a little bit. YDMV.

I use this skin-tac, and these for even more holding power. You may want to get the skin-tac wipes though, I think they'd work better depending on your situation.

1. With the t-slim you can skip filling the cannula right after you fill the tubing, just hit done instead of fill cannula. Then you've changed the cartridge, but not the site. This won't affect the site change reminder if you have that set.
   
   
   
2. As for reusing cartridges, I do occasionally, usually when I need to refill but don't have another cartridge with me. I go for the normal process of changing the cartridge, but when it says to remove the used cartridge I pull the excess insulin out of the cartridge instead of inserting a new one, and then continue as normal. More than likely not recommended, but can be done in a pinch.
   
   I've seen others say you can just add insulin to the cartridge, and the tslim will just stay at whatever level it was until you drop back down to that level again. ex. you're at 50u, add 50u, Tslim says 50u until you use up the 50u you added, and then continues down afterwards.
   
   Also, I've found that when the Tslim says the cartirdge is empty, there's still around 10-20 units left in it. I usually pull that out with a syringe even when I'm changing cartridges .