Some consumer products—mainly those made of PVC—contain softening agents, also called plasticizers or phthalates, to make the material softer. Sometimes, these materials can provoke an allergic reaction. Accu-Chek infusion sets are PVC-free, and do not include any softening agents such as DEHP [di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate] or DBP [dibutyl-phthalate].

Accu-Chek infusion sets offer a luer-lock connection that meets international standards and is widely used in medical engineering. Our sets fit on all Accu-Chek insulin pumps as well as on all other pumps that use the same standard.

Many people find that they can continue to wear the pump for most of their day-to-day activities. However, Accu-Chek infusion sets are easy to disconnect any time you need to remove your pump for sports or swimming. 

Roche is careful to use hypoallergenic materials. That's why our infusion sets are latex- and PVC-free, and glues and solvents are used as little as possible. Our adhesive tape is also specially designed to allow the skin underneath it to breathe. However, allergic reactions can never fully be ruled out. Sometimes they develop suddenly, even if you have used the same product for years. If an allergic reaction should occur, ask your physician about products that can help you continue therapy comfortably.

Water sports and sweating can affect the infusion set's adhesive pad. Try using an adhesive patch designed to stand up to moisture, such as Tegaderm™ or Opsite™ IV3000™, to make your site more secure.

You can also try the "sandwich" technique:

• Cleanse the skin using an adhesive wipe and allow to dry
• Apply a sterile dressing
• Insert the set into the dressing
• Cover the set with another sterile dressing to sandwich the infusion set

Pain at the infusion site may be a sign that you are using a set which does not penetrate at the right depth for you—this can be especially true for children or slender users. If you're using a 90° insertion set, talk to your healthcare professional about the possibility of switching to a different needle or cannula length.

In order to help avoid infection, we recommend that sites be changed at least every 72 hours for soft cannula sets. It is important to always test your blood glucose level 1 to 3 hours after inserting a new set, to make sure that it's functioning properly.

While you may feel an occasional pinch when inserting the set, many people find inserting infusion sets more comfortable than injections. Once the set is under the skin, it can be so comfortable that people forget they're wearing it.