Accu-Chek® Combo

The Accu-Chek Performa Combo meter uses Accu-Chek Performa test strips.

No. Insulin pumps are worn outside the body. They do not require any surgery or invasive procedures and can be disconnected as needed.

Early occlusion detection is an important factor for effective insulin pump therapy.

• An occlusion is an unexpected event where the flow of insulin from a pump into the subcutaneous tissue is blocked.
• The patient is typically not aware that an occlusion has occurred.
• Due to missed insulin, a malfunction can often result in elevated bG levels, which if undetected can lead to hyperglycaemia or Ketosis with the risk for the development of life threatening Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA).¹

With its faster occlusion detection, the Accu-Chek Combo system may help to reduce the severity of hyperglycaemia and minimises the risk of ketoacidosis resulting from occlusions.

No.  Your meter should already have a black code key inserted. Just leave it in place. Your meter is already coded.

An insulin pump is attached to you with an infusion set. Depending on the design, an infusion set may have a steel or soft cannula. In case you use a soft infusion set, the cannula is inserted with an introducer needle that is removed immediately after insertion. Depending on the design of the infusion set, the cannula may be placed at a 90° angle or a 20-45° angle to the surface of the skin. An infusion set is generally changed every 2 (steel) to 3 (Teflon) days.
You may insert the infusion set in the abdominal area. Most insulin pump users rotate sites on their abdomen, as this area tends to have the best absorption. Consult with your health care provider to see if other sites are appropriate for you. Modern infusion sets are comfortable and easy to use, and there is a style for virtually every insulin pump user. 

The Accu-Chek insulin pump has not been tested at altitudes in excess of 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level. If your travels take you to an area in excess of 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level, stop and remove your pump. This does not apply to use in airplanes with pressurised cabins.

The barometric pressure during operation should be between 50 to 106 kPa (500 to 1060 mbar).

We recommend the use of Lithium batteries where possible. The Accu-Chek Spirit Combo insulin pump uses 1 AA battery (LR6 1.5 V AA alkaline, FR6 1.5 V AA lithium or 1.2 V rechargeable NiMH HR6 AA). You must select the correct battery type in the insulin pump setup when you replace your battery.

Do NOT use carbon-zinc, nickel-cadmium (NiCd) or super heavy duty batteries.

An insulin pump can be superior to daily injections for many reasons—the greatest being that its use provides for a much greater ability to manage and control diabetes. The insulin pump provides a continuous flow of insulin, which minimises unwanted variation of insulin action you may experience with multiple injections. The pump also gives you a precise dose of insulin based on your current needs—even as those needs change.
However, despite the advantages of using an insulin pump, treatment outcomes still depend on how well you take care of yourself. Eating well, staying active, checking blood glucose frequently are all important aspects of optimising your health. When in the hands of a person committed to better health, supported by an experienced healthcare team, insulin pump therapy can make managing diabetes easier and far more flexible than ever before.

Battery life depends on Accu-Chek Spirit Combo insulin pump use, including daily insulin requirements, frequency of delivery and backlight usage.

For example

If used in a typical usage pattern of 50 Units / day using U100 insulin and normal operating temperature (23 °C ±2 °C [73 °F ±4 °F]) the battery life is approximately:

• Alkaline: 70 days for Bluetooth^® off; or 30 days for Bluetooth^® on
• Lithium: 200 days for Bluetooth^® off; or 80 days for Bluetooth^® on

NiMH: 100 days for Bluetooth^® off; or 40 days for Bluetooth^® on

While you may feel a small pinch when inserting the set, many people find infusion set insertion more comfortable than giving injections. Once the set is under the skin, it is so comfortable that many people forget they're wearing it.

We recommend the use of Lithium batteries where possible. The Accu-Chek Performa Combo meter uses 3 AAA (1.5V) alkaline batteries.

There are several ways to find other insulin pump users. Ask your healthcare team about pump groups or pumpers you can talk to about their experiences. The Internet is also a valuable resource for contacting pump users.