Canular sites and insulin lumps

sharonmarie89

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Hi All, I'm new to this forum so apologies if this question isn't appropriate for here. Im looking for some advice on reducing the insulin lumps (sorry dont know technical term) and marks from where my canular has been. I alternate the side regularly from side to side but still get the insulin build up/lumps under the skin. Any help would be appreciated

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Omar101

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Welcome to the forum :) don't worry this is the correct place for the question. I can't comment on the canular sites though I wrote a little about the insulin "lumps" previously in another thread:
Just a little bit of understanding on this condition.

What most people think is scar tissue is actually insulin lipohypertrophy, localized hypertrophy of subcutaneous fat at insulin injection sites, caused by the lipogenic effect of insulin.

What this means is: insulin is a highly anabolic hormone, it pulls nutrients into the cells in our cases and for the most part :glucose. Insulin will cause you to store fat.

When you inject in one spot the concentrated insulin will pull glucose into the surrounding cells and cause them to fill will fat over a short amount of time the cells will be saturated causing a slight lump or fatty area. Losing weight or simply leaving the site alone will cause the cells to return to normal but when you repeatedly inject in the same spot the nutrients have no-where to go as all the surrounding cells are already saturated, because of this new permanent fat cells are created. At this point the only way to get rid of the lump of permanent fat cells is to have them surgically removed.

Its similar to how someone can put on a small amount of fat and lose it easily by filling and emptying existing fat cells but when an exorbitant amount of fat is gained the body must create permanent cells to accommodate the extra weight. These cells can only be filled or emptied but never go away.

The long and short of it is that over a short amount of time existing fat cells in the injection area fill due to insulin and if they are left for a while they will return to normal however if they are continuously injected into then new permanent fat cells are created and result in lumps becoming larger and firmer. The only way to get rid of them now is surgically.

It sounds like you are only injecting and rotating around your abdomen, the only advice I can really give is to try and use your thighs and triceps and rotate around them bearing in mind that long acting insulin typically results in more lipohypertrophy than rapid acting.
 
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Omnipod

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Sounds like you on a tube pump. You are limited as to where you can insert the canula and wear it. I had that too when I was ona tubed Medtronic pump. Took ages for the scars to go and for the lumps to disappear.
I changed over to a Omnipod patch pump. Never had a problem again because you can basically attach the pod to so many areas like the arms, legs, back. It also self inserts so the canula is tiny. I remember the long canulas on the tubed pump. Was horrible.
Can you not make a case with your diabetic clinic based on this to change you over to a patch pump?
 

Spiker

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What are the limitations on attaching the canula of a tube pump? There's a huge area you can attach a tube pump. Surely greater than a patch pump, because the target area doesn't have to accommodate the size of the pump?

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donnellysdogs

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I use bio oil recommended by another forum member. I used my bum for 90-95% of my 30 years.. Not a lump or bump on a j lo size 10 bum....still **** good!! Inspected by consultants for 30 years... Less than 1% would be stomach....


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Omnipod

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On a tube pump you have tubing so to attach it to your leg for an example is a problem. You cant attach it to the tricep neither. You are limited by the tubing. I had one and the only places where I could wear it was my stomach and lower back.
With a patch pump, you stick the patch on your body, press a button. It self inserts and thats it. No tubing, no limitations
 

donnellysdogs

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You are not limited on a tube pump as to where you put the pump.... I have a pump holder to wear it on my leg provided by my pump manufacturer.

And I always wear mine on my arm...yes you need different length tubes. But noway is an accuchek pump and remote restrictive. Mine only gets taken off for showers and/ or set changes etc...

I love wearing my pump on my arm. I'm physically very active and never had any problems with catching tubes etc because they are under my clothes completely. I never have to worry about taking off any clothes at any time at all.

A tube does not restrict at all in my case...


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Omnipod

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well...i suppose each of us are individual. I had a Medtronic pump. I had issues as to where I could wear it. Wearing the actual pump on me was a problem. Alot of the time, it was and had to be visible. Either clipped on my belt and then having tubing go under my shirt. sometimes the tubing crept out. Sometimes it kinked. I tried to wear it on my leg a few times but due to the design of the canulas, it pulled when i walked. It hurt alot. I also bought the holder to wear on my leg but it wasnt comfortable for me. i found the pump bulky.
The Omnipod patch is a quarter of the size. Its 2.5cm square and about half a cm thick. Its light, you dont even feel the weight of it and no tubing so I wear it on my triceps, thighs, calves, abdomen, pecs, back - upper and lower. I dont share my bed with the pump or all the tubing anymore. I used to role into the tubing at night and sometimes got tangled. Sometimes it pulled right out. Sometimes Id get out of bed and id hold the pump to go to the loo or something and the tubing caught on the door handle and ripped right out. For me personally, it was a disaster. I had mine for 4 years. I only realised the freedom of the Omnipod after I used it for the first time.
 
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donnellysdogs

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Thats what I like about the Roche combo.. Once on arm I never have to worry about it as it has a full working remote control unlike the medtronic.

I have worn the pump on my leg under trousers but as I wear skirts n dresses a lot when not working and I did find it a pain (not literally) in skirts.. Dont know why, just more aware of it than when it was under jeans.

If it wasn't for the full remote control I don't know what I would do as there is no way I can wear a set in my stomach due to being all muscle no fat and get huge problems when I have tried.

Can you wear an omnipod on your bum?


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Omnipod

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you can I suppose. the pod is so small. I am on a forum on facebook and people wear it all over the body. The tricep is by far the best for me.
Theres a new glucometer coming out from Abbot. its a patch you wear for 2 weeks at a time and you just swipe the meter over it to get a reading.
exciting stuff
 
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donnellysdogs

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I would personally never have anything from Abbott....

However as I always wear sets in bum, it is intesting that you can wear there.


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C burns

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Omnipod, when u had ur Medtronic pump, did u ever put infusion set Into ur arm? I've had a few wee problems with mine last few days when it's bn in my abdomen. Tonight Ive put it in my arm but had to put some loose surgical tape on to hold the tubing as I'm scared il pull it out in bed.


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Omnipod

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C burns..... No. i found those canula needles too long to go into my arm. Im fairly muscular so that would have went straight into the muscle and i would hypo. The omnipod canula self inserts and its about 5mm long. It just goes under the skin which is why I can wear it anywhere.
 

Omnipod

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Spiker, I had a Medtronic and this is what C burns was asking me about. I have never had an animas so I cannot comment. Medtronic canulas have long needles which you push into the skin - much longer than the Omnipod.
 

CarbsRok

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Pump companies have different lengths and types (steel, tethlon)of cannulas that can be tried, except for the DanaR and Medtronic the other pumps have luer locks which means you can use other companies cannulas. So there's something for everyone.
Spiker you have mentioned before about your Tum size and I would suggest you try a longer cannula ie., 8 or 9mm and see if that makes a difference.
Most people find different parts of the body need different lengths of cannula.
 
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Spiker

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That's true CarbsRok, I have tried longer needles angled into the stomach and they possibly work better. The 90 degree needles are already hitting muscle at 6mm so I don't think I will go longer on those.

I'm surprised there are no shorter needle sets available for the Medtronic.

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Omnipod

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Maybe there are shorter needle sets for Medtronic now... im talking 4 years ago.

Spiker... there was a study carried out recently - my specialist at Chelsea Westminster was telling me. Apparantly insulin is best absorbed just under the skin. you may want to look into that.