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Cannula site bad days

JimC

Active Member
Messages
40
Location
Leicester
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi all, I'm having a really ****** cannula site day today. No site seems to be working bg not going below 17! Have now tried a site I've never used before, lower back so hope that works. Out of interest what sites do others use? I have tried my legs but again really slow absorption rate. I usually use my tummy but really need to give it a rest.
 
Hi @JimC sorry to hear this, cannula sites can be a pain, literally. I rotate using a clock method around my tummy, so I do 12 o'clock, then opposite side at 6 o'clock and keep moving around my tum so giving each site around 2 weeks rest. I have tried my back but it interfered with sleep, you could try the back of your arm depending on how long your tubing is.
 
I use my arms as well as tummy
( on an omnipod so no tubes )

it might be worth a try if you can keep the tube sorted for comfort and practicality.
 
I use the back of my spare tyre. So kind of where I'd put it on my tummy if I used my tummy (wrecked from 29 years of injections!) BUT round the sides of my back, if that makes sense.

Warning - this might put you off your tea.....

 
Hi @Snapsy . I'm sorry but I think Bradley Wiggins had a bigger spare tyre for his bike when he won the Tour de France.
 
Pffffffff! Letting it all hang out, @therower !

Had tried to find a different pic but could only find that one - couldn't bring myself to semi-strip off for a new pic as it's flipping freezing, and this thread is more about cannula sites than Snapsy's goosepimples........!!!

 
I've found my sides have a good absorption rate, worst site to date has been my legs.
 
I zig zag mine across my stomach, separating left side from right, so start top just off centre then move move towards back and after row is used I move down and start next row. Once one side is done I move over to the other side. Once stomach is done I move to upper arms.

I use my legs as a back up if they are needed.
 
I like stabby stickers - i'll be using that one from now on
 
Glad your sugars have normalised @JimC. I also use the space just above my love handles
@Snapsy - no spare tyre there
. I always seem to rip mine out when I use my thigh!
 
I can't use my stomach after years if injecting there. My arms are also too thin and I wear my libre sensors there. I use my hips (starting just outside my stomach area) all the way round to my back and this works really well. I can go quite close to the spine without issue but I am careful not to sleep on them when they are in the back or side as they occlude in the night if I do. I also use the area just abouve my waist but below my ribs and boobs. I get a row of 4-5 sets there and it works well.

At some point I expect to get a little site fatigue even though I rotate etc so then I will force myself to try my bottom!!
 
Tummy, legs, bum ... but having said that - at one time and this was back in the 1970s I got lazy and just injected in to my legs - the technology was much more primitive back then - needles were larger and eventually I was getting all this scar tissue forming on my legs so I moved on to the stomach and after 4 or 5 years I started getting scar tissue developing on my stomach. Then something amazingly good happened - the pharmaceutical industry started making much finer and smaller needles. I use a very small needle now and have done so over the past 10 years and no scar tissue - most of the time I don;t even feel the needle as they are so fine.
As well, I don;t know if there is a correlation as I'm in my 50s now but - I was giving myself way more insulin as a teen with duller needles than I am now. Not sure if this is indicative of a finer needle or simply a changing metabolism.
But my advice - check the gauge/size of your needles - try something smaller if you're able. See if that makes a difference.
 
This area works great for me. Except sometimes, if they're too far round and almost on my side, I find they get owwy when getting in and out of the car!
 
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