Lipoatrophy in many spots

[Gardevoir]

Hi,

Since a while ago, I have 2 circular spots on my abdomen which appear to be lipoatrophy. I can no longer pull the fat that was once there.
I believe the same is happening on my arms, despite very strictly rotating sites. I always reserve my sensors for the back of my arm (if you were to put your arms straight down against your side). My pumps are always on the outer side of my arm. The needle of my pump are always over 7cm (2.7 inch) away from the other pump (on the same arm). I always very very strictly rotate sites to ensure I don't mess this up.



I am extremely scared of this becoming a long-term health concern. I'm naturally a bit on the skinnier side (unrelated to diabetes) so I genuinely have no idea if the bottom of my arms were always this fatless or if this is something to be concerned about.
I also noticed that one spot on my right arm has an indent, which becomes very easy to notice when you run your finger over it. My arm on the left has the same, albeit a bit less intense.

Thank you

 

[EllieM]

I wasn't aware that this was a potential issue for diabetics, though I do have the opposite problem, lipohypertrophy, on my stomach, presumably caused by overusing the site 30 years ago when pregnant with my first child. Like you, I'm anxious not to lose any additional real estate for pump and/or sensors.

Two thoughts from me
1) talk to your clinic urgently
2) if you think this might be caused by site overuse (I am in awe of your organisation re your site rotation) have you considered using other areas as well? Thighs/buttocks??? Personally, despite the lipohypertrophy, I have a lot of real estate on my stomach and use it for both pump and sensor (though sensors usually go on my arms.) Are the spots on your stomach showing any sign of diminishing now you aren't using it?

I appreciate why you've blacklisted your stomach but does the lipoatrophy affect the whole area? (My lipohypertrophy, though quite a large area, still leaves three quarters of my abdomen for use and it's a big area.)

I'm using a tandem and a dexcom G7.

Good luck.

 

[Gardevoir]

I appreciate your response

1) talk to your clinic urgently

I have, and they pretty much just told me to continue rotating sites better which is why I made that program to allow myself to be so strict without losing my mind, and they also mentioned that there is no way to revert it unless I'm going the cosmetic route.

2) if you think this might be caused by site overuse (I am in awe of your organisation re your site rotation) have you considered using other areas as well? Thighs/buttocks??? Personally, despite the lipohypertrophy, I have a lot of real estate on my stomach and use it for both pump and sensor (though sensors usually go on my arms.) Are the spots on your stomach showing any sign of diminishing now you aren't using it?

Thank you. I sit on my chair a lot and I move a lot in my sleep so I'm very afraid of pushing into it or bumping it when it's on my thighs/buttocks.
I have not put anything on my stomach for over 2 years or so and I don't see much change on my left side, maybe a tiny amount, but the right "dimple" on my stomach is looking much better already, although it's still there. I believe it may take some time.

Does this go away with time? I was scared, thinking this is permanent damage.

I appreciate why you've blacklisted your stomach but does the lipoatrophy affect the whole area? (My lipohypertrophy, though quite a large area, still leaves three quarters of my abdomen for use and it's a big area.)

I was still new to this entire "rotating site" idea and while my specialist explained it to me, I did not yet realize that I had to go in a square-like pattern, rotating through 4 sites. Instead, I simply switched from left to right, like so:


I guess I still have the space above those spots, but I'm just afraid of it either worsening due to it being close or more "dimples" appearing.

I use Medtrum and Libre 2.

 

[EllieM]

I guess I still have the space above those spots, but I'm just afraid of it either worsening due to it being close or more "dimples" appearing.

My issues are on the rhs below your spots but I use above and to the left hand side also.

https://www.adces.org/education/danatech/insulin-pumps/insulin-pumps-101/insulin-pump-infusion-set-placements

If you click on the three links to placement for different pumps it shows diagrams, pretty similar for all 3....

And I think this is the medtrum picture https://tr.medtrum.com/donfile/D-IM881168WW TouchCare Nano Pump Quick Start V1.02.pdf