Rotating Injection Sites

[s230787]

Just seen this link on the Daily Mail about a fella who has been injecting the same to sites for 3 decades. There is a picture, you have been warned. :shock:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...appens-diabetics-inject-insulin-site-day.html

 

[noblehead]

Quite shocking that it got to that stage, I'm surprised his care team didn't pick up on this and advise him earlier to rotate his injection site. Of course the care we receive does vary, my consultant and dsn regularly check my injection sites as part of my annual check-up.

 

[AMBrennan]

Well, I'm not familiar with diabetes care in South Africa so I cannot comment on whether I would have expected the South African care team to have picked up on that earlier.

However, I thought advice was not to rotate between sites (i.e. always use abdomen, or always use arms, etc)? Difference in speed of absorption and all that.
Edit: Since that wasn't clear enough, rotating between sites means injecting the same insulin in different sites (arm for breakfast, abdomen for lunch, thigh for dinner); rotating within sites means using the same site but different spots (left arm for breakfast, right arm for lunch, bit lower on the left arm for dinner, etc)

 

[phoenix]

Well I doubt there will be many people here who go for 20 years between medical examinations.That was the case with this poor man.
They've changed his insulin , needles and advised him on rotation but he's been 'lost to follow up'

http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMicm1101527
edit: took out double negative

 

[noblehead]

However, I thought advice was not to rotate between sites (i.e. always use abdomen, or always use arms, etc)? Difference in speed of absorption and all that.

No the advice was always to rotate.

I was told that injecting in the stomach is fastest followed by the arms, thighs then buttocks. My novorapid goes in the stomach or arms and my lantus mainly in the buttocks and occasionally the thighs.

Back on topic, the severe case of lipohypertrophy which this guy had..........I'm surprised his insulin absorped at all given the extent of the damage

 

[anna29]

Hi all.
uuuuughhh what a picture !
Gave me quite a shudder . . . . :shock:
I always use my tummy as this is the ONLY place I can use !
Am so tiny in arms , legs, thighs, n botty it would definentely hit muscle and sinews . My DSN has told me there isnt an option for me with this one!
This was a stark reminder to ALWAYS - " KEEP ROTATING ALL " around my tummy areas.
I thought the same with this guys lumps being a solid mass 'how' did insulin get absorbed and into main bloodstream of his body. ???
Anna.x

 

[s230787]

haha sorry Anna... I did give a warning