Using upper buttocks for Infusion Set

I’m not that familiar with other areas, as I only use my torso area, but I’m planning to move to a new site area this week. My stomach and side sites still work, but I want to give them a break. I have seen people online use their upper arms for infusion, though that’s not real practical for me since I use them for my CGM sites. Plus, I can’t imagine the tubing running from the arm to the pump on my waist.

Are you tubeless? I’m not.

Prancy said:

I have seen people online use their upper arms for infusion, though that’s not real practical for me since I use them for my CGM sites. Plus, I can’t imagine the tubing running from the arm to the pump on my waist.

Click to expand...

I use my upper arms for my CGM and infusion site. Infusion site at the top of the meatiest part and CGM lower down. I make sure there's a four-finger gap between them and I've had no problems. I us 60cm tubing and there's enough give where I keep my pump at my waist, but I am quite short. I keep the tubing under my top or bra and it stays in place pretty well. It's nice having everything in one spot on my body.

I also use my lower back, and my hips where my thigh, hip and butt meet. Inner thigh (but not a spot that rubs when walking) works for me too although not my favourite.

Nekromantik said:

I cant see myself using arms due to tubing though as it would feel very awkard having tube running up arm and down to my pocket area where I keep pump.

Click to expand...

I use arms and don't have any awkwardness with tubing running down to my waist, where I keep my pump. I'm quite short and I use 60cm tubing.

I only place my infusion set above my CGM on my arm. If it was placed below the CGM, there would be a lot of slack to get caught on things, but above it, it's usually fully under my sleeve. It's a very comfortable site for me.

Good to know. I may try it. I’ll need longer tubing though.

The area in your waist contains the largest surface area in your body in which to inject insulin and is not disturbed by normal body movements.
You stated that the insulin injections in your waist area are painful, this brings to mind a few questions. First, is how much insulin do you inject during a normal bolus, as I will feel pain when my bolus is greater exceeds 10+ units which is normal sensation. Can you slow down the delivery of the insulin which should also help to eliminate or minimize your discomfort. Another option is to split into two dosages if using more than 10 units at a time. Second question is are you examining the infusion tubing after it has been removed to verify that it no kinks and the end has not deformed during the insertion. When I hear people say that the area where you inject insulin has hardened, I say you have an 8 inch high area so that leaves a lot of room to select from for the insertion.
I started using needles to inject insulin circa 1968 using four to 6 shoots daily in my waist and cannot find a single area that I would call hardened. On the other hand, I would map out the injections over a broad range of the waist using the 8mm 31ga syringes. I gave up on using my legs and arms due to bleeding problems from the injection sites.
Now, using the rump to inject insulin can lead to several problems, the first being the rate of absorption into the bloodstream will mean recalculation for your insulin delivery. The second is the tape is loosened by the constant stretching from the normal body motions. The secondary affect are your supplies adequate for any additional infusion set replacements.
Anytime you reach across your body to insert an infusion set requires a serter or automatic device as your hand work in an arc and will bend the tubing if done manually.

Bill Wireman said:

The area in your waist contains the largest surface area in your body in which to inject insulin and is not disturbed by normal body movements.
You stated that the insulin injections in your waist area are painful, this brings to mind a few questions. First, is how much insulin do you inject during a normal bolus, as I will feel pain when my bolus is greater exceeds 10+ units which is normal sensation. Can you slow down the delivery of the insulin which should also help to eliminate or minimize your discomfort. Another option is to split into two dosages if using more than 10 units at a time. Second question is are you examining the infusion tubing after it has been removed to verify that it no kinks and the end has not deformed during the insertion. When I hear people say that the area where you inject insulin has hardened, I say you have an 8 inch high area so that leaves a lot of room to select from for the insertion.
I started using needles to inject insulin circa 1968 using four to 6 shoots daily in my waist and cannot find a single area that I would call hardened. On the other hand, I would map out the injections over a broad range of the waist using the 8mm 31ga syringes. I gave up on using my legs and arms due to bleeding problems from the injection sites.
Now, using the rump to inject insulin can lead to several problems, the first being the rate of absorption into the bloodstream will mean recalculation for your insulin delivery. The second is the tape is loosened by the constant stretching from the normal body motions. The secondary affect are your supplies adequate for any additional infusion set replacements.
Anytime you reach across your body to insert an infusion set requires a serter or automatic device as your hand work in an arc and will bend the tubing if done manually.

Click to expand...

May I ask what insulins you were using in 1968 that you took 4 to 6 injections per day .. i am very intrigued .....

himtoo said:

May I ask what insulins you were using in 1968 that you took 4 to 6 injections per day .. i am very intrigued .....

Click to expand...

Insulin usage started out with beef animal extract which was normal timed release, followed by the synthetic brands U40, U80 and then U100 plus tried using a few others that used only a name for a description such as lantus.
My evolution of treatment would have added to information overload in my response, as I only wanted to show the reader that your waist can be used as a permanent site for treatment. Along with bleeding while normal due to nicked veins on rare occasions, the pain is related to your insertion technique. Which requires you to examine your infusion set after extraction to see if any problems exist with the tubing. Note: when inserted correctly the tubing extracts with no bends, kinks or flared ends so even while using the instructions they may be flawed requiring you to make modifications based on what you are experiencing.
The detection of BS used urine when I first started on insulin which is a delayed time lapse method of detection which requires the kidneys to extract the excess and wait till you urinate to test the BS. There was only one type of insulin being a medium timed release available at the time in the US, so during my initial stay in the hospital they the physician began with one shot per day after my release. Shortly after that, I would later personally divide the dosage into two parts to even out my BS. Around 1976-77 I enrolled as an initial candidate for the first home glucose monitoring program at the University of Virginia Diabetes Clinic, which allow me the feedback to add additional shots on my own as needed to tighten control. Shortly after that time, the longer acting followed by the fast acting insulins started production with the doctor trying my method of mixing the longer acting insulin with the faster acting in the morning and evening, to which were added any supplement required based on my BS. During this time my BS were high after lunch, so I added another shot to smooth out the highs. Now we evolved to 4-6 shots per day during this evolution of treatment. Before starting on the Home Glucose Monitoring, I had noticed that my legs were starting to tingle, knowing this was bad sign made me volunteer for the program which is probably why I am still living today. I would slowly combine the two insulins in one needle to reduce the injections per day with the count at four and then any boost needed for high BS during the day.