December 30, 2002
Insulin Pumps
Question from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA:
I have had diabetes for 31 years, and I have many complications (amputation of my right leg, lost sight in left eye, retinopathy, and neuropathy, just to name a few). I started on the pump three months ago, and, for the most part, I have done remarkably well. My A1c went to an all time low of 6.5! My problem is that I have a really hard time with insertion sites due to scar tissue. It seems that the abdomen is pretty much off limits. Also, I am in a wheelchair so using my hip is not an option. I insert in my arms which seems to work fine, although a little inconvenient. Will this scar tissue build up from the cannula as with a needle? I am at a loss here, I don’t want to go back to injections, but I can’t afford to change the site twice in one day due to this problem.
Answer:
The use of the injection sites are similar, whether you are using intermittent injections or using an insulin pump. You need guidance from your physician and diabetes team caring for you and your diabetes. They will have to look at your skin and make some recommendations about what sites you should use. You need to use a wide surface area, whatever surface you use. It is possible to use the buttocks and the legs, in addition to the abdomen and the arms. Patients will find a slight difference when switching from one site to another.
JTL
