Absorbtion Issue Now Resolved

[Shimmmer]

Hi everyone,

I recently had a little problem.
4 days ago, my blood sugars were 24.4, I was correcting with 4.5 units of Apidra at breakfast as well as my meal bolus on a 1:10 ratio. Tested my BG at work they were 18 mmol, so I thought ooooooops and rang my DSN who told me to get myself up to the clinic asap.

I get to the clinic and my consultant immediately sees what the problem was.

I had stopped absorbing insulin, my right leg had started to become swollen which I had not noticed, even though I have been careful to space my site changes to 1" between set changes, this was the last thing I was expecting. My insulin was also cloudy I am now pumping Novorapid and had to take the pump out of my leg and put it in my stomach.

When I was on injections, I used to get lumps because I could not see the needle marks but I was not expecting an absorption issue with my sites like I recently had, I have always been very very careful with site changes since I have been on the pump. I have realised how easy it is to end up with an absorption issue with pumps and that I will in future try and put the pump in my backside!

I am glad to say that it is not all doom and gloom.
Within 2 hours of having a correction dose of Novorapid, and of course changing my site, my blood glucose had returned to 5.6 mmol, much to my relief.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Glad it is now resolved Shimmmer. 🙂 I always thought it less likely on the pump due to fewer injections i.e. cannula insertions. I have lipohypertrophy on my abdomen and thighs in spite of always rotating my injection sites and didn't realise how bad the lumps looked. 😱 The DSN took a look and suggested injecting higher or lower but after the amount of injections over the years (which isn't going to stop unless I go on the pump which I'm hoping to do) I'm not sure there is an easy way around it.

 

[trophywench]

I've killed the fat on my outer thighs and have knackered quite a lot of my abdomen. So I have six sites across the top of my buttocks which my husband has to insert, attach, detach etc which is literally a PITA and I have to time showers to fit in with whatever he wants/needs to do* ditto cannula changes, new cartridges/reservoirs and I've found 2 sites either side of my tum and two each on the front/inner thighs and those are where they rotate. My abdomen has been 'rested' for about 6 years and my outer thighs 10 years - but I tried legs again recently - Owwww!

At least with a pump, we only bodge a hole every 2 days - yes some people can go 3 - but I find even on all these 'good' sites - after 48 hours absorption just STOPS. And - I was advised to only go 2 days anyway cos if your body is already displaying this tendency - it's very likely this will continue - QED in my case.

I idly wonder sometimes WTF happens when I run out of sites completely ....... yes I've asked but only ever been fobbed off and told not to worry unless it happens. Thanks, very reassuring!

* he had to have an operation recently - good job they kick you out asap isn't it? - could see myself turning up to visit him and having to ask a passing nurse to do it for me!