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Insulin build up

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Akasha

Akasha

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I can't for the life of me remember what its called when you get the insulin build up in the stomach (Kinda like the guy in dailymail)

Anyway, I'm worried that my husband is starting to get the build up.
He has injected in his stomach for 6 years. He rotates the sites on his stomach but wont swap to leg or arm or bum.
I'm also concerned that it could be the cause of his erratic blood sugars.

What are the best ways for trying to combat this?
 
I think it's Lipohypertrophy (the buildup of fat below the skin). This can affect the absorption of insulin and lead to erratic results. Worse though seem to be hard lumps/scar tissue (which can lock-away doses for days/weeks/months only to release them unexpectedly later.

Best bet is to avoid any 'suspect' area for as long as you can to try to give it time to recover - and to rotate all other sites to try to avoid stressing those out in between times.

How long it takes varies (of course! 🙄) - might be months, might be years, might never be trustworthy again 😱)
 
Its a more psychological problem really, as the way to help it is to move sites but this is easier said than done I suppose if you have been used to the same area for so long.........

It will no doubt be causing absorption problems..............if it is causing psychological distress then it seems to be a good case for a pump.......
 
Its not causing stress for him and im already on a pump :D

I think it has been the case of stomach is easier to get to when fully clothed...
I shall try to get him to inject in his legs a little more but I can't force him.
I also can't watch him 24/7 to see where he is injecting.
I think I know how a parent feels about a diabetic child... 😛
 
I find it quite easy to inject into my arms for some reason, I was always reluctant as any bruises would be visible with short sleeved t shirts, which I pretty much wear all the time.....

But its really easy to get to, and is quick and subtle.............
 
Akasha said:
Its not causing stress for him and im already on a pump :D

I think it has been the case of stomach is easier to get to when fully clothed...
I shall try to get him to inject in his legs a little more but I can't force him.
I also can't watch him 24/7 to see where he is injecting.
I think I know how a parent feels about a diabetic child... 😛
Click to expand...

Has his DSN or consultant ever checked his injection sites? My consultant asked to check mine (my stomach) which I'd only been using for two years and immediately told me to change sites. What he saw that I couldn't, I'm not sure (I didn't look like that bloke 😱), but I did change to my bum and it's fine. He also told me I'd need less insulin, and he was right about that too. Also use the top of my hips sometimes if not possible to de-trouser 🙂

I'd suggest he gets a trained person to check and advise, because he could be loading up problems for the future.
 
It's something in the way subcutaneous fat is sposed to 'behave' eg when I press here, the fat over there should do/look like, that. I've no idea what they look like to a TP really, cos no-one can look at their tummy or the top of their legs like a TP whose head is level with it - and know what they are lokking for - really.

But certain 'odd' hypos that refuse to accept treatment make me know they are there alright.

Trouble is these places can store up insulin for up to 12 years and just go Hi Mum! (or Dad) whenever they just think they will and nobody has any control over THAT.

The only control we have got, is to not build em up in the first place ....
 
This is something that worries me quite a bit. My son only uses his tummy (he does rotate) as he has lymphoedema in his legs which puts them out of bounds - risk of infection and also the insulin wouldn't absorb properly. He can use the top of his right hip for Lantus but the left side is too swollen. He is very thin and the consultant says his arms don't have sufficient fat on them. Is lipophypertrophy very likely in these circs do you think?
 
Willsmum - I don't think anyone can tell, in advance TBH.

Have you thought about a pump, because with the probs he's got I'd be concerned it's only a matter of time before he runs out of space? Sorry to say that bluntly, but to me that's surely got to be an extra good reason to go for one?
 
Hello Trophywench - bluntness absolutely fine! Yes, I agree it's a good reason to go for a pump. He has actually been offered one, but atm is reluctant. But the idea is in his head now so we're hoping he'll get round to the idea. Sorry to hijack thread!
 
Willsmum

Good luck with your exploration of a pump. I was very firmly pump-averse for many years. Mostly because I had not really understood what the benefits were and could only see (what I perceived as) the drawbacks.

Having had a pump since November I have seen that some of the things I thought were going to be drawbacks have actually turned out to be benefits - like being attached to something all day for example, which has meant that on several occasions I've been able to be completely spontaneous and flexible with food in a way that would have been impossible on MDI (changes of plan/unexpected meals/impromptu cafe visits being no problem cos I've always got my mealtime/snack doses with me rather than having left my pen at home or wherever).

Everyone worries about attachment - and it does take a week or two for the 'newness' of it to fade but they do seem to for pretty much everyone.

Sorry! Thread well and truly hijacked now!
 
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