Comments on: Infusion Site “Handles,” aka Diabetes Belly Love

By: chris collini

chris collini — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:48:02 +0000

I will start using an isulin pump next week, and one of my concern is taht I simply don’t have enough fat to use. I’m more muscular and have very little fat on my infusion happy sites. With muscles in the stomach area and little hips and buns ‘m worried. My legs also seem out as I;m male and have mostly thin legs too. Any ideas? I can barely pinch an inch on my stomach.

By: Counsel

Counsel — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:04:15 +0000

Actually, medtronic users, some, do pump in the breast… Not sure about any issues (I’m male).

However, I’m starting to rotate to see if I can eliminate the handles-I’ve had diabetes for 30.5 of my 41 years.

By: ginny

ginny — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:56:27 +0000

I totally have these in my love handle area! I thought for the longest time that I just needed to loose a little weight, and then last week I got a CGM. I realized I have a slow absorption rate realitively speaking, and started looking for answers for that. Those areas were always deemed as fine by my endo cause they weren’t hard scar tissue, but I knew something was up. The shape isn’t right, even for having a little extra weight, plus when I was a kid I got the same thing in my thighs from mult. injections. Glad to see my theory was right- though now not sure what to do about it since it is the only comforable area.

By: Willow

Willow — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:08:38 +0000

To bad we can’t inject into our boobs! ;o)

By: E-patient Interview: Stirrup Queen | e-Patients.net

E-patient Interview: Stirrup Queen | e-Patients.net — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:32:11 +0000

[...] similar profiles; home-care tips (there could be a whole blogroll on injections, btw, starting with AmyT , heading over to Spicy Sister, then [...]

By: MelissaBL

MelissaBL — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:25:21 +0000

I’ve pumped in the belly for 8 years and no one mentioned this to me until last month at the CDE. She asked me about my pooch that I had never attributed to anything but me being a little out of shape. Her advice was that I should avoid that area for about 6 months and use my butt, thighs, and hips instead. So far, so good. It’s been a month and a half and I think I already see improvement.

As a kid, I had the “baseball” issue in my arms because I gave myself my injections and could only reach maybe a 2×2 inch space at the angle I used. When I moved to my abdomen, the arms got better. I swear – they want us to be healthy and lean so that our bodies are more efficient and yet, we need fat in as many places we can get it just to have rotation flexibility. It’s more than a conundrum – it sucks.

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:17:16 +0000

Hey, I have the same problem as June S. I started 30 years ago on pork insulin and my stomach all the way up to my ribs in dented. It looks like a I have a flesh eating virus. My doctor calls it Lipodystrophy. It is getting worse, you can tell I have a dent through my clothes. My Dr isn’t familiar with this at all, he’s only been practicing for 19 years. Does anyone have any ideas?

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:49:44 +0000

I’ve been trying to figure out why one side of my stomach is “bumpier” than the other! I definitely inject on the left more than the right.
Like someone else said, the more cushioning a spot has, the easier it is to inject there… so it becomes a cycle.

I can’t believe I’ve never heard mention of this before. (T1, 26 yrs.)

By: bryan wasserman

bryan wasserman — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:53:27 +0000

Fortunately I’ve still got the 6-pack abs that distract people’s attn from my 2 blobs of lipotrophy. At least that’s what I tell myself! I didn’t notice them since they came on slowly, but a few diabetes professionals to see me about 18 mos ago shook their heads and encouraged me to quit leaving sets in for 5+ days. I followed their advice. And then last year shifted away completely from the 4″ L&R of my bellybutton (no easy feat for me). And yet they’re still there! Maybe it began with shots I was taking pre-pump, which means they took at least 10 yrs to develop–it’s probably not long enough yet for me to worry they won’t disappear. (25 yrs t1 and just under 9 yrs pumping)

By: gregPfaff

gregPfaff — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:47:34 +0000

Amy
If I am looking at the same things I had. My doctor told me not to worry also. I switched to Apidra over a year ago and those little knots are gone. I understand there is research ongoing to see if the fact that apidra does not have zinc in it that this might be the reason for not getting those “knots”
I’m sure you can find out more and let us know
Thanks Greg