Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I have been a pump user for 4 years. Another fact of interest may be that I bike one day a week, about 18 miles on average.I have a question concerning site locations. I have noticed that my hip area and stomach area, the places I inject my site for the pump, have bulges. Do you have any insight?
Answer
It appears that you may have a condition called lipohypertrophy which is caused by using the same insertion sites repeatedly. Sites should be rotated to prevent this and should be spread at least two inches apart in the same anatomic areas. Continued use of hypertrophied sites can result in improper absorption of insulin resulting in higher blood glucose values. Avoiding the "puffy" areas will correct the problem over a period of months.Another possibility is that your catheter is becoming dislodged during exercise. I suggest you use the type that is inserted at 45 degree angle rather than one that requires a 90 degree insertion.
In either case, it might be helpful for you to visit with a diabetes educator who can inspect your sites and review your insertion technique.
