Last Updated on Saturday, 08 August 2009 12:16

Using sites correctly

It’s very important to avoid re-injecting in the same place within a site. If you do, the tissue underneath may start to harden.

Over time, these can form unsightly lumps – a condition called lipohypertrophy. You’ll sometimes hear these lumps called ‘lipos’ for short.

Besides the disfigurement, lipos prevent the injected insulin working properly. Insulin gets absorbed erratically affecting your glycaemic control.

How are lipos treated?

Most importantly, to reduce in size, the affected lipo tissue needs to recover.

• STOP injecting into the lipo area
• ROTATE your injection sites
• DON’T re-use needles

Talk to your nurse if you see or feel a lipo developing, who will be able to help you address this issue.

How much does a lipo impede insulin absorption?

Injecting into non-lipo tissue can reduce insulin requirements by up to 50%. Hence the reason why it’s important not to inject into a lipo if you happen to have one and rotate your injection sites correctly.

The importance of using fresh needles

 Every time you make an injection, you MUST use a fresh needle. DON’T leave the old one attached on your pen device to use it again.

Take it off and dispose of it properly. When it comes to needles, sharp thinking makes sense. Here’s why…

…blunt needles hurt!

A new needle is sharp and enters the skin easily. But if you use it more than once, the end becomes blunt. Injections will hurt.

…the drug can leak. Air can get in.

Leaving a needle attached to a pen device between injections means air can get in. The drug may also leak out. Both of which can stop you delivering the correct dose or mixture.

…needles can clog between injections.

Insulin can form crystals in the needle. It may get blocked.

…blunt needles may cause lipos.

If the tip of the needle isn’t pristine and sharp, there’s an increased risk of lipos forming where you inject.

…new needles are sterile.

Each time a new needle is opened it’s sterile. That means there is no bacteria present when you use it.

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