How to Keep Injection Sites Healthy

Lipohypertrophy is a thickened, rubbery swelling under the skin that can happen to people where they inject insulin. These lumps may be firm or soft. You may not always be able to see these since they are under the skin. At times you will need to press on your skin to be able to feel them. This condition is very common. Studies found that almost 2/3 of all people who inject insulin have some degree of lipo.

Who is at risk for developing lipo?

• Patients that use insulin for a long time
• Patients who do not rotate injection sites properly
• Patients who reuse needles

How can lipo affect diabetes management?

• According to scientific data, 22% of the insulin injected into lipo was not absorbed by the body.
• 39% of people with lipo experienced unexplained hypoglycemia.

How to reduce your risk of developing lipo:

• Replace your needle every time that you inject. The more times the same needle has been used, the higher the risk of developing lipo.
• Always rotate injection sites.

How to properly rotate injection sites:

1. Choose an area.
2. Divide that area into 4 sections.
3. Select an injection site in the section that you will start injecting. Use one section per week.
4. Inject one finger width away from your last injection site.

Lipohypertrophy areas should not:

• Be hot or warm to the touch
• Have redness or unusual bruising
• Be noticeably painful

These are all symptoms of a potential infection or injury. See a doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms.