Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gluke Skywalker on February 25, 2011 at 5:43am

I have never kept track. I guess I should start. With reference to Humalog: I was informed by my diabetes educator and Endo that Humalog does cause scarred tissue. This is why they switched my to Novolog which causes less scarred tissue.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on February 25, 2011 at 6:30am

I don't really have a system. But I have noticed that if I put the shower on really warm (almost intolerably warm) for a few minutes towards the end of my shower, that my most used sites will turn a darker pink than 'fresh' skin. If I'm in doubt of how much real estate I'm working with, then I'll do it before a set change. That has helped, though I still have sites I need to change after two days.

I typically work in my thighs, and then give them a break and go to my stomach when it looks like connect the dots...

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Permalink Reply by Ressy on February 25, 2011 at 7:13am

I do something similar with just a bit of a twist. I rotate my sites based on the age of my insulin. The first few pulls out of the bottle to fill the pump go into my slowest sites, my arms, then the next ones go into my butt or my thighs and the last few pulls out of the bottle go into my abdomen. The insulin is less potent at that point and so I put it in my fastest site area. I also always change out my sites at 2 days because they no longer work well after about 100 units have been absorbed. Once I change a site I leave the old site in (MM pump) the skin for an hour or so and once I remove it I massage the area to facilitate the movement of any bubbles of insulin. I know that works as I've had some nice drops after doing that. I don't go hypo because it's insulin that needed to be absorbed and used.

I've found these routines to be extremely helpful to me to keep the blood sugar on as even of a keel as I can. For me it's another tool in the toolbox.

Ressy

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Permalink Reply by Tom S on February 27, 2011 at 7:17pm

I am also bit fanatical in recording where I put sites. I have twelve quarter sized spots to the left and another 12 to the right of the belly button. Three columns of 4 on each side. On my right love handle I have 4 spots. In my Android phone I record the date each spot is used so that I can rotate such that I do not re-use a site for about 80 days. I also try to rotate so that I do not use an adjacent site to a used site for at least 15 days., I do not use my right love handle as I almost exclusively sleep on my right side.

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Permalink Reply by PMichel on October 13, 2012 at 4:54pm

I am new to the site and I haven't been pumping very long but when I first got on the pump I received a card that showed a rotation schedule. I have somewhat adjusted it but here it goes. So I chose my spots and I rotate clockwise around my body, using each location in a triangle pattern that does not overlap. So right now I have 4 locations. My right flank, left flank, left ab and right ab. Using this rotation (changing every 3 days) I spend nine days in the area but do not come back to an area for almost a month. So if you were to increase your locations (add thighs or other spots) you can increase the time. I find that this gives each area a decent amount of time to heal. also with my finger testing I use one finger a day. I usually forget to rotate spots and end up using my fave fingers. So it is so much easier to remember which finger I use. I have been able to get up to 6 sticks in one finger. Starting at the lower side of the pad and making an arc around. Feel free to ask for clarification if any of this is confusing:)

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Permalink Reply by PMichel on October 13, 2012 at 5:13pm

I am new to the site and I have been pumping for 3 years, but I received a card with rotation instruction that I have adjusted a bit. SO here it goes. You select your areas and rotate clockwise around your body using each area in a triangle pattern that does not overlap. For example: I have four areas right now. My left ab, right ab, right flank, left flank. (in that order). Using this rotation schedule (changing every 3 days) I stay in a spot for 9 days but do not return for almost a month or more (imagine a triangle on your ab, where the tape does not overlap the insertion points...also when /i come back to the spot I can shift this triangle a bit to the right/left/up/down to avoid the insertion points I used the last time I was there). This gives each spot a decent amount of time to heal. If you increase your spots (thighs, hips...) you can increase the time between spots. Feel free to ask questions:)

Also for finger sticking. I use one finger a day. I found that I would always overuse my favorite fingers but it easy to remember the "finger of the day". I start on the lower side of the finger pad and continue in an arc pattern(up to 6). You dont return to a finger for a week (definitely enough time for healing).

Again. questions welcome!

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Permalink Reply by PMichel on October 13, 2012 at 5:16pm

I am new to the site and I have been pumping for 3 years, but I received a card with rotation instruction that I have adjusted a bit. SO here it goes. You select your areas and rotate clockwise around your body using each area in a triangle pattern that does not overlap. For example: I have four areas right now. My left ab, right ab, right flank, left flank. (in that order). Using this rotation schedule (changing every 3 days) I stay in a spot for 9 days but do not return for almost a month or more (imagine a triangle on your ab, where the tape does not overlap the insertion points...also when /i come back to the spot I can shift this triangle a bit to the right/left/up/down to avoid the insertion points I used the last time I was there). This gives each spot a decent amount of time to heal. If you increase your spots (thighs, hips...) you can increase the time between spots. Feel free to ask questions:)

Also for finger sticking. I use one finger a day. I found that I would always overuse my favorite fingers but it easy to remember the "finger of the day". I start on the lower side of the finger pad and continue in an arc pattern(up to 6). You dont return to a finger for a week (definitely enough time for healing).

Again. questions welcome!

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