- Treatment for insulin lipohypertrophy
- How to prevent insulin lipohypertrophy
- 1. Vary the insulin application sites
- 2. Alternate the injection sites within the chosen area
- 3. Change the pen or syringe needle
- Other complications of misuse of insulin
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The incorrect use of insulin can cause insulin lipohypertrophy, which is a deformation, characterized by a lump under the skin where the patient with diabetes injects insulin, such as the arm, thigh or abdomen, for example.
Generally, this complication occurs when the diabetic applies insulin many times in the same place with the pen or syringe, causing the insulin to accumulate in that location and causing malabsorption of this hormone, causing blood sugar levels to remain high and diabetes cannot be properly controlled.
Treatment for insulin lipohypertrophy
To treat insulin lipohypertrophy, also called insulin dystrophy, it is necessary not to apply insulin to the nodule site, giving total rest to that part of the body, because if you apply insulin to the site, in addition to causing pain, the insulin is not properly absorbed and does not if you can control blood sugar levels.
Usually, the lump spontaneously decreases but it can take between weeks to a few months, depending on its size.
How to prevent insulin lipohypertrophy
To prevent insulin lipohypertrophy it is essential to take some precautions, such as:
1. Vary the insulin application sites
To avoid the formation of lumps due to the accumulation of insulin, it must be applied in different places, and can be injected into the arms, thighs, abdomen and the outer part of the buttocks, reaching the subcutaneous tissue, which is under the skin..
In addition, it is important to rotate between the right and left sides of the body, taking turns between the right and left arms, for example and, in order not to forget where you last injected, it may be important to record.
2. Alternate the injection sites within the chosen area
In addition to varying the location of insulin application, between the arm and thigh, for example, it is important that the patient rotates in the same region of the body, giving a distance of 2 to 3 fingers between each application site.
Usually, applying this technique it is possible that at least 6 insulin applications are made in the same region of the body, which indicates that it is only every 15 days that you inject insulin again in the same place.
3. Change the pen or syringe needle
It is essential that the diabetic change the needle of the insulin pen before each application, because in case of using the same needle several times increases the pain on application and the risk of developing lipohypertrophy and developing small bruises.
In addition, the doctor must indicate the size of the needle most recommended, as it depends on the amount of body fat of the patient, but in most cases the needle is small and very thin, causing no pain during application.
After changing the needle it is important to apply the insulin correctly. See the technique at: How to apply insulin.
Other complications of misuse of insulin
Incorrect application of insulin with the use of a syringe or pen, can also cause insulin lipoatrophy, which is the loss of fat at the insulin injection sites and appears as a depression in the skin, however these cases are rare.
In addition, sometimes the application of insulin can prove a small hematoma at the injection site, causing some pain.
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