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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diabetic. Have Lumps At Injection Site. Cure?

i'm a fifteen year old female type 1 diabetic, I weigh 8 stone and I'm 5 foot 8 inches. My blood sugars are generally normal and my insulin doses have been the same for several months. I take a Novamix 30 in the morning, nova rapid with tea and levimier before bed. Just recently I have started developing lumps and more bruises than normal around my injection sites. I used to just inject in my arms but when these lumps/ bruising appeared I moved to my legs. There are now bumps there also. I was wondering if there is way to get rid of these lumps to help make my injection sites easier. I mean sure I can inject in my abdomen but better to have more options right? Also they look quite horrid and I never can wear shorts or short sleeved tops. I feel myself getting self consious and that's never been an issue with me before. so is there a way to get rid of them?
Wed, 24 Apr 2013
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,
It is possible to get hard lumps under the skin when injecting insulin.Repeatedly injecting into the same site or near the same site can cause lumps. The lumps or tough skin from repeated injections sometimes are called lipohypertrophy.
Rotating  your injection sites and avoiding the scarred areas for at least six months will help reduce the scar tissue at these overused sites. 

As far as bruises are concerned, the needle may have clipped a small blood vessel, causing it to bleed and form a little bruise  under the skin. 

Do's for avoiding bruises and lumps...
.....Don't rub the spot.  
......Maintain light pressure with your finger to prevent bruising. 
.....If a bruise does appear, don't use that injection site again until the bruise is gone.
.....Wait until the alcohol from the swab has dried completely on your skin before injecting.
 ......Inject your insulin when it's at room temperature. Cold insulin hurts.
 ....Never use your needles more than once.
....Penetrate your skin quickly.
 ....pinch up the skin and inject into the fold of the pinched up skin.
 
If in spite of injecting properly you bleed tegularly,then you must consult your doctor and look for any bleeding disorder.
Thanks
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Cardiologist Dr. Anantharamakrishnan's  Response
Hi friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic

This was rather common when animal origin insulins were in vogue. It is not so nowadays with modern recombinant insulins... Also, the solvent and medium too may be contributing...
Change the brand / Use insulin pen instead of ordinary needles - change needles frequently and don't share / rotate the injection site - all the 4 limbs and abdominal wall /
Discuss with your doctor...

Take care
Wishing speedy recovery
God bless
Good luck
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Diabetic. Have Lumps At Injection Site. Cure?

Hello, It is possible to get hard lumps under the skin when injecting insulin.Repeatedly injecting into the same site or near the same site can cause lumps. The lumps or tough skin from repeated injections sometimes are called lipohypertrophy. Rotating  your injection sites and avoiding the scarred areas for at least six months will help reduce the scar tissue at these overused sites.  As far as bruises are concerned, the needle may have clipped a small blood vessel, causing it to bleed and form a little bruise  under the skin.  Do s for avoiding bruises and lumps... .....Don t rub the spot.   ......Maintain light pressure with your finger to prevent bruising.  .....If a bruise does appear, don t use that injection site again until the bruise is gone. .....Wait until the alcohol from the swab has dried completely on your skin before injecting.  ......Inject your insulin when it s at room temperature. Cold insulin hurts.  ....Never use your needles more than once. ....Penetrate your skin quickly.  ....pinch up the skin and inject into the fold of the pinched up skin.   If in spite of injecting properly you bleed tegularly,then you must consult your doctor and look for any bleeding disorder. Thanks