This is my first post so let me start with an intro.
My name is Tyler, I’m 30 years old and have been diabetic since 19 months of age. I’ve been pumping for 15 years now and I’m from Canada.
My question is this: I’ve been mainly sticking to using my stomach, love handles and general mid area for site placement but I’ve been wanting to use my extremities more. The problem is I’m very muscular. Does anyone have tips or tricks for using their legs or arms as a site placement for very muscular people?
Thank you all and may your A1C’s be ever in your favor!
I saw some similar conversation some time ago, you might want to take a look
Is your infusion set Medtronic? Diabetes educator often suggest to use Silhouettes for people who do not have enough fat tissue. Maybe trying a longer 13mm would help?
I’m a muscular/lean male. I use the back of my upper arms quite a bit (~20 percent of the time) without much difficulty. I use a short angled insertion site. I think the general conscious is that angled sites are better for lean people and you should use as short as possible. Once in a while I do hit muscle (pain/bleeding and rapid insulin action) so I have to waste a set, move over a bit, and pinch the skin up a little more for the next placement. So this would be my trick - relax muscle (I set my arm on my desk), pinch up skin making sure not to be pulling up any muscle, and use an angled infusion set (I used to use a 90 degree site from minimal but they often felt like they were poking my muscle even when I didn’t have an intramuscular placement).
On a related note I just started using a new online app for tracking site rotation. It’s fairly basic, but I think it is going to help me find out which sites work the best and which sites I often hit muscle on. Hopefully this will same me from wasting sites in the future. Maybe it can help you find new sites that work well too.
Thanks! Yes its a Medtronic device and infusion sets. I’ve used the Quickset and Mio 90 degree insertions but have been using Silhouettes with both cannula lengthsfor a few months now. I’ve tried once or twice with the Silhouettes on arms and legs but they would only last about a day before I’d be in pain or have blood at the site. Just thought someone would be in the same boat and would have a tip. I’ve just purchased the Mio 30 degree sets (same idea as the Silhouettes but with a serter) to try incase I wasn’t getting the proper angle of insertion.
I know what you mean about having pain/bleeding after a day. I had that all the time with the 90 degree sites, and still have it occasionally. Workouts seem to bring this one faster too. I think that even though the catheters are teflon, they are still stiff enough to work their way around in the subQ fat and irritate the muscle fascia with movement.
One other tip I just remembered too - if I angled the catheter up (and back just a little bit) towards my armpit they work better with less pain. This way the catheter is angled away from the main muscle belly.
I know @Thas uses his chest, as does Kris Freeman, the type1 Olympic skiier. If you google his name and click on google images, you can see exactly where he puts it. (he uses a omnipod)
I’ve tried my chest like Freeman, but it always bounces loose after one or two runs (maybe skiing is less jostling than running). Also, I have less fat there than over my triceps. Worth a try though.
Used to pump iron a lot before pumping insulin. Have to,say I pretty much stopped lifting and doing any high impact workouts. Just did not mix well with the insertion points. Yes I have become More soft and flabby, like a girly man…said in my best Arnold voice.
Hello there! While not a muscular man, I have some site tips that are not yet on here. I utilise (possibly over utilise) my legs. Front, side, everywhere. The only shortcomings with this location are 1. you need to be marginally more careful when considering rate of insulin absorption, particularly if running or so forth 2. you may need to change your sites more frequently depending on the position in which you sleep. This photo indicates where I place it on the sides of my legs
Just checked that site… I think it is too close to the posterior edge of my IT band (might irritate with movement) and the subq is very thin. Still worth a try - I’ve got it mark for use for Wednesday .
Ever thought about sure-t sets?
I also have very little fat tissue but the sure t avoids kinking. I never had to worry about where to put it as long as it felt comfortable. Legs work great, as does the back.
I’ve thought a lot about the Sure-T’s however they say its a strict 3-day use and I tend to run about 4-5 days ( I know I know). So I’m not sure how that would go.
While not a muscular “man” you look pretty fit and I’ll give your location a try. Although I have almost zero excess skin/fat tissue right about there so I’m not too sure. Maybe a little scared more than anything lol. Thank you!
