I am totally confused as to why I keep reading to stay 2 to 4 inches away from the belly button when inserting an infusion set. I wasn’t told this from my endo’s office an some of my best spots seem to be about 1.5 to 2.5 inches from my belly button. They don’t gush, I don’t get occlusions, they stay in better, and my sugars are stable. So why do I see alot of posts saying to stay so far away from the belly button? There must be a medical reason and I am totally curious…Any info would be appreciated…
There tend to be a lot of blood vessels in that area… personally, I really need to stay about six inches away from mine. But, if it works for you, tell everyone else to shaddup and just move along…
I was told the same thing about the blood vessels, as for trying it. I have been too scared to go near that area.
However, I do think it also is dependent on your cannula length. Is this true?
I’m not running out of places yet as I have only been pumping almost a year but is is so easy to put them somewhere on my stomach. I bleed too much on my thighs and it hurts to do it there. It seems weird to do on my arm (akward as heck) so i haven’t tried that yet. I am going to try my upper buttock area soon to see how that works to give me more rotation to avoid site fatigue.
Good question on the cannula length…I will have to ask Animas about that…
HAHAHAHA! I guess the YMMV saying works here (your mileage may vary)
Mark, you dog, you!!! ha ha ha
Actually I had seen it written in the pump’s instruction manual and took it as gospel. Since my skin is more tender nearer to the belly button, I just tend to want to stay away from it.
To each his own!!
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
yep it sure does…
I can’t put one within 6 inches of mine, and I really don’t even point the cannula in that direction… took me nearly a month to figure that one out. If I do, I get bleeds and occlusions
And you know what ?? I am going to try as a pumper for 8 plus years …26 plus years of type 1 …I never even put an insulin needle that close to belly button, because I " was instructed " ( neither do I have " it " pearced …other than my ear lobes 60 years ago… oh my how I laughed when I read that ) …if it works I will let you know …or please remind me …thanks
Dave…Correct about being instructed and I did/do re-use needles and lancets for 26 plus years …not quite the same as getting that close to MY belly button …right , that’s why I am game and try ??
I think we all tried to stretch certain supplies a little farther,beings they are so expensive.When I was on injections I cleaned my own needles by injecting rubbing alcohol in them then push it out.I did this for a long time until I got insurance.I use my lancet for a long time too.I also started changing my inset every four days instead of three.The professionals give us guidelines but that doesn’t mean it’s written in ink.
So I guess I need to stop putting my cannula in my belly button???
Kidding… but that could be a reason why they tell you to stay away or someone would try it.
I try to keep everything away from my belly button basically. Just a golden rule for me 
This morning the TEST …my observations : it was real easy to put my infusion( paradigm silhouette) set in , without having to turn and twist …3 hours later I still notice a slight pinch …too close to my pants waistband ?? Then at about 9. 45 am , had same breakfast , same amount of bolus as usual , while at the start of my daily exercise ( walking ) program decided to poke my finger : 2.9 mulitply by 18 equals almost 51 ( ?) …my sensor showed 3.6 ( 65 ) …HELP : glucose pills…I had to forego my walk and am rebounding presently ( sensor 8.0 = 144 with one arrow up , another story …) and feel still a bit pukey .
My reason to stay away from MY belly button for some time to come …Quick absorption for sure and am unwilling to do some more research /tests on my belly button at this time .So there …my little story and I agree with one response : if it works for you , carry on .
That stinks that had such quick absorption and lows. That makes me wonder how my absorption will change when I try the buttock area next…I will try on my next site change to see, now I am curious!
Talk about timing - I was just discovering this issue myself (although I had been warned…). About 4 days ago Iwas using a site closer to my belly then I had previously done, and was having crazy drops and lows all day long - I am in the process of basal testing at night, so those tests were way off all of my other results - i changed my site yesterday, also a little too close to the belly, and had the exact same effect - just switched it today, no problems. phew!
thats it for 4" or closer for me!
I don’t think the needles are nearly as re-usable as the lancets. I’ve seen pictures of them before/after one use magnified several hundred times and they go from smooth and sharp to jagged as all hell after just one injection. I used to re-use them when I was on MDI too, but now I think I would just pony up the cash so that I could have a fresh one for each shot.
Suzanne , a struggle all day with up and down numbers…maybe other stuff going on as well , who knows ; ended up doing an infusion set change at supper time ( buttock left side !!) .
And Dan W. having simelar observations .
I suppose if you are willing to up front during your experiment change bolus ratios , basal settings etc. etc. you may end up with a better outcome.
Good luck and great if it works for you .Let us know.
I’m with you Suzanne! Some of my best areas are about 2 inches away from the belly button.
haha I was googling this very topic and found this thread. So I just inserted my infusion set and did so without paying attention to my belly button. As you can see from the picture, I'm about 3-3.5 inches from the center of my belly button to the center of the infusion set. Should I move it? It feels a little sore when I press on the infusion set (when standing) but not when I'm sitting.
Interesting, very interesting. I am on MDI and was also told to stay outside the 2 inch border. I do sometimes skate close to that limit or even slightly inside it, and haven't noticed any particular effect. Now you've all got me wondering. Think I'll do some very cautious experimenting and monitoring.