Diabetic Recipes
Olivia is starting to look like a pin cushion. Her stomach is a mass of red marks, scars and bumps. It's not pretty. She refuses to wear a bikini or half shirt because of how her stomach looks (not that this bothers me, mind you!).
The problem we're currently having is that she's got so much scar tissue built up that she's running out of real estate for her sites. She currently uses her arms, her stomach and her lower back.
I'm sure some of you will suggest thigh sites, but she has really bad luck with those. Thigh sites generally make her rollercoaster - she'll be in the 400s in the afternoon and by dinner, be in the 60s. It's bizarre. I've tracked it and she's not over-bolusing or over eating. I think it's an absorption thing. She's got meaty thighs (she can thank me for that one). I don't know if that makes a difference or not; regardless, thigh sites just don't do it.
Stomach sites are great for absorption, which means she doesn't have too much subcutaneous scarring going on, just superficial. Her numbers are great when she does a stomach site.
The same holds true for her lower back and arm sites. She's been laying off the arm sites, doing maybe one a month, because she had some hypertrophy there 6 months ago. The endo told her to spare her arms, so that's when we started going to her back.
If her numbers are good, should I just disregard the scarring? Is there anything she can do about it? I don't have a lot of money to spend on scar creams, especially if they aren't going to do any good.
Olivia wanted me to ask you guys what other sites you use? She'll give just about anything a try, although I think she'd draw the line at chest or inner thigh sites - both of which she saw at camp. I can't imagine doing either of those! Bleurgh!
So what say you? Any words of wisdom? Any tips for minimizing/reducing scarring? Let me know....
Julia-
Has Olivia tried her hips?
We had trouble with Joseph's abs (because he's so lean, the little bumps he developed there really mucked up his insulin absorption).
As a result, we use the little pooch on his hips exclusively-- it's not much, but (so far) we've had no troubles with bumps on those sites...
Hope this helps.
Sandra
I know she's a teenager and all, but we put Riley's sites in his backside, the upper outer part of the cheek. It's the only place he was enough subq tissue.
Sandra - hips being below the belt line or above it? Every time we do something below the belt, she rips it out.
Penny - she always rips out butt sites. Usually while she's at school, necessitating a trip up there with toddlers in tow. Loads of fun.
Joseph inserts just above the belt line-- though his "belt line" might be a bit lower than Olivia's.
He's got that "cool," adolescent boy, a bit lower than hip-hugging, underpants-showing thing going on.
I'm just thankful he likes to wear his shirts on the long side.
Would buying a fake tan cream help to cover up the scarring somewhat? Maybe enough to help her not feel so self conscious?
The butt site is a great area for my daughter. We almost use the entire area(high and middle area). My daughter only pulls them out if they are too low in the butt area, otherwise have never had an issue w/them coming off. She doesn't feel them and you don't see the site if you are in a bathing suit...you may want to try it as an alternate.
I have been using my thighs almost exclusively for the last few years, and I think they need a break. I've tried a few on the back of my leg (a bit awkward for sitting) and the occasional abdomen site, but what I'm really gearing up for is an attempt at my arms.
Hips sound like a good idea, once you figure out the waistline issue. (As in - make sure the site isn't right where the waistband will sit. That would completely suck.)
Good luck to O - let us know how it goes!!