There's no way around it: I'm almost completely out of real estate on my belly for infusion sets. My lower abdomen is my favorite place for pump sites because they give me such good numbers. If I go too high above my belly button or too far out toward my hips I hit some serious snags.

Most site-change mornings have me searching much too hard for a place that doesn't have a scar or isn't a place I've already tried with disastrous results. While I get OK numbers when I use my hips the sites get too damaged from my clothes for some reason.

This morning came down to it: I had to try something different. I tried to stand as naturally as I could while I searched for a place on my inner thigh that wouldn't get too much static from my clothes and wouldn't interfere with walking.

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1.

I was walking into the store as they were walking out (couldn't wait to feel the rush of cold air after walking from my car to the front of the grocery store; 9 p.m. and still 100 degrees outside. Autumn, please?).

I noticed him first: shorter than I am (a lot of people are... I'm 5'10"), muscular, tan skin, seemed confident in himself, attractive, but mostly I noticed the muscular.

She seemed just as confident. I noticed how thin she was and attractive and how short her shorts were.

As we passed I looked forward, but somehow noticed something that made me turn back. Something white. And round. And ... was that... tubing? Yes! An infusion set on the outside of her thigh! I saw it! It was like finding Waldo. Such exhilaration!

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This morning I needed to change my infusion set for my pump.The infusion set is what goes into your body that allows the insulin from the pump to get to you. I change mine every 3 days.

I usually always put my sets in on my thighs. I have plenty of fat there and then I can stash the pump in my sock and it leaves belts feeling less like Batman's and keeps my pocket free. 

As of late I have noticed that I hurts more then it used to when I put the infusion set in. Also I have been pulling out more sites due to bad absorbtion. 

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I'm always high on a site-change day. I've tried doubling the recommended amount of fixed prime, but I still wind up in the upper 200s. I've tried doubling my fixed prime and overbolusing for breakfast (I typically change my site first thing in the morning before breakfast) and I'm still high.

It occurred to me recently that I didn't know for sure if the "trauma" to my body from the site change was the culprit or if it was the insulin absorbing into a new place or both that was to blame. Because I'm only high after breakfast; back into range by lunch time.

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My mind moves all the time. I'm always thinking about something. In an effort to separate my home time from my work time I have to ban myself from thinking about work while in the shower. I know, it sounds bizzare, but first thing in the morning I'm already thinking through the tasks I have to complete before the day is over.
 

So, this morning I was searching for things to occupy my mind while in the shower. I settled on the string of nasty high blood sugars I've had for the last several days. Perfect 5:30 a.m. topic, right? Washing, my hand ran over my infusion site. I considered its position on my abdomen. I seem to have the best absorption when my site is located within, say, a three to four inch radius of my belly button. Yes, exactly the area the pump information tells us to avoid.
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If there's anything those of us with diabetes know, it's that we have to be flexible. Blood sugar levels and blood sugar maintenance equipment and medications take a lot of brain power and we are often at their mercy.

Which is why I'm up at 11 p.m. -- one solid hour after my bedtime -- writing this post. The house was actually quiet for once. The Mr. had gone to bed early, the kids were in bed, I had made lunches for tomorrow and done the dishes. I sat down to watch a little of the Olympics, enjoying the semi-silence; before I knew it it was 10:30 p.m.

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