Diabetes Talking

Question:

So here’s my question.  When I first started on insulin as at child, the animal blend insulin I used caused huge ugly indentation marks right down to the muscle on my arms and legs.  After a few years, they switched me to all-Pork source insulin which I was instructed to shoot right into the indentations.  That seemed to help and as I grew the dents went away and I never had too many problems with them again until recently.  Several years ago I went on Humilin (R and L) and about a year ago in an attempt to get better control I went from a program of two injections a day to four.  Now I’m getting the same kind of deep indentations, this time on my lower abdomen, sides and hips.

Hi, Alice!  I’m Cynthia and I have also had type I for 18 years.  My situation sounds a lot like yours.   I recently began seeing a CDE to "brush up" my control and possibly go on the pump later on.  While she checked me over, she noticed the same indentations you describe on my butt and my legs.  She advised that I stop using my butt ENTIRELY and use my legs as little as possible.  That has been about 2 months ago and, believe it or not, but I can tell a big difference.   She told me that the indentations were caused by impurities in insulins used over 15 yrs. ago, but she seemed to think that if you cut way down or cut out injections in the affected area that it would help a lot. — Mississippi College                      web page: http://www.mc.edu/~cgreer Clinton, MS  39058

Response:

We don’t have any refrigeration on our sailboat, except for ice when its available. So to preserve Wendy’s insulin on a trip around the Atlantic, I built a small cooler that runs off a cigarette lighter (12 volts).  A full charge in a car battery will keep 4 bottles at 60 degrees for about ten days in the Caribean. (90 in the day, cooler at nite). This cooler is not very pretty but it works. Several people (not diabetics) have suggested that I clean up the design and sell them. I wonder if there would be any interest in a product such as this. They would be about the size of a coffee can and hold four bottles. They could be used in cars, planes or boats, or anywhere they could plug into 12 volts. They wouldn’t be any good for carrying around because the battery would be too heavy. I think they would have to sell for about $150.

Response:

Hi everyone – I’ve been lurking here for a few weeks now – and what a wonderful discovery.  After living alone with type one juvenile diabetes for 18 years it’s great to find a place where people with the same challenges can share and support!   So here’s my question.  When I first started on insulin as at child, the animal blend insulin I used caused huge ugly indentation marks right down to the muscle on my arms and legs.  After a few years, they switched me to all-Pork source insulin which I was instructed to shoot right into the indentations.  That seemed to help and as I grew the dents went away and I never had too many problems with them again until recently.  Several years ago I went on Humilin (R and L) and about a year ago in an attempt to get better control I went from a program of two injections a day to four.  Now I’m getting the same kind of deep indentations, this time on my lower abdomen, sides and hips. Any thoughts as to why this is happening again or tips I can use to repair the damage or at least prevent further ones? e-mail or posted responses appreciated.  Thanks! Alice

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