Lipo and injections Connect with BD Keep injection sites healthy

BD Customer Support BD Diabetes Care A 100 µ What is lipohypertrophy?

If you inject into lipo, your body may not 1.888.232.BDCARES Information for people
(1.888.232.2737) with diabetes and for Lipohypertrophy (or “lipo”) is a thickened, rubbery swelling
absorb your insulin smoothly and consistently. Monday–Friday, healthcare under the skin that can happen to people who inject insulin or
This can affect your blood sugar control.2 8 a.m.–8 p.m. professionals. B 100 µ 1 mm other medications. These lumps may be soft or firm. Because it
bd.com/diabetes Normal vs. enlarged Adipocytes (fat cells) is under
Use the skin, pressure
firm downward you maypushing
not always be able
deep into to see lipo—you
fat layer
adipocytes (fat cells) infiltrate the dermis (skin) may have to press on your skin to feel it. 1

If you have just stopped injecting into lipo BD Diabetes Care Diabetes Innovations
Watch educational Join a supportive,
If your doctor just asked you to stop injecting into lipo, there videos about diabetes welcoming Facebook
are a few things to keep in mind:2 and innovative BD community to learn more
• You may find injecting into healthy tissue mildly painful at products. Follow the about insulin delivery and
first. Using the shortest, thinnest needles can make injections BD Diabetes Care healthy living.
more comfortable.2 channel on YouTube.
• You may need to change to a lower dose of insulin when you
start injecting into normal tissue.2 Your doctor will work with
Lipo visible on inspection Lipo on left identified You can usually feel the edge of the lipo as a harder ridge
you to make sure you are receiving the right dose. by shiny skin surface There are two key strategies that diabetes experts recommend
• Work with your doctor to develop an injection to help reduce your risk of developing lipo:
rotation pattern.
• Have your injection sites checked by your doctor at every 1 Replace your needle 2 Always rotate
visit, or at least once each year.
every time you inject. injection sites.
Keeping track of your lipo Keeping track of your In scientific studies, the
more people reused
Practicing proper
injection site rotation

lipohypertrophy
Use the grids on the following pages to mark the location of their needles, the more gives your skin time to
the lipo you have now and any new sites as you find them. likely they were to heal between injections.1
It is important to keep track of your sites with lipo so you can Lipoatrophy visible develop lipo.1,2
avoid injecting into them. Show the grids to your doctor at on inspection
your next appointment. References: 1. Blanco M, Hernández MT, Strauss KW, Amaya M. Prevalence and risk factors of lipohypertrophy in insulin-injecting
A guide for patients
patients with diabetes. Diabetes Metab. 2013;39(5):445-453. 2. Frid AH, Kreugel G, Grassi G, et al. New insulin delivery
recommendations. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(9):1231-1255.

If you have any questions or concerns, BD, 1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, U.S.

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speak to your healthcare professional. © 2017 BD. BD and the BD Logo are trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
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