Infusion Set Scarring

[UCOChick]

Do any of you have scars left behind from the insertion sites? I had a friends mention something about this. I am currently on MDI and getting my pump in Sept. I have not had any scarring from injections and wondered if this comment had any truth to it..Thanks

[am1977]

Most of my sites have healed from my infusion sites, luckily . I think a lot has to do with site rotation and not reusing the same site over and over.

I've actually been thinking about this too lately, since I'm considering returning to pumping soon. My question is are you more likely to deal with scar tissue with pumping than with injections? For some reason, I believe that to be so. Maybe someone could clarify this.

[TonyAlmeida]

The reassuring news: From every pumper I've talked to - as long as the rotations are used and you don't pass the 3 day threshold on sites, there is no scarring.

However - everyone's skin is different though. Some people have skin that is not easily irritated, they pull out the site, and in a day or two any indication is gone. Other people have sensitive skin that doesn't like being punctured.

Personally - I don't have "scars" ..... But I have skin that even before Diabetes, didn't like things on it or in it and is touchy about adhesives. Weather, heat, and humidity also are factors. In the winter, I didn't have much of a problem. The punctures healed up pretty quick. In the summer - I see the red dots of old sites linger for awhile before they fade (sometimes I have to give them a little help using Hydrocortizone .2%).

It also depends how long you leave the cannula in. The cannula is definitely bigger than the MDI Insulin Pens or Lantus Syringes. And with MDI - the needle isn't in you for 2 or 3 days at a time. The longer the cannula it stays in - the longer it takes to heal the hole it will leave behind.

Also .... the way you prep and remove plays a factor.