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CGM sites, finger pricks, and repeated insulin injections can all cause visible scar tissue. How much visible scar tissue do you have on your body, and does it bother you?
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I don’t think I have scar tissue, but do have lipoatrophy from the “old” Insulins. It is less visible these days, but did bother me when I was younger. Now? Not so much, I’m at the age where it is what it is.
Irritates me severely, in that it is another “complication” which we are forced to endure. They do zero about curing it, maintaining it absolutely curing it never. I don’t care how much anybody rotates, after decades and decades 1000% guaranteed you will have scar tissue likely in several places. Personally I kinda like the ability to spear through pine boards with my fingers caused by the massive callouses I now have on my fingertips.
I interpreted “visual scar tissue” to include small areas of discoloration from infusion/CGM insertion sites. These usually fade over time (sometimes months) but don’t really bother me. I’m more concerned with the scar tissue under the skin that I can’t see that secretly thwarts my insulin absorption.
Been on CGM since 2006; been on pump since 1996; been on MDI since 1951, so, yeah, there’s a bit of scar tissue. Oh, yeah, finger sticks too, about 10 per day since glucometers got invented (early 1980’s?)
That’s a lot of punctures for a sensitive and now aging skin. Scar tissue? Of, course,
Unfortunately, the body keeps score. Scar tissue 73. Me nothing. Why worry? Didn’t the Chicago Bears beat somebody in a championship game by that score once? 🏋🏽
My job in rectory has me tearing up homes even now have cuts and bruises all over. What’s another?
I’m mostly bothered by fingertip pain from finger sticks
Very Little that is visible and I’m not bothered by it; and this is with living with diabetes for 66 years.
Before CGM, my fingertips had some caused by about 10 BG checks per day.
I know they’re there (pump site scars), but they’re not visible. I know I’ve hit one when I get poor absorption.
A visual record of my battles being a type one
Always rotated all this stuff religiously from the first week I was dx’d back in 1983. All those pamphlets they give you included one showing the results of hypertrophy and I didn’t want that!
Never had any scarring from MDI, but after ~ten years on a pump, yeah, lots of little red spots and welts. Not a concern appearance-wise. I don’t think they’re noticeable to other people. But a concern when I’m hunting for a site for a fresh infusion set. Spots that hurt, cause an inflammation response, bad absorption, leaves a swelling under the skin–avoid! Most recover after a couple of weeks before the area comes up again in my rotation, but not all, and over time it gets to be a bit of a minefield. I’ve tried steel sets, yeah, but inserting those is not fun either. Getting to the point where I’m probably going to have to switch anyway, and I don’t like it. So yeah, it bothers me in that sense. “Running out of real estate!” is a thing.
I came here to say this! The way they look don’t bother me, it’s the bad absorption etc.
Poorly worded question. I have some visible scar tissue, but none of it is a result of anything whatsoever due to my T1D, it has entirely other causes unrelated to my T1D. And, since you ask, it does not bother me in the slightest.
T1D for 45 years, syringes, insulin pens, cgm’s………. for sure there is tissue trauma and scar tissue all over my body. The biggest issue looking forward is trying to get some degree of consistency with insulin absorption. I think this is probably one of the biggest most avoided problems with BG control. We need a better approach to insulin delivery!!
I agree completely. I have been T1D for 53 years. I feel like I have run out of room to place CGM and pump sites. Every place that I use has been used hundreds of times and it really does affect insulin absorption. I have never seen this addresses any where. Even my doctors don’t have an answer.
You nailed it
Most issues are black patches when I bleed, but most clear up. In addition I’ve been injecting into my stomach flab for at least thirty years now, so it’s not really often on public show
I feel rotation is key. I used to use a pump and strictly used my abdomen for infusion sites. The relative short duration of each site, but repetitively in the same area, caused some damage to the skin. I am completing my 4th year back on MDI and most of that damage (whether scar tissue or otherwise) has almost completely healed up.
I don’t actually know what scar tissue looks like – how different would my body look if I didn’t use injections? I was diagnosed at 11 yo before puberty which was 19 years ago
With this, after 64 years of T1D, doing quite well with little to no scar tissue : )
It does not bother me (having T1D bothers me….) Besides, there is really not much I can do about it. It is what it is……
Pricking fingers and stabbing my abdomen for 50 years.
Used to have calluses on my fingers from using the glucometer but not anymore since using CGMs.
I must have a lot of scar tissue under my skin on my abdomen. It’s not visible but I can tell because of the poor absorption at times. I recently moved my infusion sites to my upper front thighs and is helping my abdomen to heal. Quite a challenge sometimes to find a good place to place the IS.
What I have are sites that don’t absorb the insulin well, so I have to be very careful where I place my catheter. If I happen to hit a site that does not absorb very well my sugars go up into the 4 and 500s we need a dog goner cure!! I get SO frustrated trying to tame a beast that will not be tamed!!
Mostly fat hypertrophy on my belly, where I learned that the best insulin absorption is.
Yes, I have damaged tissue on both upper thighs from many years of Reg and NPH injections. Now, after just 7 years of pump/CGM use there are visible scars on my upper arms and abdomen. Some of my finger tips are damaged from 12 X daily bg tests. After 67 years living w T1 the “visible” scars are the last thing I’m concerned about.
Does not bother me. No worse than scars from sports and daily life over 66 years.
When I notice an area, usually abdomen that is not absorbing insulin I switch to another area of the body. Abdomen has a lot of stretch marks from childbirth also. Right now on MDI and use buttocks mostly. Just saving abdomen. Don’t have visible scar tissue except for the stretch marks. Have always been good about rotating sites
IDK, after 60 plus years of insulin replacement therapy with injections x 40 years and pump infusions x 20 years my body consciousness has adapted to “tell me” when to stop using a site to give my tissues a chance heal. I rotate sites – sometimes for several months, sometimes for years in between before using that body part again for insulin infusions.
I recall countless times where friends, relatives, and colleagues would cringe and say things like “Ouch! You poor thing … you must feel like a human pin cushion”. To which I reply “It’s no big deal … it is what it is and you get used to it”.
we sure do!!
I don’t know. I don’t think so. Years ago, though, authorities doing background checks for my job weren’t able to get a set of fingerprints. I always guessed 23+ years of finger pricks were to blame. I just found it interesting and was glad they let me keep my job.
me also for a concealed carry of firearm..
I can still see the scars on my fingertips from when I used to do 12+ blood tests per day. I rarely do blood tests now. I also have lumps under my skin in my abdomen and buttocks area. I would not classify them as visible scars, just lumps.
I had major scaring/callus’s on my finger tips. Since switching to Dexcom in 2013 my fingers have begun to heal. I’m not bothered by it anymore.
“Bother me” in terms of stressing about it? No.
“Bother me” in terms of poor absorption and limited virgin territory for sites? A Lot.
But, I answered it based on feelings rather than on psychical impairment.
Doctors or other T1Ds or nurses told me to use the shortest thinnest needles. So for MDI I use 31 gauge (0.25mm) by 8mm (5/16”) syringes. Virtually painless. For finger-sticking I use back & sides of fingertips, never the fingerprints. And BEFORE sticking, I rub the finger on my jeans and “milk” it to bring more blood to surface. Lancets are so tiny and short nowadays and such tiny blood drops are necessary! Rarely I do get small bruises from injecting syringe in belly. Before I started using skin moistures twice everyday I got scars from itching dry skin on back, butt, arms.
WOW!! 70 years T1D… NO scars or any signs at all for me.. and I’m a skinny guy !!!
What have can’t be seen but it hurts & constantly reminds me that its there. I never was a vain or self conscious person, so the visible scars I do have, I wear with pride as they symbolize my journey that is uniquely mine. I gave up on what other people think a long time ago.
Well, off the listed reasons, but visible scar tissue bothering me got my attention. I have a horrible scar from an implantable pump study I did in 1992. It is the one thing that bothers me (visually) every time I look in the mirror and not sure it advanced diabetes care, but it seemed promising at the time, regret it. Although I have done many other studies since but not as invasive. No lasting visible scar tissue from the list, those don’t bother me.
Some scarring, but it doesn’t bother me. I rely on my Dexcom G6 for dosing (I can’t use the home glucose monitor covered by my health plan – problem of reading higher than actual for people – like me – who are anemic. can’t afford out of pocket for strips. Since relying on my CGM, I’ve had no major lows. Used to have them all the time – serious lows). Anyway, a funny story. I was getting my GLobal Entry Pass, being fingerprited by the Federal agent at the airport. He looks at the image of my fingerprints, and then says “Are you applying for the pass because you have T1D and wear a pump etc?” I said yes, how did you know. He said “My (his) wife has T1D and her fingers are a mess!”
I have scar tissue build-up on the sides of my fingers where I used to prick for glucometer tests. It only bothers me if I have to use my glucometer instead of my CGM. The callouses hard and I have to stick deeper.
Its the scar tissue that can’t be seen that gives me absorption problems
The visibility of scar tissue does not bother me. What bothers me is placing a new infusion site and how well it works due to scar tissue.
I do not see scar tissue from diabetes, but I am not certain they don’t exist or bother insulin absorption.
As far a vanity goes, surgical scars are much more bothersome than the possible scars from diabetes would be.
It OFFENDS me the supposed “cure” for this issue is literally avoidance. I require solutions to solve issues, not ignore the problem and pretend ignoring is a valid cure.
My scar tissue isn’t visible, so I it doesn’t bother me. It does make infusion site issues more of a problem.