Your infusion site

Choosing your infusion site 

Your infusion site is the patch of skin where the cannula attached to your insulin pump administers insulin. Most people prefer to use their abdomen as their infusion site however you can use many different places that have a bit of padding such as your lower back, thighs, upper buttock, or the back of your arms – see areas highlighted in blue on the image below. Some people prefer to stand up when setting a site up.

There are some sites you should avoid such as:

• ‘lumpy’ or heavily used infusion sites,
• areas at which your skin folds,
• directly on the beltline or under your waistband.

Changing infusion sites

You should change your infusion set and infusion site every 2–3 days. It is important to rotate infusion sites to avoid the development of lumpy skin (also known as ‘lipohypertrophy’). You should make sure that your new site is at least 5 cm away from your last one.

You should always check your blood glucose level 1–2 hours after inserting your cannula to make sure it is working. It is also sensible to leave your old infusion set in place until the new one is in place and some people leave it in place for up to 2 hours. 

The best time to change your infusion site is after a bath or a shower. It is important to make sure your new infusion site is working correctly and that insulin is being delivered once you’ve changed it so avoid changing it late at night before you go to sleep. Failure to absorb insulin overnight can result in ketones.

Another good time to change your infusion site is before a meal so that the meal bolus ensures the clearing of any blood or tissue left in the cannula. 

You should also examine your cannula after removal to check for any kinking or bending. Consult your diabetes team if this happens regularly.

What about painful infusion sites?

Infusion sites are sometimes painful after insertion. If your infusion site is still painful one hour after set-up then it is best to change the infusion set and site. You may experience a slight stinging sensation. Tea tree cream may be useful following the removal of the infusion set to help with healing.

You should wash your hands before opening any packaging and before and after touching the old infusion site – this will help reduce the chance of infection. Generally, you should change your infusion set at the first sign of pain, redness, or discomfort.