A client with type 1 diabetes shows lipodystrophy at injection sites. Which action should the nurse plan to obtain from the patient?

A client with type 1 diabetes shows lipodystrophy at injection sites. Which action should the nurse plan to obtain from the patient?

• A. Plan for injection rotation
• B. Consistency of aspiration
• C. Preparation of the injection site
• D. Angle at which the medication is administered

Answer: (A)

Lipodystrophy from repeated injections happens when the same skin/underlying tissue is used too often, leading to changes in fat tissue that alter how insulin is absorbed. The best plan is to rotate injection sites so insulin is delivered to fresh tissue and absorption stays consistent. By distributing injections across multiple sites and rotating within each region, you prevent the tissue damage that causes lipohypertrophy or lipoatrophy, which can cause unpredictable blood glucose levels. While cleaning the skin and using a suitable injection angle are standard parts of technique, they don’t address the underlying issue of repeated trauma to one spot. Aspiration isn’t needed for subcutaneous insulin injections and doesn’t prevent lipodystrophy, so rotation remains the key preventive action.

Lipodystrophy from repeated injections happens when the same skin/underlying tissue is used too often, leading to changes in fat tissue that alter how insulin is absorbed. The best plan is to rotate injection sites so insulin is delivered to fresh tissue and absorption stays consistent. By distributing injections across multiple sites and rotating within each region, you prevent the tissue damage that causes lipohypertrophy or lipoatrophy, which can cause unpredictable blood glucose levels.

While cleaning the skin and using a suitable injection angle are standard parts of technique, they don’t address the underlying issue of repeated trauma to one spot. Aspiration isn’t needed for subcutaneous insulin injections and doesn’t prevent lipodystrophy, so rotation remains the key preventive action.