Site Placement

Locations for Inserting Glucose Sensors

Proper site selection is important for optimal glucose sensor performance and to prevent bleeding at the site. Here are some tips on choosing a site:

Choose a place on your body at least:

  • 2 inches from your belly button
  • 2 inches from your insulin pump infusion site
  • 3 inches from any manual insulin injection site

For best glucose sensor performance, avoid:

  • Sites where clothing may rub or constrict (for example your beltline)
  • Sites where your body naturally bends a great deal
  • Sites that are scarred or have hardened tissue or stretch marks

Note

Clinical trials for glucose sensors were performed on sensors inserted in the abdominal area.

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Selecting the Best Infusion Site Locations

The best areas for infusion set insertion are shown in the shaded areas on this drawing.

Try different areas to find the most comfortable site location(s) for you. The important thing is to remember to avoid inserting the infusion set into bony areas, under belt lines (near your waist) or in other areas where clothing might cause irritation.

Your glucose sensor and your infusion sites should be at least:

  • 2 inches away from each other
  • 2 inches away from your belly button
  • 1 inch away from the previous site
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Change Out Every 2 to 3 Days

Change Your Set Change Your Reservoir Rotate Your Site Check Your BG
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends changing your infusion set every 2 to 3 days to help prevent infection.1 Change your insulin as indicated by your insulin manufacturer. Tip: Only fill your reservoir with the insulin you need for 3 days or as prescribed by your doctor. Rotate your infusion site every time you change your infusion set and reservoir. Remember, controlling your glucose levels becomes more difficult over time when you infuse insulin in the same area.2 Check your blood glucose (BG) 2 to 3 hours after changing your infusion set. That is the only way to confirm your infusion set is properly inserted and you are receiving insulin.

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Why Regular Site Rotation is Critical

Insertion sites and sensor sites should be rotated each time you change the infusion set or glucose sensor. This keeps the tissue healthy and allows previous sites to completely heal before reusing them.

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Abdominal Rotation Methods

Using a visual diagram may be helpful in assisting you in rotating sites in an organized way. Here are two commonly used methods. For maximum effectiveness, use both methods, alternating between the two.

Visualize an imaginary clock drawn around your belly button. Rotate infusion sites by starting at the 12 o'clock position and then rotating clockwise to 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and so on.

Imagine an "M" or "W" approximately 4" long on either side of your belly button. Start at the end of one letter and proceed through the letter, rotating to each intersection

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Infusion Site Troubleshooting Tips

If you experience a high blood glucose (BG) that does not come down with a correction bolus, check your infusion set site.

Is the site red, irritated or painful? If the answer is yes, then rotate and change the infusion site, infusion set, reservoir and insulin.

For additional tips, see Troubleshooting Tips for Pumps

If you determine that your infusion site, infusion set, pump and insulin are OK, continue to follow the protocol for treating a high BG and contact your healthcare provider.

1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular in turn. Catheter-Related Infections. MMWR. 2002;51 (No. RR-10):9-10.
2
Thethi TK, Rao A, Kawji H, et al. Consequences of delayed pump infusion line change in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus treated with continuous subcutaneus insulin infusion. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications. March 2010 (Vol. 24, Issue 2, Pages 73-78).
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