Which practice helps prevent lipodystrophy when using insulin therapy?

• A. Exercise regularly
• B. Rotate injection sites
• C. Use the Z-track technique
• D. Vigorously massage the injection site

Answer: (B)

Rotating insulin injection sites helps prevent lipodystrophy by avoiding repeated trauma to the same tissue. Lipodystrophy, which includes lipohypertrophy (fatty lumps) and lipoatrophy (fat loss), is more likely to develop when insulin is injected into the same spot over and over. The local tissue changes can disrupt how insulin is absorbed, leading to unpredictable glucose control. By changing the injection area with each shot, you give tissue time to recover and maintain more uniform absorption across different sites, supporting steadier blood sugar levels.

Other choices don’t specifically target these tissue changes: regular exercise benefits overall health and diabetes control but doesn’t prevent lipodystrophy at injection sites; the Z-track technique is used for certain intramuscular injections to prevent leakage, not for subcutaneous insulin; and vigorous massage of the injection site can worsen tissue changes and absorption variability.