of insulin therapy and is characterised by the occurrence of soft fatty swellings at the site of repeated insulin injections (Hambridge, 2007). Insulin absorption diminishes in the areas of lipohypertrophy. Not only is there a danger of hyperglycaemia but conversely, when the same dose of insulin is injected into an area without lipohypertrophy, there is an increased risk of hypoglycaemia (Vardar and Kizilci, 2007). This leads to erratic diabetes control, which puts the individual at risk of developing chronic complications. It is vital that doctors and nurses recognise this condition by inspecting insulin sites regularly and encouraging site rotation.
The principle aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lipohypertrophy and to evaluate associated risk factors.
Method
This was a prospective study of 55 people with diabetes. The population consisted of 41 people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and 14 people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The sample was selected