# How often/ much to rotate pump sites?
**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826
**Category:** Pump
**Tags:** technique
**Created:** [December 11, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826 "2017-12-11T13:52:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@TravelingOn](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TravelingOn)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826/41 "2018-11-06T04:04:25Z")
> [@bpollina](#):
>
> I’m afraid to put it anywhere other than my stomach. I tried the side of my arm once and it fell off in \<6 hours. My muscles moved too much.
Try more arm spots and aim for further away from the muscles. The first arm spot EH tried - he raised his arm to show it off and insulin shot out everywhere. Oooops. But since then he’s got the hang of it and he loves it. And the Dex works there too.
Also the shoulder spot is good.
And don’t forget the option of rotating the Dex or the Omnipod top to bottom and side to side. @ClaudnDaye pointed that out somewhere a long time ago and it was good advice!
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### Author:  [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826/42 "2018-11-06T15:40:40Z")
> [@bpollina](#):
>
> I’m afraid to put it anywhere other than my stomach. I tried the side of my arm once and it fell off in \<6 hours.
Don’t be afraid. Once I started branching out, I was amazed how comfortable all kinds of different places were. Try the back of the arm rather than the side – the same area you’d inject in. Same goes for thighs and sides/back. Anywhere you’d inject, you can put a pod. I’ve also seen pictures of pods on pecs and calves, and the upper trapezius is suddenly popular with a certain group of people.
I’ve gone as close as 1.5 inches to my Dexcom with no noticeable effect, but I try to keep the pod at least 2 inches away.
Like @Chris says, the area around the navel is essentially fibrous scar tissue, not good for absorption. Also, some blood vessels there connect directly to the portal vein, so inject too close and you’re basically delivering IV insulin.
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### Author:  [@bkh](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/bkh)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826/43 "2018-11-06T18:25:24Z")
> [@Beacher](#):
>
> Also, some blood vessels there connect directly to the portal vein, so inject too close and you’re basically delivering IV insulin.
Now that sounds like something that could be put to good use. Getting insulin indirectly into the portal vein to correct a stubborn high could be quite helpful.
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### Author:  [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826/44 "2018-11-06T18:30:30Z")
> [@Beacher](#):
>
> > hours.
>
> Don’t be afraid. Once I started branching out, I was amazed how comfortable all kinds of different places were. Try the back of the arm rather than the side – the same area you’d inject in.
I agree. Also @bpollina I had a few problems with Pods in the first 2 months of use. Mostly it was insulin leaking out from where the cannula when into the skin or pods not sticking well. I was almost at the point of thinking I would switch back to MDI, but then I finally got over the learning curve and figured out how to do things and it is rare to have any POD issues these days. I am also adventurous in trying new places. Basically if there is some skin there and not a lot of muscle movement I put a pod on it.
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### Author:  [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826/45 "2018-11-06T23:32:55Z")
> [@Aaron](#):
>
> but then I finally got over the learning curve and figured out how to do things
What did you change that helped improve it? Something that individuals just need to figure out for themselves?
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### Author:  [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2018, 5:13am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-often-much-to-rotate-pump-sites/2826/46 "2018-11-07T05:13:16Z")
I think it was 40% getting better by practicing and 60% improving my technique
This thread has a lot of gems hidden it it - but basically for me it was improving the pod sticking to the skin makes all the difference.
> [@Omnipod failure](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/omnipod-failure/2713/9):
>
> For some reason, when i first started on the POD I got a lot of leaks between the cannula and the skin and had some cannulas pull out. I tried some changes to how I apply the POD (and have had a lot of practice doing it) and now I never have a problem, but I can’t really put a finger on what I changed. My current technique is to try to stick the cannula end down first so that you get a good seal at the cannula location. Then when I hit the “START” button I squeeze up the skin around the pod an…
I could swear I wrote a list of technique stuff somewhere, but I can’t find it. But here were a few things…
1. Shave the hair off where I am placing the pod
2. Clean the entire area with alcohol to get rid of any oil
3. Squeeze the skin at the cannula end of the pod an press down on the cannual end when inserting.
4. Stop giving massive boluses - for me this is about 10U at once.
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