Clinical significance of lipohypertrophy without visual and palpable changes detected by ultrasonography of subcutaneous fat.

Aim: To estimate clinical significance of lipohypertrophy (LH) without visual and palpable changes, detected by ultrasonography of subcutaneous fat.

Materials And Methods: This study included 140 diabetic patients who received insulin in basal-bolus regimen. Ultrasonography of subcutaneous fat was performed for LH diagnostics in these diabetic patients. Than clinical significance of LH without visual and palpable changes was estimated. HbA1c level, fasting and postprandial glucose, episodes of hypoglycemia, body mass index (BMI) and scheme of insulinotherapy were evaluated at the moment of LH, after 3 and 6 months in all patients.

Results: After changing injection sites, good results were demonstrated by measuring glucose and HbA1c level. Thus fasting glucose decreased from 9.03±1.98 mmol/l to 7.11±0.95 mmol/l (p=0.023). Postprandial glucose reduced from 10.27±2.72 mmol/l to 9.34±1.21 mmol/l (p=0.011). HbA1c level reduced from 9.27±1.75% to 7.43±1.02% (p=0.002). Also BMI decreased from 33.75±3.49 kg/m2 to 30.5±2.96 kg/m2 (p=0.018).

Conclusion: LH without visual and palpable changes could worsen compensation of glycemic control and leads to hypoglycemia and chronic Somogyi rebound. So, LH without visual and palpable is as important and clinically significant as classic LH.