I read an article that featured a series of “game changing” ideas that would improve baseball. Among the suggestions submitted by ESPN’s baseball experts and the fans were ideas that included expanding instant replay by way of a full time umpire that watches the game upstairs in a booth, removing an inning, instituting a pitch clock (much like the shot clock), and playing by the visiting team’s league rules during interleague play. This doesn’t really have anything to do with the rest of the blog post but I thought the articles were very interesting reads and the use of a Google+ hangout was very clever. As a longtime fan of the game, I can appreciate where these experts, and fans were coming from with their ideas. It did seem like a number of these game changers focused on the fact that the games are too long, in part because of the pitching changes that occur late in the game. Sure, there are plenty of benefits to that crafty left-hander in the bullpen that you use for that one left-handed threat at the bat, but other than that one out, what real value is he adding to your pitching rotation. You have to be able to maximize the potential of every resource, much like rotating injection or pump sites.

(How’s that for a segue?)

I do a pretty miserable job of rotating injection sites on my body. I use my abdomen for about 90% of my injections because it’s convenient. My stomach is not very appreciative and has responded with the typical scar tissue build up. It’s not attractive. I can do a lot better than this. The big problem for me is that it can get a bit awkward injecting in my arm in public. I’m not ashamed of my diabetes but I don’t try to make a big show out of the fact that I manage my disease with insulin pens and sarcasm – hence going to the tummy once too often. At home the upper arm isn’t that big of a deal, but at a typical dining location during the work day I would prefer to be a bit more discreet. A few days ago I finally figured out how to improve injection site rotation and maintain a level of discretion.

Site Rotation (via about.com)

With regards to this map, or diagram or whatever this is, the buttocks aren’t really an option for me. Trying to hold an insulin pen like that feels awkward sitting here on my couch, that one will take some time. I already mentioned the arm and abdomen – frequently abused by my “mini” pen needles.

Tangent: the BD  Micro needles are super tiny, but super worth it if you can get them.

This leaves the thighs. Up until a few days ago I hadn’t spent much time injecting in my thighs. Clearly a reflection of my lack of desire to change and embrace something new, I knew this was something I had to conquer. Accessing the thigh area on this diagram is pretty easy, mostly because it’s not wearing any clothes. That attire isn’t exactly work appropriate so I needed to find another way to take advantage of my chicken legs without needing to go to the bathroom every time I needed to inject. Thankfully the lining of my pants pockets is thin enough to not get in the way of a teensy, tiny needle trying to deliver life-saving insulin.

It’s impossible to find a picture to describe what I’m talking about and it feels silly trying to take a picture of my own pockets but trust me when I say that the thin fabric that makes up most of your pants’ pockets doesn’t get in the way of an insulin injection. With the needles I use, there’s no need to pinch anything so the overall process is over in the same amount of time it takes to inject in my abdomen, but with less guilt about where I’m injecting.

This scar tissue may never heal, and I’ll deal with that in my own way. But I can do a better job of taking care of my body despite the fact that I’m stabbing it with needles six times a day…if you don’t count the blood tests.

(I’m still surprised I managed to turn that baseball nonsense at the top into something of a reasonable transition to the purpose of this post. I’ll credit podcasting with that little gem.)