Lipohypertrophy

The lipohypertrophy is a soft increase in size as a result of Zubildung ( hypertrophy ) of the subcutaneous fatty tissue . A distinction is made between a local increase in adipose tissue in the area of ​​the injection sites for insulin in diabetology and a symmetrical increase in fat in the extremities in lymphology ( extremity lipohypertrophy ). Lipohypertrophy must be differentiated from lipedema , which causes pain when it is more severe. However, lipoedema may develop from extremity lipohypertrophy.

Lipohypertrophy in diabetology

Lipohypertrophy can occur where insulin is injected frequently, such as the thighs , the front or the side of the abdomen . These thickenings are caused by the fact that the insulin injected into the skin stimulates the local growth of adipose tissue. The problem is that the area of ​​lipohypertrophy is not very painful, but the insulin absorption at this point is greatly reduced, so that adjustment problems or high insulin consumption can occur.

Lipohypertrophy in lymphology

Lipohypertrophy describes the increase in fat tissue in the extremities and is therefore also called extremity lipohypertrophy (EL) . EL occurs almost exclusively in women and then mostly symmetrically. The EL usually develops during puberty , rarely in childhood and at the latest after menopause . In general, no statement can be made about the progression ( progression ). The increase in fat tissue cannot increase at all, or it can lead to deformed forms and lipedema , which then causes symptoms.

root cause

Limb lipohypertrophy is a genetic disorder of fat distribution that results in more fat tissue being stored in the arms or legs than is actually the weight of the person concerned. So there is a certain disproportion between the extremities and the trunk. The EL is therefore a system-related body shape variant and not pathological. Because of its genetic cause, EL is often found in the female ancestors of an affected person.

therapy

Since limb lipohypertrophy does not cause any symptoms, therapy is usually not necessary. In some cases, however, it is helpful to wear flat-knit compression to aid in decongestion. Also, manual lymphatic drainage can help.

literature

• Peter Hien, Bernhard Böhm: Diabetes manual: instructions for practice and clinic. 5th edition. 2007, ISBN 978-3-540-48551-3 , p. 178.

Web links

• Lipohypertrophy

Individual evidence

1. ^ H. Mehnert: Diabetology in clinic and practice. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2003, ISBN 3-13-512805-9 , p. 237, (online)
2. ↑ G. Bringezu among other things: Textbook of decongestive therapy: Basics, description and evaluation of the procedures, treatment concepts for practice. Springer-Verlag, 2014, ISBN 978-3-642-54922-9 , p. 486, (online)
3. ↑ Christina Brunner: Lipedema - Figure problem with disease value. PTA forum online, January 2010 edition.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !