Does reusing a needle cause lipohypertrophy?

Reusing needles is a measured risk, but it is not the biggest one. In the same 2026 review of 51 studies of people using insulin, not rotating properly came with roughly nine times the odds of a fatty lump. Reusing the same needle came second, at about three times the odds. That was ahead of more than five years of use and more than two shots a day. One needle, one syringe, one time still stands, to keep germs out. This is not a dose or a protocol. Full walkthrough at /injecting.

Full injecting guide: sites, needles, rotation, safety

Educational use only. This database summarizes published research and is not medical advice. Where a dose appears it is a record of what a trial or clinic ran, or what people describe doing, with its source attached. Nothing here is a recommendation for personal use.

Part of injecting: sites, needles and safety. Subcutaneous vs intramuscular, site rotation, lipohypertrophy, needle length and gauge, vial hygiene at injection time, travel syringes, scar tissue, and when to stop and see a clinician. Full walkthrough at /injecting.