Sites of Insulin Injection

If you have diabetes, you may be required to give yourself injections of insulin each day. The most common insulin injection sites are the abdomen, arms, and thighs. If you are just starting to give yourself injections, there are a few tips that may help you. This article will give you a few tips for insulin injection sites.

Abdomen

The abdomen is one of the most common insulin injection sites. Insulin is absorbed faster when it is injected into the abdomen. Therefore, you should inject your insulin into the abdomen just before meals. Be careful to avoid injecting too close to your belly button because the tissue is tough and the insulin won't be absorbed consistently.

Thighs

Another one of the common insulin injection sites is one of your thighs. The thighs are suitable for injecting long-acting insulin, so you should use them for bedtime injections. You should also avoid injecting your insulin in your inner thighs. You could make these insulin injection sites sore when your thighs rub together while you're walking. Also, don't inject too close to the area just above your knee because the tissue is very tough.

Arms

The arms are also one of the common insulin injection sites. Most people use the upper part of their arm although it is harder to pinch when giving you an injection. You can make it much easier for yourself if you use the backside of the upper arms. These insulin injection sites are much easier to use because most of the fat in your arms is located there.

Rotation

Most people find one or two parts of their body that aren't painful to inject and use them repeatedly. You should avoid doing this because you can develop swelling and lumps in these insulin injection sites. If you use your left thigh or arm one day, you should use the right thigh or arm the next day.

Exercise

You should never use insulin injection sites that you will be exercising soon. Long-acting insulin will be absorbed faster than you need it to because exercising increases your blood flow. For example, if you inject in your arms, you shouldn't exercise them by lifting weights. If you inject in your legs, you shouldn't go jogging.

These are a few tips for using your insulin injection sites. Make sure you always rotate the sites so you don't develop swelling or lumps. Also, never inject yourself in the inner part of the thigh because you may make it sore when your thighs rub together while you're walking.