Diabetes Insulin Injections
Administering insulin subcutaneously—directly into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin—allows it to be absorbed slowly by the body.1 The good news? Many people consider injecting insulin painless.2 Plus, taking insulin helps you feel better all day.2
As you’ll learn, absorption can be affected by a few factors including where you inject on your body and the length of the needle you use.3 Once you have a routine that works for you, alter it only with the involvement of your healthcare team.
Where to take Diabetes insulin injections
Insulin Injection Sites4
Based on the advice of your healthcare team, you may be able to inject insulin into your arms, legs, buttocks or abdomen.3 Typically:
- The outside or back of the upper arm.
- The front of the thigh. Avoid injecting within several inches of the hip or knee.
- The buttocks, in the hip or "wallet" area, not into the lower buttocks.
- The abdomen, avoiding a two-inch circle around your navel.5
Many people choose the abdomen because, for most of us, it has the fastest absorption rate.4 Exercising any area after an insulin injection increases that rate.3 Again, talk to your healthcare provider to determine your preferred insulin injection sites.
Rotating Insulin Injection Sites
Once you've chosen an injection area, stick to it. But remember to rotate injections within that area—leaving about an inch between sites.5
Think of each site as about the size of a quarter, moving systematically from the top-right of an available area to the bottom-left (or any system you prefer) with each injection. Try not to use any site more than once a month, to avoid the thickening of fatty tissue, which can appear lumpy and slow the absorption rate.5
Giving an Insulin Injection
Properly preparing and giving an injection is important for getting the right dose. From time to time, take a few minutes to review your technique. Talk to your healthcare team about the proper procedure and consider these tips, which can make the process a bit simpler.
- Wash your hands thoroughly. Make it a habit every time you inject.1
- Keep your supplies together. This can make it easier to prepare for injection. Storing your insulin, syringes, alcohol swabs, gauze pads and a self-monitoring log in one place can save time every day.1
- Follow the directions your healthcare team has given you. Over time, giving an injection can become second nature. Still, it's a good idea to check in now and then, just to make sure you're following all the steps properly.
1
Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health. "Giving a Subcutaneous Injection." Available at: http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/subq.pdf. Accessed November 8, 2007.
2
Jerry Meece, RPh, FACA, CDE. "Dispelling Myths and Removing Barriers About Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes." The Diabetes Educator, Vol. 32, No. 1:9S-18S, 2006. Available at: http://tde.sagepub.com/cgi/content/full/32/1/9S. Accessed September 24, 2007.
3
American Diabetes Association. "Insulin Administration." Diabetes Care 27:S106-S107, 2004. Available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/suppl_1/s106?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10& RESULTFORMAT=& fulltext=insulin+administration&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec= relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT. Accessed November 7, 2007.
4
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. "Medicines for People With Diabetes." Available at: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/medicines_ez/index.htm. Accessed November 8, 2007.
5
Joslin Diabetes Center. "Tips for Injecting Insulin." Available at: http://www.joslin.org/managing_your_diabetes_3210.asp. Accessed November 8, 2007.