Type 1 Injection sites

When I was injecting, from 1999 to 2013, I tended to use my upper thighs the most.......although I did rotate quite well......

I used my upper thighs, stomach, buttocks and upper arms...

Have you tried the buttocks or arms....?

The usual question that comes in response to these questions is what size needle are you using?
The trend has changed recently to "as small as possible". This seems to be 4mm.
If you are using larger needles, I recommend asking to try something smaller.

Others have also suggested techniques for limiting the pain by doing something like a mini-stab (just touch your skin with the needle) so the area you are injecting is expecting the bigger stab and doesn't respond as much.

I used to pinch and inject but understand this recommendation has changed now. But in my experience, it depends how fatty the area you are injecting into is. I don't have much padding and always found pinching helps.

Finally, make sure you use a new needle every time.

Hi @Emzi2297 ,

Welcome to the forum..

I suppose when you've been injecting for as long as you have, one can get "subconsciously" drawn to the same familiar areas in the routine? (This is my observation from over 4 decades of it.)
What I've learned is keep sites as far away from eachother when rotating as possible.
It's easy to forget where you last injected..

Pinching up generally works for me.

This is by no means a criticism on how anyone "does their's."

A thought just occurred to me.. Do you inject straight from the fridge when it hurts...?

Emzi2297 said:

Hello,
So lately I've been really struggling with my sites. When I was first diagnosed 10 years ago I injected into my legs. After a while these became a bit sore and started to become lumpy, so I was advised to change to my tummy. Now been injecting here for a good while and I just find in general I struggle to move from my favourite area ( the slightly lumpier sights that don't hurt!)
Does anyone PLEASE have some advice for me, any ways to inject even if it hurts? Site rotation? Etc?

Thank you!

Click to expand...

Hello,

I inject four times daily and have been doing so for many years.

What I try to do (I'm a bit lazy so it is so easy to just role up my sleeve and bang one in to my upper arm!)

But what I try to do is upper arm, next is opposite upper arm, leg outside thigh then opposite leg outside thigh then left buttock followed by opposite. Stomach is one to the left, one to the right and one around the middle.

Also try to rotate actually in the areas your injecting such as upper left arm and lower left arm (obviously if you have enough flab this is easier. I'm rather slim!)

Buttocks are good also as you can find more than a handful of flesh around that area even when your slim.

Not sure if this helps but I hope so