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Insulin injection times

E

e.mcgovern1

Member
Messages
15
Location
redcar
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
When injecting insulin is it best to inject before or after a meal? Also when injecting into a thigh can the injection be carried out on top of the thigh as well as the outside of the thigh? What other places besides the finger tips can blood be taken for use eith the blood glucose meters? Look forward to hearing from you.
Mike
 
Hi Mike,
Insulin should nearly always be taken BEFORE a meal as otherwise you will end up high afterwards. Depending on the type of food you are eating it can even be taken it up to ten minutes before the meal. Taking insulin before the meal allows the absorption of the insulin to match the absorption of the food as best as possible. However, if you are eating very low gi (slow releasing) or very fatty foods(as fat delays the absorption of carbohydrate) then it is best to take the insulin immediately after the food.
I inject in both thighs. I use the sides of the tops of my thighs as well as the sides. My endocrinologist says that this is fine.
Blood can be taken from places other than the finger tips but whether you can do this depends on the meter you are using. Not all of them allow for this. I use the Abbott Freestyle Lite meter and this is one of the only meters that allows blood to be taken from several places at nearly any time of day.It is available free from their website. The places it allows are thighs, calves,forearms,upper arm and palms. The only time the finger tips must be used are when you feel hypo. This is because blood from the finger tips is the most accurate. You will need to use the clear cap that comes with your pricker for testing from alternative sites. Check the instructions on your meter to see if it allows alternative site testing.
Hope this helps.
 
e.mcgovern1 said:
Also when injecting into a thigh can the injection be carried out on top of the thigh as well as the outside of the thigh? What other places besides the finger tips can blood be taken for use eith the blood glucose meters? Look forward to hearing from you.
Mike
Click to expand...


Mike, there's a useful diagram on the following link which shows you where to inject insulin:

http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx ... 01&id=7261


Make sure you use the side of the fingertips when testing bg, you can test elsewhere if there is a problem and this is called AST (alternative site testing) but you must discuss this with your diabetes team first.
 
Just a note to add to glucosegirls post.
Though more recent mealtime (rapid) insulins and mixes are taken immediately before eating some older insulns need to be take a bit earlier.
What sort of insulin are you using?
 
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