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Is there anywhere you can't bear to inject?

Hi Faye,
No random places or marks. I've always been told to keep an eye out for this sort of thing. The doctor said he just thought the thigh area from above my knee to top of leg seemed a bit harder / chunkier - just a bit musclier really. I always try varie the areas at which i inject all over the thighs. (Untill now using the belly area)
 
I use my thighs and bum (I'm on a pump). If I use a pen for my bolus I sometimes use my arms just for a change.

When I was first diagnosed I wouldn't have been able to do my arms at all, but after all these years I don't care. I like to pinch up so, not having a third hand, I kind of squash my arm against something to replicate the pinch effect.

I don't use my tummy because the absorption is poor. But it's my least favourite place anyway. I can't bear the feel of the needle when it goes in my tummy. It makes me feel very squeamish.
 
Am I using the best / correct areas?

I used all along the top of my thigh mainly, now all within a couple of inch around my belly button. Where abouts on your arms did you inject...?

Im using 0.4mm needles (used to have 0.6)
 
Never been able to use stomach.. Have tried again recently since coming off pump and back to MDI. On stomach with 4mm needles now insulin leaks out and at other times just forms in to small lumps and then starts itching. Never get these probs ysing bum cheeks. Have tried using legs recently and they are ok too.. No probs at all. Stomach.. I have skin, but no fat... So perhaps this is reason.. Punching skin on stomach makes it even worse.

Arms are ok but are very muscly and lean and again no fat, so tend to feel injections in my arms more than if using other areas.
 
Hi Justin, Just read your thread. I use 0.4mm needles on my Insulin pen, I don't feel the needle puncture the skin. If I am going to be doing a lot of walking I inject in my thighs ( which I vary the site - in the sides and top front of thighs) however, the Insulin is absorbed much slower. Injecting insulin in your tummy is absorbed much quicker. I lightly massage the injection sites with baby lotion when sat relaxing/watching tv, this seems to prevent me from having "lumps" under the skin. I hope this is of help to you.
 
I also massage every site after an injection.
 
bonus said:
Am I using the best / correct areas?

I used all along the top of my thigh mainly, now all within a couple of inch around my belly button. Where abouts on your arms did you inject...?

Im using 0.4mm needles (used to have 0.6)
Click to expand...

On my arm I inject the outer upper arm in the same area as a doctor would give you an injection. I pinch it up but you may not have to.

On my thighs I use the top and also the outer side.
 
azure said:
On my arm I inject the outer upper arm in the same area as a doctor would give you an injection. I pinch it up but you may not have to.
On my thighs I use the top and also the outer side.
Click to expand...
Regarding injecting on your arms, do you mean the bicep area? above the elbow
 
Hi Bonus.
Yes that's the area to inject in. I hope this answers your query.
 
bonus said:
Regarding injecting on your arms, do you mean the bicep area? above the elbow
Click to expand...

Yes. If you do that corny bicep flexing thing like Popeye does, it's the lower/outer bit of your arm. The bit above your elbow bone
 
Ill have ago when i man up to it lol. I just know im going to stick the needle right into my bicep or tricep muscle! and scream.
 
I pinch up so haven't caught a muscle (yet!) If you pinch, it may help if you get a willing friend to pinch up for you as that's easier than what I do - squashing my arm against a table or similar to replicate the pinch up effect!

I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to needles and I don't think the arm hurts Like any place, occasionally you'll get a sensitive spot, but if you choose well it should be ok. Practice makes perfect
 
bonus said:
Regarding injecting on your arms, do you mean the bicep area? above the elbow
Click to expand...


There's a diagram in the following showing where you should inject insulin:

http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7261

If you raise the arm up that you are going to inject into and come in underneath with your pen hand it makes it much more easy to inject, but like all injection sites just be sure to rotate otherwise you end up poor insulin absorption in those areas.
 


That link doesn't work for me, is it opening for others?
 
bonus said:
That link doesn't work for me, is it opening for others?
Click to expand...


Hi @bonus, apologies that the link isn't working, just go to Google images and type in Insulin Injection Sites.
 
noblehead said:
If you raise the arm up that you are going to inject into and come in underneath with your pen hand it makes it much more easy to inject, but like all injection sites just be sure to rotate otherwise you end up poor insulin absorption in those areas.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to try that! I used to always use a cushion to get the 'pinch' like @azure but I don't bother since having the 0.4mm needles.

I also used to have a real phobia about injecting into my tummy, even though I'd heard people saying it was the easiest and least painful. Can't remember what made me try it but I use it loads now! I try to rotate around arm, leg, bum and tummy.
 
Personally I don't pinch the skin @BeccyB and haven't done since using the small pen needles, but I've found it to be the easiest way of injecting in the arms.
 
I have always injected :
Fast: stomach (within the smile shape hip to hip)

Slow: outer thigh

I found if I inject I the front of my thigh as soon as I take the needle out its like s water gun of blood ! Lol many paint jobs done on my side of the bed


x L x
 
Hi I recently started injecting at night, just nice a day at the moment. Last night after I injected it felt quite painful and this morning I have a fair sized bruise? Help? Should I be worried, have I done something wrong?
 
You've hit a small blood vessel. It probably happens to us all every now and then. Don't be too concerned unless it becomes a regular occurrence.
 
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