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Rotating sites for injection

R

RN25

Active Member
Messages
34
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi, when I started on insulin I was put on mixed insulin injected twice a day and told to rotate between 4 'quarters' of my stomach and each outer thigh. I'm now on basal bolus so minimum 5 injections a day. How do you rotate injections sites when injecting so often?

Thanks,
Rachael
 
RN25 said:
Hi, when I started on insulin I was put on mixed insulin injected twice a day and told to rotate between 4 'quarters' of my stomach and each outer thigh. I'm now on basal bolus so minimum 5 injections a day. How do you rotate injections sites when injecting so often?

Thanks,
Rachael
Click to expand...
Rotating just means moving an inch or two at minimum from the previous site.
There are even cardboard templates with holes you can hold over your stomach or thigh to guide you.

I'm more the type of the wild rotations: stick the needle anywhere I can't remember injecting lately.

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I do the wild rotations too but lately it's about trying to find somewhere that isn't bruised or red from previous injections (especially my thighs which tend to be bruised, veiny and lumpy anyway).
Is it normal to have red patches from the insulin? I fear my body is reacting to it a bit. I do tend to be sensitive.
 
RN25 said:
I do the wild rotations too but lately it's about trying to find somewhere that isn't bruised or red from previous injections (especially my thighs which tend to be bruised, veiny and lumpy anyway).
Is it normal to have red patches from the insulin? I fear my body is reacting to it a bit. I do tend to be sensitive.
Click to expand...
It is possible to be allergic to specific insulins.
Bruising sounds more like the cause is due to your specific body type though.

The long acting insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo, Abasaglar) is known for stinging, as is the quick acting Lyumjev. I've noticed slight stinging with Levemir as well, but not with any other insulins I've used.

Personally, I hate injecting in my thighs, so I don't. More than enough rooms on my belly and arms.
The occasional bruise is normal but being red or bruised from injections everywhere isn't usual.
 
RN25 said:
Is it normal to have red patches from the insulin? I fear my body is reacting to it a bit. I do tend to be sensitive.
Click to expand...
I get an occasional mark but my lipohypertrophy was caused by not changing my needles often enough and overusing a particular location on my stomach during a pregnancy.

In your position, I'd talk to my clinic or DN to see if it's an insulin issue or a technique issue.
 
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