Where do you inject ?

[Mark Rawlinson]

Just coming up to a month since I started injecting and end of my first Toujeo pen. I was told to inject in lower area of abdomen to start with but now thought try upper thigh, I also was told upper arm and possibly buttocks (last 2 doesn't sound easy)
So please what is the preferred area and any reasons why please ?

 

[Zhnyaka]

I hope it helps


When injected into the abdomen, the absorption of insulin will be the fastest, so a bolus is most often inserted there. For the basal one, places with slower insulin absorption, such as the thighs or buttocks, are usually used.

In fact, inserting a needle into your shoulder or buttock is not difficult. You can reach this place with a pencil, can't you? It's the same with the syringe. Like this

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

I hope it helps
View attachment 72761

When injected into the abdomen, the absorption of insulin will be the fastest, so a bolus is most often inserted there. For the basal one, places with slower insulin absorption, such as the thighs or buttocks, are usually used.

In fact, inserting a needle into your shoulder or buttock is not difficult. You can reach this place with a pencil, can't you? It's the same with the syringe. Like this
View attachment 72762

Thank you I was told upper arm underneath sort of where the loose area is. I don't carry much fat and was told that area

 

[Ushthetaff]

Personally I don’t use arms but totally agree with others ,one of the most important things about injection sites is that you rotate them regularly , failure to do this will result in bruising and lumps , which in turn leads to poor absorption of insulin which leads to control problems. I know it’s easier sometimes to just lift the T shirt, jab and on you go but try and get into habit of leg, bum, stomach , arm or variations of all one day after other , there is plenty of area in all of those areas to make bruise , lumps and poor absorption risk totally minimal.

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

I was told upper arm underneath sort of where the loose area is. I don't carry much fat and was told that area

Personally I don’t use arms but totally agree with others ,one of the most important things about injection sites is that you rotate them regularly , failure to do this will result in bruising and lumps , which in turn leads to poor absorption of insulin which leads to control problems. I know it’s easier sometimes to just lift the T shirt, jab and on you go but try and get into habit of leg, bum, stomach , arm or variations of all one day after other , there is plenty of area in all of those areas to make bruise , lumps and poor absorption risk totally minimal.

When I say was told I mean I was told this as an alternative to abdomen

 

[Ushthetaff]

When I say was told I mean I was told this as an alternative to abdomen

I was told exactly the same and i totally agree , the reason I don’t use that area is I find it more awkward and since I’ve started dialysis I can’t inject in my fistula arm

 

[saucequery]

I hope it helps
View attachment 72761

When injected into the abdomen, the absorption of insulin will be the fastest, so a bolus is most often inserted there. For the basal one, places with slower insulin absorption, such as the thighs or buttocks, are usually used.

In fact, inserting a needle into your shoulder or buttock is not difficult. You can reach this place with a pencil, can't you? It's the same with the syringe. Like this
View attachment 72762

That's really useful - thank you!

 

[SimonP78]

tummy for bolus, thighs for basal (for many many years pre-MDI I used to inject everything in my thighs, except that I also used a pre-mix pen when out and used to stick that in my shoulder, which was both painful and quite hard to get to, but the best of a bad lot and back in those days iirc insulin was recommended to be taken intra-muscularly or sub-cutaneously - certainly no-one suggested my tummy though it was a long time ago)