Best insulin injection sites: Absorption time and rotation

Date: Mar-29-2017 Insulin is a hormone that helps manage diabetes when it is injected into the body.

It can't be taken as a pill or oral medication. This is because the enzymes in the stomach will break down the insulin before it reaches the bloodstream.

Insulin injections are one of many ways to treat and manage diabetes. Others include dietary and lifestyle changes, and oral medications.

For people who require insulin injections, there are different types of insulin available. It is important to understand and follow the instructions that the doctor provides about how and where to inject insulin.

Contents of this article:

Common injection sites

Insulin absorption

Rotating injection sites

Monitoring blood sugar levels

Common injection sites

The insulin must be injected into 1-2 inches of pinched skin.

Insulin is injected into the layer of fat directly under this skin, known as subcutaneous tissue.

It is injected with a small needle or a device that looks like a pen. There are several different sites where insulin can be injected, including:

Abdomen

The abdomen is a common site for insulin injection that many people with diabetes choose to use.

To give an injection into the abdomen, take a pinch of the fatty tissue from either side between the waist and the hipbones. It should be about 2 inches away from the belly button.

This site is easy to access and some people report that it causes less discomfort than other sites.

Upper Arms

The upper arm is another site where insulin injections can be given.

The needle should be placed into the back of the arm (tricep area), about halfway between the elbow and the shoulder.

The main disadvantage of this site is that it is very difficult to use for self-administration and may require somebody else to do it. It may be more comfortable to inject into the non-dominant arm.

This means injecting into the left arm of a right-handed person or the right arm of a left-handed person.

Thighs

The thigh is also a very easy area for self-injection.

When using the thigh, insert the needle into the front of the thigh, halfway between the knee and the hip. It should be slightly off-center towards the outside of the leg.

It is important to inject the medicine into a pinch of at least 1-2 inches of skin.

Though easy to access, regular injection of the thigh can sometimes cause discomfort when walking or running.

Lower back or hips

The final place that an insulin injection can be administered is the lower back or hip.

To administer an injection here, draw an imaginary line across the top of the buttocks between the hips.

The needle should be placed above this line but below the waist, about halfway between the spine and the side.

Like the upper arm, this site is very difficult to use for self-injection.

Insulin absorption

The speed of insulin absorption depends on the location of the injection - in the upper arms, abdomen, lower back, or thighs.

Insulin is absorbed differently from each of the different sites. This information can be used when planning insulin injections:

Abdomen: insulin enters the bloodstream most quickly.

Upper arms: moderate absorption speed but not as fast as the abdomen.

Lower back and thighs: slowest absorption speed.

It is best to administer rapid-acting insulin into the abdomen right after a meal. This is because it will be absorbed the quickest from here.

Long-acting and intermediate acting insulin can be administered into the other sites, like the arms, thighs, or hips.

The insulin works more efficiently over the entire time it needs to because of the slower absorption rate.

Exercise can increase the absorption rate of insulin and should also be considered when planning injections.

For example, a baseball pitcher should avoid injecting into their throwing arm. This is because the activity can affect how the insulin is absorbed into the body.

If planning to exercise a part of the body that is near the injection site, it is important to wait to for at least 45 minutes after the injection.

Rotating injection sites

It is important to avoid injecting into the same site over and over again.

This can irritate the skin and underlying fatty tissue. If this happens it may increase discomfort and cause other complications.

A doctor can best advise on site rotation, for example rotating between the right and left thigh at night.

Consistently injecting into the same site can lead to hard lumps or fatty deposits developing under the skin. This can be uncomfortable and even affect absorption of the medication.

When rotating injections, the shot at each time of day should be given at the same site. However, it is important to move around within the site to ensure that the injection isn't always in exactly the same spot.

For example, when taking a nighttime dose of long-acting insulin, a person always injects it into his or her thigh. However, they switch between the right thigh and the left thigh each night.

If a person always administers a morning dose of rapid-acting insulin into their abdomen, they should alternate around the different areas of the abdomen, so they do not inject into the same site.

Monitoring blood sugar levels

It is important to ask the doctor any questions about insulin injection, site selection and rotation, and other injection techniques.

In addition, people with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar routinely, as the doctor will advise.

It is important to keep track of blood sugar levels in a diary or note book so they can be shared with the doctor. Unusual values should be shared promptly, so insulin dosage can be adjusted as needed.

Written by Nicole Galan

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.