Where to inject insulin

The human body's insulin is mainly secreted inside the pancreas. For diabetic patients, because there is a problem with the pancreas and it cannot secrete insulin normally, exogenous insulin is needed for treatment. Insulin is mainly injected into the abdomen. Because the abdomen has relatively more fat and less nerve tissue, it causes relatively few discomfort reactions.

Insulin Instructions

1. Which parts of the human body are suitable for insulin injection?

Suitable areas of the human body for insulin injection are the abdomen, outer thighs, outer upper arms, and outer upper arms.

In the abdomen, avoid injecting into a circular area with a radius of 2.5 cm centered on the umbilicus. The closer you get to the sides of your waist, the thinner the subcutaneous tissue becomes, making it easier to get an intramuscular injection. Insulin should be injected into the subcutaneous fat layer. If it reaches the muscle layer, it may cause hypoglycemia because muscles absorb insulin quickly.

When injecting into the buttocks, the upper outer part of the buttocks should be selected. For thigh injections, choose the upper outer side rather than the area near the knee. Injections in the upper arm can be made in the lateral or posterior areas, where the subcutaneous tissue is thicker and the risk of intramuscular injection is lower.

2. Absorption speed: abdomen > upper arms > thighs and buttocks.

For better absorption of insulin, choosing the best injection site is critical. Different parts of the body absorb insulin at different rates. Generally speaking, diabetics prefer the abdomen as the injection site. Not only because the abdomen absorbs faster, but also because the subcutaneous fat in the abdomen is thicker and evenly distributed, making it less easy to inject into the muscle layer. The abdomen also absorbs insulin evenly and the effect is better.

The commonly mentioned upper arm injection site mainly refers to the outer 1/4 of the upper arm. Although the absorption rate is fast, the subcutaneous tissue is thin and it is easy to inject into the muscle layer.

The absorption rate in the thighs and buttocks is similar, both are slower. Among them, injections on the front and outer sides of the thigh are not suitable for thin diabetics, but the subcutaneous tissue of the buttocks is thick, and injections on the buttocks can better control fasting blood sugar.

3. The injection site depends on blood sugar and insulin type

Diabetic patients with higher blood sugar levels, especially those with blood sugar levels exceeding 11.1mmol/L, should choose areas with fast absorption for injection, such as the abdomen. In addition, abdominal injection is also suitable for diabetics who use short-acting insulin and medium- and short-acting insulin together.

Long-acting insulin generally has no site restrictions. In order to distinguish it from the commonly used site of short-acting insulin (abdomen), it can be injected into the buttocks. In addition, buttocks injection is suitable for medium- and long-acting insulin, especially for diabetics who inject medium-acting insulin and hope that the effect will last longer, they can also inject into the buttocks.

Experts remind that human skin is first epidermis, then dermis, then subcutaneous tissue, and then muscle, and insulin needs to be injected into the subcutaneous layer. The muscle layer is rich in blood vessels, and insulin absorption is too rapid, which can easily cause hypoglycemia. Therefore, it is best to use ultra-fine and ultra-short needles in the arms and thighs, which are two places where muscles are easily injected.

4. When should I change the injection site?

Local nodules and subcutaneous fat hyperplasia after insulin injection are common complications of insulin therapy, and rotation of injection sites can effectively prevent this complication. This rotation includes rotation between different injection sites and rotation within the same injection site. If subcutaneous fat hyperplasia, inflammation or infection is found at the injection site, the injection site should be changed.