Injection sites

[Deleted member 19555]

I’ve just read an article online which says you shouldn’t move sites. If you infect in your thigh for your evening injection then that’s where you should always inject in the evening. Can anyone tell me if this is correct. I know you shouldn’t inject close together but rotate sites.

 

[Paulbreen]

Hi Ditzy I never heard that before, in fact when I was injecting my diabetic nurse always encouraged me to do it in a different place every time injected
May be wrong though, could be a new finding coming from the diabetic gods on above

 

[Inka]

It’s to do with faster/slower absorption. Keeping the same body area should in theory give you more predictable absorption.

After some time though, you might find certain body areas need a rest so that their absorption isn’t impaired eg my tummy is rubbish now, so I use it sparingly and always rest it for a few months.

 

[Ljc]

It’s news to me too. I was told the same as @Paulbreen .

 

[Fagor]

Changing injection sites randomly eg at breakfast, makes spotting trends a bit more difficult, but ensure you move around the area.

I follow a strict routine for normal usage:
Breakfast QA right stomach, BI right buttock
Lunch Middle stomach
Dinner QA left stomach, BI left buttock
Not using thighs as they are much tougher than other areas, and I think they cause my BGs to rise a bit more.
But I do move aroud each area as much as possible.
And I do have trouble with lumps.

 

[trophywench]

New to me too - I have so many non absorbent bits - not least both outer thighs because Oh yes - I was told to always jab my basal in them and then in 2001 Pete bought a motorbike, cos he hankered after his yoof and his second wife didn't object so we invested in modern clothing and appropriate safety gear and once the winter weather arrived, I invested in a set of M&S thermals. So I'd put these on one morning ready to don leathers etc and go somewhere or another and now being decent - we live in a bungalow on a main road, and the bedroom is at the front, so don't open the curtains till we've made ourselves decent, so there I was in the early morning sunshine, clad in close fitting black, reflected in my glory in the wardrobe mirror when I went OMG!! because I literally had an enormous hollow in each thigh!

Very little 'padding' on either of them even though the holloes have evened out over the last 15/20 years.

DSN was horrified on my behalf and swore they don't tell people to do that these days because of what happened to me. No idea whether that's true or not but anyway PLEASE be warned why you shouldn't do it - and simply, don't if you can help it.

 

[nonethewiser]

I’ve just read an article online which says you shouldn’t move sites. If you infect in your thigh for your evening injection then that’s where you should always inject in the evening. Can anyone tell me if this is correct. I know you shouldn’t inject close together but rotate sites.

Careful what you read online.

On injections basal went in thighs bum, alternating between two. Stomach arms for boluses, rarely in bum thighs as absorption was slow.

What you read online is rubbish mate, will only result in site issues overusing area, particularly so if using large doses.

 

[Kaylz]

For me it's
Breakfast - left thigh
Dinner - right thigh
Tea - alternate sides of stomach
Basal - alternate bum cheeks
xx

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I‘ve known several HCPs who have done a lot of work to encourage proper and thorough site rotation!

I still have a build-up of fat under the skin on my abdomen from years of lazy over-use, and I’ve not used my abdomen for the best part of a decade! Site rotation is really important.

Personally I’ve found the suggestions about different speeds of absorption to be a bit overstated - particularly when compared to some of the other variables. Perhaps it has more effect for other people, but I can’t say I’ve ever noticed that much difference!

 

[Deleted member 19555]

I‘ve known several HCPs who have done a lot of work to encourage proper and thorough site rotation!

I still have a build-up of fat under the skin on my abdomen from years of lazy over-use, and I’ve not used my abdomen for the best part of a decade! Site rotation is really important.

Personally I’ve found the suggestions about different speeds of absorption to be a bit overstated - particularly when compared to some of the other variables. Perhaps it has more effect for other people, but I can’t say I’ve ever noticed that much difference!

So where do you inject then? I’ve only been doing this for ten days but the abdomen area causes discomfort already.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

So where do you inject then? I’ve only been doing this for ten days but the abdomen area causes discomfort already.

Since being on an insulin pump I have been using my sizes and back as infusion sites. I used abdomen for the first week or two, but soon switched and I’m now on my third pump - the first two I had for 4 years each.

On my last years of MDI I was using mostly thighs and buttocks for sites.

 

[trophywench]

Have to say, my midriff bulge, cos I've almost always been able to 'pinch an inch' above the waistband which has been my saviour all of my like since diagnosis. I am SO shortwaisted both my ribcage and my pelvis limit the space available it's a constant struggle. Hey ho, I manage but never bother striving against the odds these days, for brilliant control.

Yrs, Grandma Average. XXX

 

[Deleted member 19555]

Hurrah, someone else with a short waist... not good of course, but it’s good to know some else has a similar problem. But I thought above the waistband was too high up.

 

[Kaylz]

 

[silentsquirrel]

I go much higher than that diagram with midriff, and also use inner thighs at times, all with no discernable difference.
Where I inject depends on where I am (so how visible by others) and what I am wearing.

 

[helli]

I find faster absorption occurs if I inject in an area that I then exercise that area.
For example, if I injected in my thigh and then got on a bike for a cycle ride, I would be more likely to hypo than if I had injected in my abdomen.
I know some people inject their basal into their legs before they go to bed because they are not likely to move as much when asleep.

 

[rebrascora]

My basal goes into thighs or buttocks and bolus mostly in my stomach. Takes ages to get going wherever I inject though!

 

[KathC]

I was using my thighs for the basal until the DSN at the community diabetes clinic said not to as I had "slim legs" - I made her repeat that a few times 🙂

Since then I use upper tummy for bolus (Humalog) and lower tummy for basal (Abasaglar).

 

[nonethewiser]

I find faster absorption occurs if I inject in an area that I then exercise that area.

Same here, even in arms if physical after like gardening.

Rubbing injection site speeds up insulin absorption, so does heat, same technique really.

 

[rebrascora]

I tried putting my NR in my thighs and doing squats on a morning and still took over an hour and I almost always rub the injection site afterwards, so neither of those techniques worked for me.