Places to inject

[Christoper whyte]

I was told by my diabetic nurse that the best places to inject is stomach and thighs is there anywhere else you can inject

 

[Northerner]

It depends where you have the flesh I'd say, Christopher 🙂 As a runner, I have no fat on my thighs, so it is painful for me to inject there (tried it once, painful and big bruise, never again 😱), but many people find it fine. I mostly inject in my bum (no need to 'pinch up', just stick it in), or tummy when out and about. Some people use their upper arms, but I find it impossible. The main thing is to rotate your sites so you are giving each site time to heal between jabs 🙂 Something else to bear in mind is that absorption can vary for different sites, so faster for tummy than buttocks 🙂

Here's a chart of theoretically available injection sites:

 

[Mini-Vicki]

I use upper arms and tummy mostly, and bum sometimes, although I mostly put my Lantus here as Lantus stings, and I find it hurts less in this area!
I don't use my thighs, as there's not much fat there, and as Northener said, it hurts!

 

[Christoper whyte]

I will have to try this with the lantus cause i have found that lantus stings too... thanks for the pic chart its hard to know sometimes whats best

 

[Northerner]

I will have to try this with the lantus cause i have found that lantus stings too... thanks for the pic chart its hard to know sometimes whats best

The reason why lantus stings a bit is because it is slightly acidic. The way it works is that it reacts with the ph of the skin to form little crystals which then release their insulin gradually as they dissolve. (I always find that understanding why something happens helps! 🙂) Levemir, the other most popular basal works in quite a different way, so tends to sting less 🙂 The following link explains the difference more fully:

https://www.diabeteshealth.com/lantus-and-levemir-whats-the-difference/

 

[trophywench]

That's possibly why the first choice of basal insulin for new Type 1s is now twice a day Levemir!

 

[AlisonM]

Thighs (front and sides) and tummy mostly, though I have used an arm occasionally. Can't do me bum or the backs of me thighs cos the arferitis won't let me bend that way.

 

[HOBIE]

I used to jump when I hit the same spot I had used earlier. Now on a pump & a lot better. Good luck 🙂