Tresiba injection sites variation in Bgs

[Pat91]

Hi all, bit of a confusing title but didn't know how to word it, I have noticed that if I take my 19units of tresiba in my thigh,my blood glucose will sit higher/creep up throughout the next day compared to when I inject the same amount of units into my abdomen. Anyone else notice variations in blood readings dependant on injection sites ? Cheers

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Different sites have different absorbency rates. We were told that bum is slowest, then thighs then stomach. Generally the advice (for kids anyway) is to do basal in the bum and leave the belly and thighs (and arms) for bolus. If you can’t do the basal in the bum then thighs are preferable to stomach. If you’re consistent with the site then you may be able to get the tresiba to act in a more consistent way. Don’t forget tresiba covers longer than 24 hours so moving between different parts of the body may mean you have differences because of that.

The general advice is just general though do whatever works for you.

 

[helli]

Given the longevity of Tresiba, are you certain after one day that your site is the only thing that has changed?
With one day, I would be considering whether I was going down with something or had a bad night's sleep or a stressful day or did less exercise.
Diabetes does not behave the same every day even if you eat the same thing and I ject the same insulin.
Whilst different sites can affect the absorption rates, I had no read they affect the potency of the insulin If you want to change your basal site permanently, try it for more consecutive days in your thigh and, if you find you need more insulin, increase your dose after 4 days.

 

[Pat91]

Given the longevity of Tresiba, are you certain after one day that your site is the only thing that has changed?
With one day, I would be considering whether I was going down with something or had a bad night's sleep or a stressful day or did less exercise.
Diabetes does not behave the same every day even if you eat the same thing and I ject the same insulin.
Whilst different sites can affect the absorption rates, I had no read they affect the potency of the insulin If you want to change your basal site permanently, try it for more consecutive days in your thigh and, if you find you need more insulin, increase your dose after 4 days.

Great advice thank you.

 

[rebrascora]

I now inject my basal into my buttocks and I split the dose 11 units into each cheek just because I don't want to put what I consider a large dose into one site. Then I alternate thighs with my evening dose if I need evening basal and I keep my abdomen for bolus insulin only because it usually absorbs and starts working quicker in the abdomen.
@helli has explained it well as regards the different things which might be impacting your BG levels rather than it being the site you inject the Tresiba and with it being a very long acting insulin, the site is unlikely to have any impact at all, as it releases so very slowly anyway.

 

[Pat91]

Do you guys always inject basal in the same area? For example always in the thigh or always in the buttock ?

 

[rebrascora]

Do you guys always inject basal in the same area? For example always in the thigh or always in the buttock ?

I certainly do because I want to keep my stomach for my bolus insulin, a) because it is quicker to absorb and b) because it is usually relatively easily accessible and c) because the slower absorbing sites in thighs and buttocks are probably more suited to basal.

When I was first diagnosed I injected all my insulin into my stomach as that was what I was shown to do, but I gained the confidence to try other sites from people on this forum and I really like my current regime because I inject my basal before I get out of bed and it is a simple matter to jab it in my bot whilst I am lying down and then it is done for the day. Evening dose in the thigh just means one buttock isn't getting more than the other on a daily basis and I alternate thighs from one evening to the next.
This regime just works really well for me and evens out the sites so one site isn't being used significantly more than the others so less chance of lumps developing hopefully.

 

[Pat91]

Ok brilliant, think I will try the thigh again for a few days and see how I get on. Thanks again.

 

[Bloden]

Do you guys always inject basal in the same area? For example always in the thigh or always in the buttock ?

I always jab Tresiba in my thighs, never in the abdomen (I’ve never tried the buttock). 🙂

 

[Lucyr]

No I vary the site as injecting into the same place repeatedly can cause problems with absorption. I generally use legs and bum for lantus and arms and stomach for apidra and ozempic.