Where is insulin injected

Diabetes is normally managed with diet and exercise, with medications, including insulin, added as needed. If you have type 1 diabetes, injecting insulin is required for life. This may seem difficult at first, but you can learn to successfully administer insulin with the support of your healthcare team, determination, and a little practice. Insulin syringes come in multiple sizes to deliver different doses of insulin.

We explain what insulin sizes mean, how to choose the correct size for…. People with type 2 diabetes may not produce enough, or any, insulin. They often benefit from taking long-acting insulin, which mimics the action of….

When a medication is injected directly into muscle, it is called an intramuscular injection IM. The Z-track method of IM is used to prevent tracking…. An intramuscular injection is a technique used to deliver a medication deep into the muscles. This allows the medication to be absorbed quickly.

The risk factors for type 2 diabetes are complex and range from genetic to environmental to lifestyle choices. Learn more. My diagnosis was a wake-up call. It was time to take care of my health. Learn more about its symptoms, causes, and treatment. I learned that the best type 2 diabetes diet is the one that works for you. Members of the T2D Healthline community understand well how managing diabetes can feel overwhelming.

These 6 tips can help make it easier. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Type 2 Diabetes. Insulin pens Insulin syringes. Looking for Where to get medical help A health professional or service Patient portals Newsletters View all. Insulin injection sites Print A A A. Insulin should only be injected into the fatty layer under your skin. Instead move within the area being used. To administer an injection here, draw an imaginary line across the top of the buttocks between the hips.

Place the needle above this line but below the waist, about halfway between the spine and the side. As with the upper arm, this site is very difficult to use for self-injection and may require another person for administration. When injecting into the buttocks, avoid the lower part. The body absorbs insulin at different speeds from each of the sites.

This information can be useful when planning insulin injections:. Inject long-acting and intermediate-acting insulin into the other sites, as rapid absorption would reduce the effectiveness of these types. 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. If planning a workout or physical activity, account for these when planning injections. For example, a baseball pitcher should avoid injecting into their throwing arm. The physical activity can affect the absorption of insulin into the body. Wait to for at least 45 minutes after the injection to exercise a part of the body that is near the injection site.

Avoid injecting into the same site over and over. This can irritate the skin and underlying fatty tissue. If this happens, it may increase discomfort and cause other complications.

Puncturing the same point every time can lead to hard lumps or fatty deposits developing. When rotating injections, move around within the area to ensure that the injection does not always take place in exactly the same spot. For example, when taking a night time dose of long-acting insulin, a person might always feel more comfortable injecting it into the thigh. However, they should switch between the right and left thigh each night.

Only your doctor can determine what the right insulin schedule is for you. DO: Know the warning signs of an insulin reaction. Low blood sugar can come on very quickly and symptoms may include dizziness, shakiness, sweating, and rapid heartbeat. Work with your doctor to develop an action plan in case an insulin reaction occurs.

High blood sugar hyperglycemia can also occur. Symptoms include increased thirst and urination, large amounts of sugar in the blood, weakness, labored breathing, nausea, and vomiting. Any time you suspect high blood sugar, call your doctor. DO: Be prepared.