Overview:
For people with diabetes, insulin needs to be utilized to control the stability of blood sugar. Most of the time, insulin is able to provide good control, but there are occasional deviations.
The site of insulin injection and the rate of absorption are the elements that diabetic patients need to focus on when using insulin, because different injection sites and rates of absorption can directly affect the effectiveness of blood glucose control.
Injection sites for insulin:
There are four injection sites for insulin: abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and arms;
Insulin is absorbed at the rate of abdomen > upper arm > outer thigh > buttocks.
1. Abdomen:
Location: 5 cm beyond the area around the navel (avoid close to the navel). Fastest absorption, suitable for fast-acting or short-acting insulin. Note: Avoid injecting in the area where there is more friction from belts or clothes.
2. Lateral thigh:
Location: upper 1/3 area of the anterior lateral thigh. Slower absorption, suitable for intermediate or long-acting insulin. Caution: Avoid close to the knee joint and inner thigh.
3. Lateral upper arm:
Location: Lateral region of the upper arm below the deltoid muscle. Medium absorption rate, suitable for intermediate or long-acting insulin. Cautions: may need the help of others to inject, it may not be convenient to operate by yourself.
4. Hip:
Location: outer upper region of the buttocks. Slowest absorption, suitable for long-acting insulin. Cautions: suitable for situations where slow absorption is required.
Factors affecting the rate of absorption:
1. Injection site:
Absorption is fastest in the abdomen, slowest in the buttocks, and in between in the thighs and upper arms.
2. type of insulin:
Rapid-acting insulin: fast-acting, suitable for abdominal injection.
Short-acting insulin: slightly slower onset of action, suitable for abdominal or upper arm injection.
Intermediate-acting insulin: slower acting, suitable for thigh or hip injections.
Long-acting insulin: slower acting, suitable for thigh or buttock injection.
3. Injection depth:
Subcutaneous injection is the standard way. If injected into the muscle layer, absorption will be accelerated and may lead to hypoglycemia.
4. Local blood circulation:
Absorption is faster in areas with higher blood circulation (e.g. abdomen).
Exercise or massage of the injection site will speed up absorption.
5. Temperature:
Higher temperatures (e.g. hot baths) will speed up absorption, while lower temperatures will slow down absorption.
6. Individual differences:
The fat distribution, skin thickness and metabolic rate of different patients will affect the rate of absorption.
How to determine the rate of absorption:
1. blood glucose monitoring:
The rate of absorption and effectiveness of insulin can be determined by regularly monitoring blood glucose changes after injection.
Fast-acting insulin should take effect within 15-30 minutes after injection, and short-acting insulin within 30-60 minutes.
2. Observe the hypoglycemic reaction:
If the blood glucose drops too fast after injection, the absorption rate may be too fast or the dose is too large.
3. Record the injection site:
Record the site and time of each injection to observe the absorption effect at different sites.
4. Consult your doctor or diabetes educator:
Consult a professional if you notice erratic absorption or poor blood glucose control.
Injection site rotation:
To avoid localized fatty growth or hardening that could interfere with insulin absorption, regular rotation of injection sites is recommended:
Small-scale rotation: within the same site, at least 1 cm between each injection.
Large-scale rotation: rotate between different sites, e.g. inject the abdomen today and the thighs tomorrow.
Precautions for insulin:
1. Avoid repeated injections in the same area: prolonged injections in the same area may lead to fat proliferation and affect absorption.
2. Check the skin before injection: Avoid injecting in hardened, red, swollen or infected areas.
3. Follow the doctor's advice: choose the appropriate injection site according to the type of insulin and personal situation.
By choosing the injection site reasonably and understanding the factors affecting the absorption rate, you can control your blood sugar better and reduce the risk of complications. If in doubt, it is advisable to consult a medical professional or diabetes care team.
The information is from the Internet and is for reference only.