Where should I inject insulin?

Q. Where should I inject insulin?

A. Always inject insulin into fat rather than muscle. Good injection sites are the belly, buttocks, top and outer thighs, and the back of your upper arms. Because injecting the same spot repeatedly can cause a buildup of fat that will look lumpy under your skin, it’s a good idea to move the site of injection within your chosen area—making each site about an inch away from the others.

Insulin can be absorbed differently in different parts of the body, so it’s easier to track your body’s reaction if you inject in the same general region throughout the day. If you choose your belly, for example, keep the shots at least two inches from your navel, because the tissue surrounding the navel is less fatty. Also, don’t inject near moles or scars. Tissue under a scar is often thicker and may hinder insulin absorption.

If you have a hard time remembering where you’ve recently injected, draw a picture of the body part you’ve chosen, and mark spots for injections about one inch apart. Then, check off each spot as you inject it, and move on to the next. When you’ve injected all the spots on your drawing, you can safely begin again at the first spot