The location of insulin injection cannot be in the same place, why?

The location of the insulin injection determines its effectiveness

You cannot just inject insulin in the desired part of the body. The place or location of injection will affect how insulin works in regulating blood glucose in your body.

Insulin must be injected into areas of the body that contain a lot of fat, such as the stomach, upper arms, outer thighs and buttocks. However, dr. Mohammad Pasha, Sp. PD, an internal medicine specialist (internist) from the Pertamina Central Hospital (RSPP) said that insulin will work most effectively when it is injected in the stomach.

"Studies show that the stomach has the maximum absorption of insulin because it has the most fat reserves among other parts of the body," said dr. Pasha when met by the Hello Sehat team in Barito, South Jakarta, Tuesday (13/11) ago.

Why can't I inject insulin at the same place?

The ideal insulin is injected into the stomach. However, you really shouldn't repeat the injection in the same place.

The point of location for insulin injection must be continuously changed or rotated from time to time. This is important to avoid the risk of lipodystrophy due to constantly using the same insulin injection site.

Lipodystrophy is a side effect of insulin that occurs when fat tissue is damaged, forming scar tissue in the form of lumps under the skin. These lumps can interfere with insulin absorption, which makes your body unable to control blood sugar.

Create a memorable injection pattern

The solution, dr. Pasha recommends keeping a distance of at least two fingers from the previous injection site.

For example, you start the first injection on the side of the abdomen on the right upper edge; just below the ribs. Then you can continue to shift towards the left inward until it finally crosses the width of your stomach. Then, go down the waist down to the hips and continue along the side of the lower abdomen until it returns to the right side of the belly again. Complete this route by going back up so that it forms a large rectangular pattern on your belly.

Then you can keep repeating the smaller rectangle pattern on the inside until it reaches the center of the belly. However, leave a gap of two centimeters to avoid the belly button. The navel is a scar tissue that can block insulin absorption.

Depending on how large you are, the surface area of your abdomen can accommodate about 36-72 injections, accounting for 6-12 transverse shots from right to left and six rows from top to bottom between the ribs and pelvis. Think of your stomach as a chessboard to make it easier.

After spending the "land" injection in the stomach, move to other parts of the body while still using the principle of two fingers distance. For example in the right upper arm closest to the shoulder until then moved on the left side.

Likewise on the thighs and buttocks. When injecting into the thigh, start from the front of the thigh, between the knee and the hip, then continue to shift sideways towards the outside of the leg.

Once the four areas of the body have been completed in one loop each, you may return to the stomach again.

The location of the insulin injection should not be in a muscular area

Insulin will work most efficiently to control blood glucose levels if it is injected into the fattiest parts of the body. On the other hand, the selection of this area also aims to avoid the risk of insulin being absorbed by the muscles.

"Do not inject insulin too deep into the muscle because it can cause hypoglycemia," said dr. Pasha.

Muscle tissue will process insulin too quickly so that the dose will not last long in the body. When people with diabetes do not have adequate insulin reserves, this is at risk of causing blood sugar to drop dramatically.

Hypoglycemia is one of the most common side effect risks from indiscriminate injection of insulin.