Diagram of insulin injection position for pregnant women

Injecting insulin glargine is a "skill" that diabetic patients should master. In addition to the injection site, the selection of the injection site is also very important, because the appropriate injection site can not only reduce the risk of injection, but also facilitate the absorption of insulin glargine. Pregnant women need to be more cautious when injecting insulin glargine. Let’s discuss the detailed instructions for pregnant women to inject insulin below.

Where is the injection site for insulin glargine during pregnancy?

Preferred location: Abdomen

Because the fat in the abdomen is relatively thick, the risk of injection into the muscle layer can be reduced. It is easiest to pinch the abdominal skin with the index finger and thumb. It is also the location where insulin is absorbed faster. The injection should be made 3 to 4 fingers away from both sides of the navel. The thicker the injection, the thinner the subcutaneous layer on both sides of the human body, and the easier it is to pierce the muscle layer. This location is best suited for injecting short-acting insulin or insulin glargine mixed with an intermediate-effect filter.

In addition, the inner thighs, one-quarter of the arms, and the buttocks are also suitable locations for injecting insulin glargine.

Inner thigh: Injection can only be performed from the front or outside of the thigh. The inner side has more blood vessels and nerves and is not suitable for injection. When injecting at the base of the thigh, be sure to pinch the skin with your index finger and thumb or use an extremely thin and shorter (5mm) pen needle.

One quarter of both sides of the arm: This is the most unsuitable place for self-injection, because the subcutaneous tissue of the arm is thinner and it is easy to inject into the muscle layer: When injecting yourself, you cannot pinch the skin with your index finger and thumb. When it is necessary to inject the arm, it is recommended to use an extremely thin and shorter pen needle (5mm) or have medical staff or relatives help with the injection.

Buttocks: The buttocks is suitable for injecting medium- and long-acting insulin (such as medium-acting insulin injected before bedtime), because the subcutaneous layer of the buttocks is relatively thick, and the absorption rate of glargine insulin is relatively slow, which can better control fasting blood sugar. At the same time, there is no need to pinch the skin with the index finger and thumb, and there is no risk of intramuscular injection.