[cakaeroryrere]

i know there are few type 2 diabetes in this forum, how many of you take insulin, and where do you take the shot? i finally gave in and started taking insulin. first week went ok. then last few days, i can't find a good spot on my belly to get the needle in. last night it took my 30 min just poking around and screaming my head off 'cause i was hitting wrong spot and it hurts like female dog. i'm thinking about finding alternative sites other than my stomach area. i heard upper thigh also works, but my doc hasn't shown me that one yet.

pete

[Dreqsqse]

A family member of mine has been taking insulin for about 50 years (type 1 diabetes). She pinches a bit of the flesh of her lower abdomen (under beltline), maybe 45° off center, and jabs it in, injects, and removes all in about 15 seconds. I don't know if that can help you, but there it is. Good luck.

Edit - also, another family member uses the pump and is very happy with it.

[enfoires]

Pete, as I think you may know I am type 1 diabetes and have been taking insulin for almost 40 years. I taught my wife how to do it and it makes it much easier. I take most of my shots in the arms or butt. When I give my own shots I do it in the arm (sounds hard but isn't so bad once you get used to it). I used to do it in the upper legs but it started giving me problems. I have never liked shots in the stomach. We can discuss it at practice next week if you want.

[mitiaycatq]

While I don't take insulin, I have had to give myself shots for anti-coagulants after knee surgeries, first time 25 shots, second time 10 shots. No fun at all, but it depends on where in the abdominal area you're injecting. Sometimes it hurt like hell, other times I hardly knew it was in, then of course there were the times I missed the mark I had picked.

My mother has to take insulin at least twice a day. Depending on if she's out somewhere or at home, she'll inject either in the abdomen or on the outside of her upper thigh close to the hip.

Bullet, I hope that you're able to find a place that doesn't hurt quite as much as the abdomen. The consequences of not taking it are pretty grave, so I wish you the best.

[Siffidiolla]

You might find this picture helpful. The reason the abdomen is preferred is because the abdominal muscular activity is relatively constant from day to day, thus less variation of insulin absorption. If you are going to be doing kendo on certain days of the weeks I would stay away from the leg or thigh on those days and it slightly increases the risk of hypoglycemia.

If you are using non-peaking basal insulin (Lantus or Levemir in the US) it is less important. Remember to check your BG before exercise and I generally recommend hourly during the course of intense exercise.

Good luck.

Steven Roosevelt, MD
(Endocrinologist)

[gechaheritt]

You might find this picture helpful. The reason the abdomen is preferred is because the abdominal muscular activity is relatively constant from day to day, thus less variation of insulin absorption. If you are going to be doing kendo on certain days of the weeks I would stay away from the leg or thigh on those days and it slightly increases the risk of hypoglycemia.

If you are using non-peaking basal insulin (Lantus or Levemir in the US) it is less important. Remember to check your BG before exercise and I generally recommend hourly during the course of intense exercise.

Good luck.

Steven Roosevelt, MD
(Endocrinologist)

Completely off topic, but I love how there always is some expert on every topic on these forums who helps out.