Hello, I am Ty Mason of thediabetescouncil.com, researcher, writer and I have type 2 diabetes.
I want to emphasize that my perspective is coming from one with Type 2 and not Type 1.
Our channel is primarily for those with Type 2 Diabetes and PreDiabetes.
Today I want to answer the question Does it hurt to inject insulin every day?
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This is a great question.
And anyone who tells you that it doesn’t hurt, well, I wouldn’t put too much stock
in anything else they say.
That being said, it is not the same “hurt” as other injections.
You do actually get used to it and it still hurts, but doesn’t really bother you as
much.
But the good news is that it is getting less painful.
There are different ways to take insulin, including syringes, insulin pens, insulin
pumps, and jet injectors.
Your doctor will help you decide which technique is best for you.
Syringes remain a common method of insulin delivery.
They’re the least expensive option, and most insurance companies cover them.
Syringes Syringes vary by the amount of insulin they
hold and the size of the needle.
They’re made of plastic and should be discarded after one use.
Traditionally, needles used in insulin therapy were 12.7 millimeters (mm) in length.
Recent research shows that smaller 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm needles are just as effective,
regardless of body mass.
This means insulin injection is less painful than it was in the past.
I personally use an insulin pin with a very small needle.
I also have Parkinson’s Disease so drawing insulin into a syringe was pretty difficult
for me to do.
Where to inject insulin Insulin is injected subcutaneously, which
means into the fat layer under the skin.
In this type of injection, a short needle is used to inject insulin into the fatty layer
between the skin and the muscle.
Insulin should be injected into the fatty tissue just below your skin.
If you inject the insulin deeper into your muscle, your body will absorb it too quickly,
it might not last as long, and the injection is usually more painful.
This can lead to low blood glucose levels.
People who take insulin daily should rotate their injection sites.
This is important because using the same spot over time can cause lipodystrophy.
In this condition, fat either breaks down or builds up under the skin, causing lumps
or indentations that interfere with insulin absorption.
You can rotate to different areas of your abdomen, keeping injection sites about an
inch apart.
Or you can inject insulin into other parts of your body, including your thigh, arm, and
buttocks.
Abdomen The preferred site for insulin injection is
your abdomen.
Insulin is absorbed more quickly and predictably there, and this part of your body is also
easy to reach.
Select a site between the bottom of your ribs and your pubic area, steering clear of the
2-inch area surrounding your navel.
Does it hurt?
Heck yes it hurts!
But the benefits far outweigh the discomfort , I promise.
Don’t forget to get my new ebook and please, subscribe to our channel for many more videos
like this one in the future.
Thanks for watching.
I am Ty Mason.