Changing Insulin Sites

For a Diabetic it is very important to always change your sites where you give your insulin.  A diabetic on the insulin pump is required to change the site every 2-3 days, but a diabetic on the insulin syringes must remember to do that on their own.

If a diabetic gives the injection of insulin into their arm and uses the same spot for weeks at a time, the spot will become swollen and the skin will turn hard and tough.  The same thing will happen with a person on the pump if they use the same spot and do not switch sites.  Instead of using the same spot over and over, try other spots like the arms, legs, stomach, and butt.  If your site does become hard and tough it will eventually return to normal if you stop using it in a few weeks to one month. The same swollen and toughness of the skin caused by syringes can also occur with diabetics on the insulin pump.  Diabetics on the insulin pump and insulin syringes should rotate sites.  

Another reason to rotate the sites is because the insulin will absorb from the body easier.  When the sites become hard and swollen the insulin does not absorb in the body as well and will cause your blood sugars to run high.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CHANGE/ROTATE YOUR INSULIN SITES!!!