Why we can't administer insulin near umbilicus?

Nurses Medications

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[h=1]What Is The Problem With Injecting Too Close to the Navel?[/h]

Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

The tissue surrounding the umbilicus (around 2 inches) is considered scar tissue from birth. Thus the absorption of medication is negligible.

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Or, alternatively, there is a group of veins near umbilicus which is directly connected with vena porta. The veins sit within these 2 inches around umbilicus, and accidental injection in any of them = insulin IV effect, with crushing hypoglycemia.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

FYI, it's not just insulin that cannot be injected too close to the navel area. It's all types of medications such as Lovenox, Forteo, etc.

The umbilicus is not the appropriate injection site for any injectable medication.

Do you know the reason why? We all learn we can't administer medication near the umbilicus, but I can't find anywhere the rationale. Thank you.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Do you know the reason why? We all learn we can't administer medication near the umbilicus, but I can't find anywhere the rationale. Thank you.
The first two different members who previously posted to this thread provided excellent rationales as to why medications cannot be administered too close to the umbilical region.
Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Homework? What does your instructor tell you?

What Is The Problem With Injecting Too Close to the Navel?

It's not homework, I'm not in school. The question was asked because like I mentioned previously, we are all taught not to, but even in nursing books an explanation is not given.

It's not homework, I'm not in school. The question was asked because like I mentioned previously, we are all taught not to, but even in nursing books an explanation is not given.

KatieMI's post above (post #2).....that was the rationale I learned in nursing school.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
It's not homework, I'm not in school. The question was asked because like I mentioned previously, we are all taught not to, but even in nursing books an explanation is not given.

Nursing books will not give you a rationale, because, it's implied that one would understand A&P, and use that as a springboard to understand landmarks for injections sites and discern what is appropriate.

They give rationales for everything else, so why not for this.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
They give rationales for everything else, so why not for this.

Why should they when one is aware of A&P?

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