Insulin injection in inner thigh?

Specialties School

Published

Have any of you heard of giving insulin in the upper area of the inner thigh?? I have a student who recently switched sites from the abdomen to this area. I have never heard of it but I did find a study published in 2016 where it seemed feasible. Thoughts please?

Can the upper inner side of the thigh become a new option for insulin injection? - PubMed - NCBI

Ouch!!

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I learned a new thing. And apparently the injection to the inner thigh was perceived to hurt less than the outer thigh.

I suspect as long as the student is adequately rotating sites so no one site gets resistant....it's OK?

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I don't think it matters where as long as it's subcutaneous, eh?

I called and spoke w/ her Dr and he stated it is fine as long as there is subcutaneous tissue there. I feel better. :) Although, throughout my day i've continued seeking out info and have read to not give in the inner thigh due to high amt of blood vessels and nerves (Tips for Injecting Insulin | Joslin Diabetes Center). YiKeS!

Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

In the prison system we teach the offenders any where there is fat deposits. I had a guy whose knees were fat...yes he injected there says it was better than the back of his arms and tummy. Had another man who liked to inject in his neck area...yuk, tried multiple times to stop him but he always injected into the fatty tissue he was morbid obese (450 pounds) I think anywhere would have been fine.

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i suppose it would be fine - but sensitive! My only thought is that most of my T1D kids do not have very meaty thighs to begin with - if they dropped their cell phones while sitting on the throne, it'd go for a swim - so it's think it's probably a pretty unpopular not terribly fleshy choice.

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