Insulin may be absorbed more quickly from an exercising limb. This effect seems to vary with the timing of the injection and the type of insulin. It is therefore recommended that insulin not be injected over vigorously exercising muscles. For example, if you swim, it would be best to give the injection in the abdomen rather than the legs or arms. Some individuals with diabetes do not notice any difference in their blood sugar response to exercise when varying injection sites.

The need for rotation of insulin injection sites is absolutely vital. A diabetic person needs to do this for many reasons.

1. To reduce the pain of injections.
2. To prevent insulin resistance.
3. To prevent scare tissue build up.

Since the rotation of insulin injection sites is crucial to diabetes management we have included a diagram which shows the various insulin injection sites on the human body.

Click picture to enlarge

Nasal insulins and insulin patches are being tested at the Joslin Diabetes Center.