Diabetic Living magazine | Diabetes & bruising

Ban the bruise!

Do you ever get bruises at your insulin injection sites? Here are some of the common causes of bruises – plus tips for avoiding them – from Diabetic Living endocrinologist Dr Sultan Linjawi - by Dr Sultan Linjawi

Cause #1

Blunt needles: Avoid by using a new pen needle or syringe for every injection.

Cause #2

Wrong needle size: Always choose carefully. Insulin should be injected into the subcutaneous layer of fat just under your skin. A needle that is too long can inject into the muscle. On the other hand, using a needle that’s too short will sting, as the insulin could be injected into the skin rather than under it.

Cause #3

Injecting a large dose of insulin: If this is causing your bruising, your doctor or educator may recommend splitting your insulin dose into two smaller injections.

Cause #4

Not rotating injection sites: Give your skin a chance to heal by changing sites every few days.

Cause #5

Incorrect technique: The ideal technique for injecting insulin is to swab the area, pinch the skin upwards, inject at a 90-degree angle (or 45 degrees if you have low body fat), depress the plunger slowly, count to 10, remove the needle and press firmly on the injection site for a few moments. If you do see blood after injecting, place your finger on the spot fairly firmly for at least a minute to limit the spread of the bruise.