Effects of Injecting Insulin into Muscles
In this post we will spotlight how injecting insulin at different body points can bring vast differences in blood sugar highs and lows.
Insulin injections are designed to be delivered subcutaneously so the drug may be swiftly absorbed into the fatty tissue under the skin, but muscle can also benefit. Metabolism is closely linked to your insulin requirements.
How is insulin routinely injected?
Insulin is injected subcutaneously, under the skin’s lipid layer. This ensures a predictable drug release, painless shots, and reduced injection site bruising.
Today’s tiny syringes and insulin infusion sets make injecting insulin easier. Most rapid-acting insulins start functioning within 10-15 minutes when injected into fatty tissue like the stomach, arms, buttocks, or legs and can last up to 4 hours.
What would cause someone to inject insulin into a muscle?
By accident or because they have little fat, someone may inject insulin into a muscle.
It’s not uncommon for people with diabetes to inject insulin directly into muscle when they’ve “run out” of other injection sites or when they want to see results from their insulin treatment more quickly.
Injecting into muscle can be unpleasant, so limit your use. Injecting insulin into muscle will speed up absorption, but it will also be digested and eliminated faster.
If you eat anything with a lot of added sugar and need your insulin to kick in faster, injecting it into muscle can help.
Is it safe to inject insulin into muscle?
While generally safe, beware of postprandial elevated blood glucose due to the insulin’s shorter tail.
It is never recommended to inject long-acting insulin into muscle since the mechanism of action for longer-acting insulins will not operate effectively if they are not put into fatty tissue. However, muscle tissue can be injected with shorter-acting insulins.
Best practices for injecting insulin
If you want your insulin to perform better with food, inject 15-20 minutes before eating.
Always use a fresh alcohol swab and a clean syringe or pen to prevent infection. People with diabetes are more susceptible to infections; therefore, this is a simple way to avoid hospitalisation.
If you want your insulin to perform better with food, inject 15-20 minutes before eating. Rotate your site and don’t overuse any one place to avoid scar tissue and insulin resistance.
What happens if you inject insulin into muscle?
If you have accidentally injected insulin into your muscle, carry plenty of low-calorie foods with you if you’re out of your home. This is because you may need to treat some unexpected hypoglycemia due to insulin activating more quickly when injected into a muscle.
Make sure to keep a close eye on your blood sugar for a few hours after injecting insulin into a muscle, because the way it works is hard to predict and may cause your blood sugar to go up and down.
What happens if you’ve used inhaled insulin?
If you often have high blood sugar or miss your meal bolus, your doctor may prescribe Afreeza, the inhalable insulin that lowers blood sugar in 12 minutes.
India Infoline writes, “Afrezza is the only USFDA-approved inhaled insulin available for patients suffering from diabetes. Under this agreement, Cipla will be responsible for obtaining regulatory approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to distribute Afrezza in India.”
It works faster than injections and hurts less than syringing a muscle.
Always consult a doctor
You should consult your doctor or endocrinologist to determine the optimal insulin injection method for you and your lifestyle.
Conclusion
Injecting insulin into muscles can be uncomfortable and cause bruises. Also, never inject long-acting insulin into muscle, as this can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels and send you on a blood glucose rollercoaster for the next 24 hours.
