How to Stop Bruising at Injection Sites

Being diabetic on insulin requires injections on a daily basis. Depending on your diabetes control and your doctor's orders you can be a few shots to several a day. One thing many people notice with insulin shots is bruising at the injection sites. Use these handy steps to stop bruising at injection sites.

Things You'll Need

• New needle
• Journal or note card
• Prescribed insulin bottle

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Instructions

• 1

  The first step to avoid bruising at injection sites is new and unused needles. Don't save money on needles by re-using them several times. The needle gets dull. Bruising will result.

• 2

  Pull the syringe plunger back and push back in two times. Insert needle one time into the insulin bottle. You can slide the needle up and down but don't remove the tip from the bottle. Removing the tip and re-inserting it into the bottle will cause the needle to get dull and cause bruising at the injection site.

• 3

  Keep a journal or a note card that lists where you last gave yourself an insulin injection. It can be easy to forget, particularly if you're not taking lots of daily shorts.

• 4

  Rotate your injection spots on a regular basis. Once every three days or week is good, depending on the number of daily injections.

• 5

  Never press the needle in hard to the skin. You can slowly and gently insert the needle to stop bruising.

• 6

  Don't pinch the skin or slap the insulin injection site. Some people think this will help make the needle go in easier. This is a myth. You can stop bruising by not doing this.

• 7

  Make certain the needle is going in straight when you give yourself insulin. If possible get someone to give you a shot for your time to time to help stop bruising.