Why injection in stomach

Find out about the benefits of common insulin injection…. Is a subcutaneous injection painful? Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medications used How to do it Does it hurt?

Complications Takeaway A subcutaneous injection or shot is one into the fatty tissues just beneath the skin. Medications used in subcutaneous injections. Share on Pinterest Insulin for diabetes requires a subcutaneous injection. How to do a subcutaneous injection. Does a subcutaneous injection hurt? Share on Pinterest Using ice to numb the area before the injection may reduce discomfort. Are there any complications? Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?

Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. What is warfarin? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, PharmD. It is important to avoid inadvertently injecting the drug into muscle, as intramuscular injection can affect drug absorption; for example, inadvertent administration of insulin into the muscle can lead to accelerated insulin absorption and lead to hypoglycaemia Down and Kirkland, A lifted skinfold technique pinching or bunching the skin can be used to lift the subcutaneous layer away from the underlying muscle Down and Kirkland, Fig 3.

This method reduces the risk of inadvertent intramuscular injection when undertaken correctly; however, releasing the skin too quickly before the injection is completed or lifting it incorrectly can increase that risk Down and Kirkland, Safety needles should be used for subcutaneous injections to reduce the risk of needle- stick injury Health and Safety Executive, Some drugs such as heparin come in a pre-loaded syringe and patients prescribed insulin may use insulin delivery devices.

Needle size is measured in gauges diameter of the needle — a 25G is commonly used for subcutaneous injections Dougherty and Lister, ; Public Health England, Needle size depends on the viscosity of the liquid being injected Dougherty and Lister, Needles need to be long enough to inject the drug into the subcutaneous tissue.

They come in lengths of mm. Dougherty and Lister suggest the required needle length can be estimated by pinching the skin using the lifted skinfold technique Fig 3 and selecting a needle that is 1. There is debate around the use of alcohol-impregnated swabs to clean injection sites. The World Health Organization suggested that if a patient is physically clean and generally in good health, swabbing of the skin before injection is not required.

It is common practice to draw back on a syringe after the needle has been inserted to check whether it is in a blood vessel. This is not recommended for subcutaneous injections as this is unlikely to occur Lister et al, The WHO ; stated that gloves need not be worn for this procedure if the skin of both health worker and patient is intact.

It also notes that gloves do not protect against needlestick injury. Nurses need to assess risk in each individual patient Royal College of Nursing, and be aware of local policies for glove use. It is recommended that subcutaneous injections, particularly of insulin, are administered at a degree angle to ensure that the medication is delivered into the subcutaneous tissue Down and Kirkland, ; Hunter, However, patient assessment is vital — patients who are cachectic and therefore have minimal amounts of subcutaneous tissue may require injections to be delivered at a degree angle.

PHE recommends that subcutaneous vaccinations are given with the needle at a degree angle to the skin and the skin should be pinched together PHE, Tagged with: Coronavirus zone: diabetes Newly qualified nurses: practical procedures. Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. You are here: Assessment skills. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems.

Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.

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Important Phone Numbers. When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Care Instructions A subcutaneous say "sub-kyoo-TAY-nee-us" shot is an injection of medicine under the skin, but not in a muscle.

How do you give yourself a subcutaneous shot? Gather your equipment. Wash your hands with soap and running water. Dry them well. Choose a spot on your belly or thigh for the shot.