# How insulin diffuses from subcutaneous tissue **URL:** \ **Category:** T1 Research\ **Created:** [June 20, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-insulin-diffuses-from-subcutaneous-tissue/1295 "2017-06-20T20:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TiaG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tiag/32/594_2.png) [@TiaG](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TiaG)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-insulin-diffuses-from-subcutaneous-tissue/1295/1 "2017-06-20T20:20:37Z")
We are not hunks of dead meat obviously, but I thought this was a really cool visualization of how insulin travels through tissue to enter the bloodstream. One interesting tidbit: Heinemann1 estimated the coefficient of variability of insulin absorption to be in the range of 15 to 25% (intrapatient), whereas it was approximately 10% higher between patients (interpatient). > **[Insulin Depot Formation in Subcutaneous Tissue](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3692237/)** > > The size and geometry of an insulin depot that is formed during subcutaneous administration by an insulin pump is evaluated. A novel method is used to visualize accurately the depot formation for small volumes of insulin (of the order of 10–100 ... ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-insulin-diffuses-from-subcutaneous-tissue/1295/2 "2017-06-20T20:40:31Z")
Interesting read Tia. No we are not hunks of dead meat, but this research showing how insulin moves in tissue structures is pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-insulin-diffuses-from-subcutaneous-tissue/1295/3 "2017-06-20T21:33:28Z")
Interesting that they used 8mm needles. I wonder how much the vertical penetration would have been if 4mm needles were used, or if the tissue resistance is different at differing levels that might cause different diffusion patterns. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-insulin-diffuses-from-subcutaneous-tissue/1295/4 "2017-06-20T23:29:11Z")
I wonder if this can help explain a bit more about why some people have infusion sites that go bad after a few days. The massaging technique seems to be frowned on, because it might make it absorb faster and that would be…a variable! 😨 This is the quote you often see: _“Massaging the injection site is not recommended as it increases the absorption rate, which may lead to unpredictable results.”_ But I do that all the time to speed it up. Been doing that since before the dawn of time. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-insulin-diffuses-from-subcutaneous-tissue/1295/5 "2017-06-23T15:25:13Z")
From looking at this study, it seems that a larger amount of insulin in an injection would spread out more and be diffused quicker. If I am correct with that thought, it would seem that using U200 or U300 products would not be as effective as just using _more_ of the U100. Is that true, or am I missing something? (I know that using U100 may not be possible for people if their quantities are too large, but just wondering if the bigger volume of fluid is just a benefit…). I have a diluted pen so that I can take 0.1 unit increments. I usually only use it for 0.1 to 0.4 units, and go with the normal pen for 0.5 and more. But maybe using more volume is better?