Our IM injections work really well when they work—but they are hit-or-miss.
When an IM injection works for us, it will give us a much faster action time (25-30 minutes vs 45 to turning the corner), and its effect will be magnified: we will only need about 2/3 dose for the same effect. But we never know if it will come through.
We have used both the thigh and the calf for IM, but lately the calf has been our favorite target. We started with 4mm needles, then went up to 8mm. We are now using 13mm needles. We aim for the round part of the calf, then, once the injection has been administered, we run 5 minutes on it, typically up and down stairs, to get plenty of blood and contractions going.
Despite our changes in technique, we still get only about 40% of our IM shots to work
Do you have a good percentage of success in IM insulin injections? What techniques work for you best?
Btw, here is the post, from @Nickyghaleb, that caused me to start this thread:
My thighs. Those are my preferred IM spots, and I agree that it’s hit or miss. I use calves next, but that doesn’t always feel good. I am currently using 8mm syringes, but I’ve purchased 13mm ones. Which sit in my cabinet untouched. They’re a little more intimidating.