Where do I give my injections and the importance of rotating your insulin injection sites?

Insulin injection/pump site rotation is an extremely important part of diabetes care.

Site rotation helps prevent lumps from forming under the skin and ensure your insulin will be absorbed well into your body. If insulin is injected into the same spot repeatedly, fatty lumps will form. This is called Lipohypertrophy and means that insulin will not be absorbed in the same way as in healthy tissue. This can lead to a need to increase insulin doses and greater variation in blood glucose levels (BGL).

To help prevent lipohypertrophy, it is important to rotate your injection sites.

Suitable injection sites include: 

• stomach
• hips
• the middle part of the upper arms
• the upper outer thighs

• If your child has little or no fat tissue in the stomach area please do not use this area
• Exercise increases insulin absorption so the arms and legs may need to be avoided on days when young people are very active with sport
• If you are unsure where you should inject your child or if they have any changes to their skin, please contact your diabetes educator
• If you suspect an area of your child's body has lipohypertrophy, it is important to use the other sites as indicated above and avoid this site for injections.
  Lipohypertrophy can take a few months to heal. Ask your diabetes doctor or diabetes educator to have a look at this area at your next outpatient clinic appointment. 

Below are examples of rotation strategies for the stomach area. Similar rotation can be used for the arms, legs and hips as well

Importance of rotating injection sites

Preventing Lipohypertrophy: (injection site lumps)

Lipohypertrophy (lumps or “lipo”) happens when injections are repeatedly given in the same spot, causing fat and scar tissue to build up. These areas have poor blood supply, so insulin isn’t absorbed properly meaning your child may get less insulin than needed. If a lump appears, avoid that site until it fully disappears—it can take months or longer. To prevent lumps, always rotate injection sites and move around within each site.

How to store insulin at home

Storing in-use insulin

• Room temperature: Insulin can be kept at room temperature (up to 30°C) for up to 30 days.
• Avoid direct heat and sunlight: Heat and sunlight damages insulin.
• After 30 days: Discard any remaining insulin and use a new pen or penfill.

Storing spare insulin

• Refrigeration: Keep your spare insulin in the refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C. It is good to use until the “use-by” date.
• For times that insulin may be exposed to extreme temperatures, a storage wallet can be used to keep insulin at the safely required temperature.
  

Insulin is damaged or destroyed if:

• Frozen: Discard insulin stored in the fridge if it cools too low and food freezes.
• Exposed to excessive sunlight or heat: If the temperature is above 30°C, store insulin in a cool pouch or esky with an ice pack, keeping insulin away from direct contact with the ice.
• Left in a hot car: Cars can rapidly heat above 30°C, especially in summer. Never leave insulin in the car glove box.

Home insulin supplies

Further insulin prescriptions: Each new prescription will come with one repeat and can be filled at your local pharmacy. At clinic appointments, please ask for a new prescription if your repeat has been filled.

For prescription requests between appointments, you will need to see your GP.

Last updated January 2026