Which sites are listed for subcutaneous insulin administration?

• A. Head, neck, back
• B. Chest, back, thigh
• C. Upper arm, thigh, abdomen
• D. Finger, palm, wrist

Answer: (C)

Subcutaneous insulin is absorbed best from areas with healthy subcutaneous tissue, and clinicians teach using sites that balance absorption and practicality. The upper outer arm, the abdomen, and the thighs are the standard areas because they provide reliable absorption and you can rotate among them to avoid tissue changes from repeated injections. The abdomen tends to give faster, more predictable absorption, while the arm and thigh offer somewhat slower absorption but still consistent. Rotating sites also helps prevent lipodystrophy, a condition where fatty tissue at the injection site changes and can alter insulin absorption.

The other options aren’t typical injection sites: head, neck, and back lack reliable subcutaneous tissue and are not used; chest and back aren’t standard primary sites for routine insulin injections; fingers, palms, and wrists are used for glucose testing, not for delivering insulin.