MyGlowGLP-1 injection-site rotation: a simple system
The usual sites
- Abdomen: away from the belly button (labels typically say about 2 inches or 5 cm).
- Front of the thigh.
- Back of the upper arm: often easier with help.
Always follow the instructions that come with your pen and what your clinician or pharmacist showed you.
Why rotate?
Injecting into the exact same spot repeatedly can irritate the skin and tissue underneath. Labels for injectable GLP-1s recommend rotating the injection site with each injection, while you can keep using the same body area.
A six-spot pattern that's easy to remember
- Left abdomen
- Right abdomen
- Left thigh
- Right thigh
- Left arm
- Right arm
On a weekly schedule, that's six weeks before you're back to the first spot. If you prefer one area, rotate within it, for example moving around the abdomen like a clock face.
What to note each time
- The site (e.g. "right abdomen").
- Anything unusual at the site afterwards, such as redness, a bump or bruising, and whether it went away.
Tell your clinician about reactions that are painful, spreading or don't settle.
Let an app remember for you
In MyGlow you log the site with each dose, and the app automatically suggests the next spot in your rotation.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you inject a GLP-1 medication?
Injectable GLP-1 medications are injected under the skin of the abdomen, the front of the thigh, or the back of the upper arm. Follow your pen's instructions and your clinician's advice.
Do you have to rotate GLP-1 injection sites?
The labels for injectable GLP-1 medications recommend changing the injection site with each injection. You can stay in the same body area but move to a different spot.
How do I remember where I injected last time?
Write the site down each time, or use an app like MyGlow that records the site with each dose and suggests the next spot.