Clinician answer
Four levers cover almost all injection pain: (1) let the pen warm from fridge for 20-30 min before injecting — cold liquid stings; (2) rotate sites (abdomen ≥2 inches from the belly button, upper thigh, back of upper arm) so you are not hitting scarred tissue; (3) inject slowly for 5-6 seconds after the click, then hold in place another 5 seconds; (4) pinch the skin loosely, insert at 90°, and do not tense the muscle. Ice for 30 seconds beforehand if you are needle-anxious.
Answered by Dr. Jane Novak, MD, MPH