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Printable injection site rotation chart

Every GLP-1 injection label asks you to use a different spot each time. This chart turns that into a routine: eight numbered zones across the three areas the labels name, and a log so you can see at a glance where the last few went.

By the Cafeity teamUpdated

The short answer

GLP-1 injection labels say to inject under the skin of the abdomen, the thigh or the upper arm, and to rotate injection sites with each dose.12 This free chart divides those areas into eight numbered zones — four on the abdomen (keeping at least 5 cm, or 2 in, from the navel), one on each thigh and one on the back of each upper arm — with a 16-row log for the date, zone and any notes about the skin. PDF in US Letter and A4.

Preview of the printable injection site rotation chart: front and back body outlines with eight numbered zones on the abdomen, front of the thighs and back of the upper arms, a key to the zones, and a 16-row log for date, zone and notes.

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Front and back body outlines showing eight numbered injection zones: 1 to 4 in the four quarters of the abdomen around a circle marking 5 cm from the navel, 5 and 6 on the front of the left and right thighs, and 7 and 8 on the back of the left and right upper arms.
The three areas named in the labels, divided into eight zones. Left and right are the person's own: the front view faces you; the back view is seen from behind.

What the labels say about sites

The instructions are short and consistent across the weekly injections:123

  • Inject under the skin (subcutaneously) of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
  • Rotate injection sites with each dose. The tirzepatide patient information adds that you may use the same area of the body, but should choose a different site within it.
  • The patient instructions ask you to keep at least 2 inches (5 cm) from the belly button.
  • For tirzepatide, the instructions say another person should give injections in the back of the upper arm.
  • Do not inject into the same site used for another medicine, and never into a muscle or vein.

Why rotate? The tirzepatide instructions give the reason directly: changing the site within the area you choose reduces the risk of lipodystrophy (pitted or thickened skin) and localised cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at injection sites.2 Site does not change how much medicine you get — both labels report similar exposure whichever of the three areas is used.12

How to use the chart

  1. Pick an order — for example 1, 2, 3, 4 around the abdomen, then 5 and 6 on the thighs — and stick to it. An order you do not have to think about is an order you will keep.
  2. Log every injection with the date and zone number. With a weekly injection, 16 rows is about four months.
  3. Note anything unusual at a site — redness, itching, bruising or a lump — so you can avoid that spot and mention it if it persists.
  4. Follow your own medicine's instructions if they differ, and ask your prescriber or pharmacist which sites suit you.

Skin reactions at the injection site are listed on the labels — for tirzepatide in 6% to 8% of people against 2% on placebo.2 Most are minor; see injection-site reactions for what is common and when to get one checked.

Common questions

Where can you inject GLP-1 medicines?
Under the skin of the abdomen, the thigh or the upper arm, according to the labels, rotating the site with each dose.12 Some patient instructions say another person should inject the upper arm.
Does the injection site change how well it works?
The labels say not: similar exposure was achieved whether the injection was in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.12
Can I use the same area every week?
The tirzepatide patient information says you may use the same body area, but should choose a different site within that area each time.2 The chart's four abdomen zones make that easy.
How far from the belly button should I inject?
The patient instructions say at least 2 inches (5 cm).12

Sources

  1. Semaglutide injection and tablets for weight management — US prescribing information DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine, version published 30 June 2026
  2. Tirzepatide injection for weight management and obstructive sleep apnoea — US prescribing information DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine, version published 2 September 2026
  3. Dulaglutide injection — US prescribing information DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine, version published 10 August 2026

Written by the Cafeity team from the sources listed here. Figures from prescribing information are quoted as the label states them; trial results are averages from those trials, not predictions for any one person. This page has not yet been reviewed by a clinician — see the editorial policy for how pages are researched and corrected.