There are four methods of insulin delivery: syringes, insulin pens, jet injectors and
insulin pumps. But no matter what method you use, injecting with a syringe is a
fundamental skill in insulin management.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 2 Minutes
Here's How:
1. Gather all the supplies you need. Your Diabetes Care Team should advise you on what supplies to get and how to use them. Some of them may be syringes, pens or injectors, insulin and cleanser.
2. Wash and dry your hands using soap and water and dry your hands completely.
3. Check your insulin: Appearance and expiration date. Rapid-acting insulins (lispro [Humalog] and aspart [Novolog]), short-acting insulin (Regular), and the long-acting insulin glargine (Lantus) should be clear and colorless like water. Other longer-acting insulins (NPH, Lente, and Ultralente) should have a cloudy, milky, or marbled look. If your insulin is past its expiration date, has clumps or crystals in it, or looks discolored, frosted, or thick, do not use it. Get a new bottle.
4. Clean the top of the insulin bottle with an alcohol swab. If you're using a new bottle of insulin, remove the protective cap from the bottle.
5. If your doctor recommends you take two different insulins at the same time, you may have to take two separate shots, or you may be able to mix the insulins in the same syringe so you only have to take one shot. Ask your doctor if your insulins can be mixed. We will tell you here how to give yourself a shot of mixed insulins, since its a little more complicated than using one type of insulin.
6. Roll your insulin. Turn the bottle on its side and roll it between the palms of your hands at least 10 times. Rolling the bottle between your hands also warms the insulin, which can make the injection more comfortable. Avoid shaking the bottle vigorously as it can make bubbles in the insulin.
7. If you mix two different insulins in one syringe, always draw up the fast-acting insulin first and the slow-acting one second. If the bottle of fast-acting insulin, such as Regular, were to get contaminated with slow-acting insulin, such as NPH, the insulin may not work as quickly as it usually does.
8. Inject air into the bottle of longer-acting (cloudy) insulin. Holding the syringe in one hand, pull back on the plunger to draw air into the syringe equal to the amount of longer-acting insulin, in units, you need to take. Hold the longer-acting insulin bottle upright and insert the syringe needle downward through the rubber stopper on the bottle. Push the syringe plunger to inject all the air into the bottle. Remove the syringe from the bottle without drawing up any insulin.
9. Inject air into the bottle of fast-acting insulin. Draw air into the syringe again, this time in an amount equal to the dose of fast-acting insulin you need to take, in units. Insert the syringe needle through the rubber stopper on the fast-acting insulin bottle. Push the syringe plunger forward to inject all the air into the bottle. Injecting air increases the air pressure inside the vial, making the right amount of insulin easier to draw out of the bottle through the needle.
10. Draw up your fast-acting insulin first. Turn the bottle (with the syringe inserted) upside down, holding it with one hand. With your other hand, slowly pull back on the plunger to draw up your fast-acting insulin dose.
11. Look for air bubbles in the syringe. Hold the syringe, which should still be in the bottle, straight up at eye level. If you see any air bubbles, tap the side of the barrel so that the bubbles can float up to the top of the syringe. Gently push the plunger to move the bubbles back into the insulin bottle. Then, redraw your correct insulin dose by pulling back on the plunger again. Remove the needle from the bottle.
12. Draw up your longer-acting insulin second. Insert the needle into the longer-acting insulin bottle. Turn the bottle and syringe upside down. Check for air bubbles. Make sure the tip of the needle is in insulin. Pull back on the syringe plunger until the amount of insulin in the syringe is equal to the sum of the fast-acting and long-acting insulin doses. Remove the needle from the bottle and double-check your dose. The syringe is now loaded and ready to use.
13. Choose an injection site. The most common sites to inject are in the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks. Clean the injection site. You can use soap and water or an alcohol swab.
14. Gently pinch up a fold of skin surrounding the site you've selected. Hold it firmly with one hand. Insert the needle. Holding the syringe like a pencil, insert the syringe or insulin pen needle straight into the pinched-up skin (at a 90° angle). Thin adults or children may need to inject at a 45° angle. Insulin must be delivered under the skin and not into the muscle.
15. Inject the insulin. Push the syringe plunger all the way in with a slow steady motion. The injection should take a couple of seconds, unless you take a very small dose. Then remove the needle and press gently on the injection site with your finger for a couple seconds. Do not rub it or you will increase the rate of absorption.
Tips:
1. If you reuse syringes, discuss it with your health-care provider to make sure you know how to do it safely.
2. If you're having difficulty seeing the numbers on the syringe, try using a syringe magnifier.
3. Prefilled syringes should be kept refrigerated with the needles pointing up until they're needed.
4. Inject insulin at room temperature. If insulin has been premixed and stored in the refrigerator, remove it 30 minutes before injecting it.
5. Always call your Diabetes Team if you think you gave yourself too much insulin.
What You Need:
• Insulin
• Syringes or pens
• Needles
• Cleanser