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How to Use Insulin Glargine

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body to turn blood glucose into a form of energy your cells can use. Type 1 diabetics produce little or no insulin, while Type 2 diabetics either produce an insufficient amount of insulin or are resistant to it. Insulin glargine, marketed under the name Lantus, was approved by the FDA in April 2000 and was the first long-acting insulin approved for once-daily use. Insulin glargine provides a steady release of insulin for 24 hours. Following are the steps for using insulin glargine injection with a syringe.

Things You'll Need

  • Vial of Insulin, Syringe, Alcohol Pad, Puncture-Proof (sharps) Container
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the Injection

    • 1

      Check the expiration date on the insulin glargine vial and ensure the insulin hasn't expired.

    • 2

      Roll the vial between your palms to mix the insulin.

    • 3

      Wipe the top of the vial with the alcohol pad to disinfect it.

    • 4

      Pull the plastic cover protecting the plunger off the syringe and dispose of it.

    • 5

      Hold the syringe barrel firmly in one hand and pull the cover off the needle and set it aside. You will need it when you dispose of the syringe.

    • 6

      Pull the plunger back to your prescribed unit dosage.

    • 7

      Slide the syringe needle through the rubber stopper on the top of the insulin glargine vial. Depress the plunger to push the air from the syringe into the insulin vial. This equalizes the pressure in the vial and makes it easier to withdraw the insulin.

    • 8

      Leave the syringe in the insulin bottle and hold the insulin vial in one hand and the syringe in the other. Turn the vial and syringe upside down. Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe to your prescribed dosage.

    • 9

      Check the barrel for air bubbles. Tap the barrel to ensure that all of the bubbles move into the needle area. Push the plunger to force air bubbles out of the syringe and back into the insulin vial.

    • 10

      Make sure that the correct prescribed insulin dosage remains in the syringe. If there is too little, pull back the plunger to draw more insulin into the syringe. Remove the needle from the bottle. You're ready to give the injection.

    Giving the Insulin Injection

    • 11

      Choose an injection site. Insulin glargine can be given in the thighs, abdomen, upper arm, and buttocks.

    • 12

      Wipe the injection site with the alcohol pad.

    • 13

      Pinch a fold of skin between the fingers and thumb of one of your hands.

    • 14

      Hold the syringe at a 90-degree angle from the skin. (If you are thin, insert the needle at a 45-degree angle to prevent the insulin from going into a muscle.) Push the needle into the pinched skin fold.

    • 15

      Pull back the plunger slightly. If blood appears in the barrel, pull the needle out of your body slightly. Push the plunger of the syringe in all the way to inject the insulin into your body.

    After the Injection

    • 16

      Remove the needle from your skin and apply pressure to the injection site with the alcohol pad.

    • 17

      Hold the syringe barrel in one hand and slide the needle cover back on the needle.

    • 18

      Dispose of the syringe in a puncture-proof container.

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