How to Treat Child Diabetes Type 1 With an Insulin Injection Pen

Children with type 1 diabetes, like their adult counterparts, must take insulin. One of the most popular new delivery systems for children is the insulin pen. They particularly like it when they must give their own injections. The proper dosage can be set directly on the pen to guard against overdose. The pens are also popular because they are disposable or come with pre-filled cartridges that can be discarded after use..

Things You'll Need

• Insulin injection pen
• Alcohol towelette
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Cotton ball

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Instructions

• 1

  Sanitize hands thoroughly before giving the pen injection. Use sanitation gel or cream. You may also simply wash hands with soap and water.

• 2

  Choose and prepare the injection site. Use hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball to swab the site clean. An antibacterial wipe will also do. Make sure the skin is completely dry before doing the injection.

• 3

  Hold the skin of site area between two fingers in a gentle--yet firm--pinching motion. This will make it easier to inject the insulin with the pen.

• 4

  Insert the pen quickly into the site at a slight angle. Slow or deliberate injection can be painful.

• 5

  Deliver the insulin, pushing it through the pen at an even pace. Relax the pinch on the skin as you near injection completion.

• 6

  Pull the needle out exactly the way it went it. Keep it straight as it is removed.

• 7

  Use a finger to apply a slight pressure to the injection site. While this isn't a necessary step, many people think it makes the process less painful.

• 8

  Rotate the injection site area periodically. For example, use the bottom in the morning and the arm in the evening.