How to Inject Insulin

Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans and more than 320 million people worldwide. Since diabetes can be a life-threatening illness due to the many complications it can cause, it's important to approach treatment with accuracy. In addition to lifestyle and dietary modifications, it may become necessary to administer medications, including insulin. Depending on your prescription, you may inject insulin via syringe or an insulin pen. In either case, there are some basic things to know about how to inject insulin to treat your diabetes.

Instructions

• 1

  Roll a vial of insulin back and forth between the palms of your hands several times before filling the syringe. This will help to redistribute any particles that have settled so you get an even concentration in each dose. Do the same rolling process with prefilled syringes. However, insulin pens should be shaken up and down in addition to being rolled several times. This shaking down motion will trigger the glass ball inside the pen to mix the insulin thoroughly.

• 2

  Pinch the skin of the injection site slightly and target the syringe (or pen) at either a 45 or 90 degree angle to make sure the insulin is injected under the fatty layer of the skin. Note that a 45 degree angle is best for children and those adults who are very thin.

• 3

  Rotate injection sites, but not body parts as once recommended. Insulin is best absorbed through the abdomen, so rotating injection sites in this area is ideal. If it helps, visualize your abdomen as a grid containing 8 equal squares. Assign each square a day of the week and then rotate among them one at a time as you progress through the week.

• 4

  Choose subsequent injection sites at least an inch away from the previous site.

• 5

  Note that it is not necessary to swab the injection site with alcohol provided your skin is clean at the time of injection.