How to prepare and take an insulin injection

Knowing the right way to inject and store your insulin helps give you the best control over your diabetes.

Preparing your dose of insulin

Insulin is measured in units. Taking the correct dose of insulin is very important. You can use either a syringe or an insulin pen to inject it into your body.

Using a syringe

There are different sizes of syringes:

• 30-unit
• 50-unit
• 100-unit

Each line on a syringe tells you how many units you are taking.

You’ll need:
How to prepare single-dose insulin with a syringe

• An insulin syringe
• Insulin (at room temperature)
• An alcohol swab

Then follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
   • Note: If using cloudy insulin (NPH, 70/30, 75/25, 50/50), roll the bottle between your hands just enough to stir up the contents.
     
     
2. Clean the rubber stopper of the insulin bottle with alcohol. Let it dry.
   
   
3. Remove the plastic cap covering the needle on the syringe.
   • Do NOT touch the needle.
     
     
4. Pull the plunger out far enough to fill the syringe with air equal to the number of units of insulin you need.
   
   
5. Insert the needle into the insulin bottle and push the plunger in. This will force the air from the syringe into the bottle.
   
   
6. With the syringe needle still in the bottle, turn the bottle and syringe upside down.
   • Pull the plunger out to draw your dose of insulin into the syringe. When you have it, pull the needle out of the bottle.
     
     
7. Before injecting your insulin dose, make sure there are no air bubbles in the syringe. Air bubbles mean that you won’t get your full dose of insulin.
   • If you have air bubbles, push the insulin back into the bottle and draw out your dose of insulin again. Repeat this step until you have no air bubbles in the syringe.
     
     

How to inject a dose of insulin

Choose a place on your body for the injection.

• Your abdomen is the best place to inject insulin — but make sure to stay 2 inches away from your belly button.
• You can also use your upper outer arms, thighs, or buttocks.
• Talk with your doctor about the best injection area for you.
• Remember: Change the area often where you inject insulin. If you use the same place over and over, your skin will get tough or lumpy and your insulin won’t be absorbed properly.
  
  

1. Clean the injection area with soap and water or an alcohol swab. Let it dry.
   
   
2. Pinch up your skin to form a 1-inch to 2-inch fold.
   
   
3. Hold the syringe like a pencil. At a 90-degree angle (so the surface of your skin and the syringe make a “T”), quickly push the needle all the way into the pinched-up area.
   
   
4. Push the plunger in to inject the insulin.
   
   
5. Wait 10 seconds before you pull the needle out of your skin.
   • If you bleed, apply light pressure over the area for a few seconds. Do NOT rub the area.
     
     
6.  Throw away the whole syringe and cap in your “sharps” disposal bin.
   • To avoid sticking yourself, do NOT try to put the cap back on the needle before you throw it out.

Bottom line

Managing the use and disposal of your insulin and other supplies is an important way to safely control your blood sugar.