INJECTING INSULIN

PREPARING THE INSULIN INJECTION

Follow these steps when preparing a single type of insulin for an injection.

1. Roll the bottle (vial) gently between your hands. This will warm the insulin if you have been keeping the bottle in the refrigerator. Roll a bottle of cloudy insulin until the white powder has dissolved.

2. Wipe the rubber lid of the insulin bottle with an alcohol wipe or a cotton ball dipped in alcohol. If you are using a bottle for the first time, remove the protective cover over the rubber lid.

3. Remove the plastic cap covering the needle on your insulin syringe (without touching the needle).

4. Pull the plunger of the syringe back and draw air into the syringe equal to the number of units of insulin to be given.

5. Insert the needle of the syringe into the rubber lid of the insulin bottle. Push the plunger of the syringe to force the air into the bottle. This equalizes the pressure in the bottle when you remove the dose of insulin. Leave the needle in the bottle.

6. Turn the bottle and syringe upside down and hold them in one hand. Position the tip of the needle so that it is below the surface of insulin in the bottle. Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe with slightly more than the correct number of units of insulin to be given.

7. Tap the outside (barrel) of the syringe so that trapped air bubbles move into the needle area. Push the air bubbles back into the bottle. Make sure you now have the correct number of units of insulin in your syringe.

8. Remove the needle from the bottle. Now you are ready to give the injection.

Follow these steps when preparing two types of insulins to be given in the same injection:

1. Roll the insulin bottles (vials) gently between your hands. This will warm the insulin if you have been keeping the bottle in the refrigerator. Roll the cloudy insulin bottle until all the white powder has dissolved.

2. Wipe the rubber lid of both insulin bottle with an alcohol wipe or a cotton ball dipped in alcohol. If you are using a bottle for the first time, remove the protective cover over the rubber lid.

3. Remove the plastic cap covering the needle on your insulin syringe (without touching the needle).

4. Pull the plunger back on your insulin syringe and draw air into the syringe equal to the number of units of cloudy insulin to be given.

5. Push the needle of the syringe into the rubber lid of the cloudy insulin bottle. Push the plunger of the syringe to force the air into the bottle. This equalizes the pressure in the bottle when you later remove the dose of insulin. Remove the needle from the bottle.

6. Pull the plunger of the syringe back and draw air into the syringe equal to the number of units of clear insulin to be given. 7. Push the needle of the syringe into the rubber lid of the clear insulin bottle. Push the plunger to force the air into the bottle. Leave the needle in place.

8. Turn the bottle and syringe upside down and hold them in one hand. Position the tip of the needle so that it is below the surface of insulin in the bottle. Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe with slightly more than the correct number of units of clear insulin to be given.

9. Tap the outside (barrel) of the syringe so that trapped air bubbles move into the needle area. Push the air bubbles back into the bottle. Make sure that you have the correct number of units of insulin in your syringe. Remove the needle from the clear insulin bottle.

10. Insert the needle into the rubber lid of the cloudy insulin bottle. Do not push the plunger because this would force clear insulin into your cloudy insulin bottle. If clear insulin is mixed in the bottle of cloudy, it will alter the action of your other doses from that bottle.

11. Turn the bottle and syringe upside down and hold them in one hand. Position the tip of the needle so that it is below the surface of insulin in the bottle. Slowly pull back the plunger of the syringe to fill the syringe with the correct number of units of cloudy insulin to be given. This will prevent air bubbles entering the syringe. Remove the needle from the bottle.

12. You should now have the total number of units for the clear and cloudy insulin in your syringe. For example, if 10 units of clear and 15 units of cloudy are needed, you should have 25 units in your syringe. Now you are ready to give the injection.

GIVING THE INJECTION
Injection sites include the abdomen, outer upper arms, the thighs, buttocks, or hip areas. Do not inject insulin near bony places or joints. Do not give injections closer than 1 inch apart. Insulin absorption can vary from site to site. The best absorption site is the abdomen. Try and rotate the injection site

Your doctor will help you learn to inject insulin. This is an illustration of giving an insulin injection in your thigh.

Remove the needle, replace the cap and store it safely if you are going to re-use it.