6 ways to Give Yourself Insulin - Method5 Using Other Methods to Administer Insulin

1 Consider using an insulin pump. Insulin pumps consist of a small catheter inserted into your skin with a small needle, which is held in place with an adhesive dressing. The catheter is attached to a pump device unit that holds, and delivers your insulin through the catheter. Using pumps have both advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages to using an insulin pump include the following:

§  Pumps eliminate the need for insulin injections.

§  Insulin doses are more accurately delivered.

§  Pumps often improve the longer term management of diabetes as indicated by blood level measurements of your hemoglobin A1c.

§  Pumps provide constant insulin delivery in some cases which eliminates the swings in your blood glucose levels.

§  They make it easier to deliver an extra dose when needed.

§  People that use pumps have fewer hypoglycemic episodes.

§  Pumps allow more flexibility in when and what you eat, and allow you to exercise without the need to consume extra carbohydrates.

2 Recognize the disadvantages of insulin pumps. According to the American Diabetes Association, even though there are disadvantages to using an insulin pump, most people that use one agree that the positives outweigh the negatives. Some disadvantages to using an insulin pump include the following:

§  Pumps are reported to cause weight gain.

§  Serious reactions including diabetic ketoacidosis can occur if the catheter unknowingly becomes dislodged,

§  Insulin pumps can be expensive.

§  Some people find it troubling to be connected to the device, which is usually worn on a belt or top of a skirt or pants, practically all the time.

§  Insulin pumps often require hospitalization for a day or more for the catheter to be inserted, and for you to be properly trained on how to use it.

3 Adjust to your pump. Using an insulin pump alters your daily routines.

§  Develop a routine to limit the time you turn it off, or take it off.

§  Have back-up pens or insulin vials and syringes available if the pump is not working properly.

§  Learn to account for extra carbohydrates consumed in order to adjust the dose delivered through your pump.

§  Keep accurate records of your blood glucose levels. Daily records with additional notes of exercise times and extra foods consumed are best. Some people record information three days each week, spread out through the week, to provide a good balance of information.

§  Your doctor will use your logs to adjust your insulin dosing and improve the overall care of your condition. Usually about three months of of average blood sugar levels will give your doctor a good idea of how well your diabetes is controlled.

4 Ask your doctor about a jet injector. Insulin jet injectors do not use needles to get the insulin dose through the skin. Instead, insulin jet injectors use strong air pressure, or blasts of air, to spray the insulin through your skin.

§  Jet injectors are very expensive and somewhat complicated to use. This form of technology is new. Talk with your doctor if you are considering this method of delivering your insulin dose.

§  In addition to their high cost, some risks have been identified such as improper dose delivery and trauma to the skin.

§  Research is ongoing to determine the risks and benefits of administering insulin in this manner.

5 Use inhaled insulin devices. Some forms of rapid-acting insulin are now available in the form of inhalers, similar to the inhalers used to treat asthma.

§  Inhaled insulin is to be administered just before meals.

§  You will still need to administer your primary long-acting insulin by another method.

§  Several manufacturers have made insulin inhalers available in the United States, but the research in this area is ongoing. Much is still to be learned about the risks and benefits of using insulin by the inhaled method. 

6 ways to Give Yourself Insulin - Method4 Rotating Your Injection Sites

1 Keep a chart. Many people find it helpful to keep a chart of the sites as they are used so they can routinely rotate their injection sites.

§  The areas of your body that are most suitable for insulin injections include the abdomen, the thigh, and the buttocks. The upper arm area can also be used if enough fatty tissue is present.

2 Rotate your injections clockwise at each site. Develop a system that works for you to consistently rotate your injection sites. Continue to move around your body using new sites for each injection.

§  Using a clockwise strategy is helpful for many people to help rotate their injection sites.

§  Use a chart or drawing of your body areas to identify the sites you just used or are planning to use. Your diabetic healthcare provider or doctor can help you develop a system to rotate your injection sites.

§  Inject into your abdomen, two inches away from your navel and not too far towards your sides. Looking into a mirror, begin on the upper left of the injection area, move next to the upper right area, then lower right, then lower left.

§  Move to your thighs. Begin closest to your upper body, then move the next injection site further down.

§  In your buttocks, start with your left side and closer to your side, then move towards your midline, then to the right side and towards the midline, then to the areas closer to your right side.

§  If your arms are appropriate according to your doctor or healthcare provider, move systematically either up or down with injection sites in those areas.

§  Keep track of the sites as you use them in a systematic manner.

3 Minimize the pain. One way to help minimize the pain upon injection is to avoid injections at hair roots.

§  Use needles with shorter lengths and smaller diameters. Shorter needles help to minimize the pain and are appropriate for most people.

§  Acceptable shorter needle lengths include those that are either 4.5 mm, 5 mm, or 6 mm in length.

4 Pinch your skin properly. Some injection sites or needle lengths work best if you gently pinch the skin to create skin folds.

§  Use only the thumb and index finger to lift the skin. Using more of your hand causes muscle tissue to be lifted and increases the risk of injecting your insulin into muscle tissue.

§  Do not squeeze the skin fold. Gently hold the skin in place to give the injection. Squeezing tightly can cause more pain and possibly interfere with the dose delivery.

5 Choose the best needle length for you. Shorter needles are appropriate for most patients, can be easier to use, and are less painful. Consult with your doctor about which needle is appropriate for you.

§  The purpose of using shorter needles, pinching the skin, and injecting at a 45 degree angle is to avoid injecting the insulin into muscle tissue.

§  Consider the need to use skin folds as you rotate your injection sites. Injecting into areas with thinner skin layers and more muscle tissue often require pinching the skin and injecting at an angle.

§  Talk to your doctor or diabetic healthcare provider for instruction on the areas of your body that would need for the skin to be pinched to create skin folds even when using the shorter needle lengths.

§  In many cases, there is no need to lift or pinch the skin when using the shorter needles.

§  Injections with the shorter needles can often be given at a 90 degree angle when there is enough fatty tissue present at the injection site. 

6 ways to Give Yourself Insulin - Method3 Using a Pen Device to Inject Insulin

1 Prime the pen device. Allowing a few drops of insulin to drop from the needle tip ensures there are no air bubbles and nothing is obstructing the flow of insulin.

§  Once your pen is ready to use, dial the dose you need to administer.

§  Using a fresh needle, a primed device, and the correct dose dialed on the pen device, you are ready to administer the injection.

§  Follow your doctor's instructions on pinching the skin and the angle of entry in order to more effectively administer the insulin.

2 Administer the insulin. Once you have pushed the thumb button completely in, count slowly to ten before withdrawing the needle.

§  If you are administering a larger dose, your doctor or diabetic healthcare provider may instruct you to count beyond ten to ensure the dose is properly delivered.

§  Counting to ten or beyond ensures that you get the full dose intended and helps to prevent leakage from the injection site when you withdraw the needle.

3 Use your pen only for your own injections. Insulin pens and cartridges should not be shared.

§  Even with fresh needles, there is still a significant risk of transferring skin cells, disease, or infection from one person to another.

4 Dispose of your used needle. As soon as you have given yourself the injection, promptly remove and discard the needle.

§  Do not leave the needle attached to the pen. Removing the needle prevents insulin from leaking from the pen.

§  Removing the needle also prevents air and other contaminants from entering the pen.

§  Always discard used needles appropriately by placing them in a sharps container. 

6 ways to Give Yourself Insulin - Method2 Giving Yourself Insulin Using a Syringe

1 Gather your supplies. Insulin administration using a syringe and needle is still one of the most common methods people use to take their insulin.

§  Start by making sure you have everything you need, including your insulin syringe and needle, alcohol pads, the insulin, and a sharps container nearby.

§  Remove the insulin vial from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before it is time for your dose to allow the insulin to reach room temperature.

§  Check the dating on your insulin vial before you proceed. Do not use expired insulin or insulin that has been opened for more than 28 days.

2 Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Dry them completely with a clean towel.

§  Be sure your injection site is clean and dry. Clean the area with soap and water if needed before you begin.

§  Avoid wiping the area with alcohol. If you do wipe the area with alcohol, give the area time to air dry before you administer the dose.

3 Inspect your insulin. Many people use more than one type of insulin. Look carefully at the label to be sure you have the correct product for the scheduled dose.

§  If the insulin vial is in a container or has a cover, remove it and carefully wipe the bottle with an alcohol wipe. Let the bottle air dry, and do not blow on it.

§  Inspect the liquid inside. Check for any visible clumps or particles floating inside the vial. Be sure the vial is not cracked or damaged.

§  Insulins that are clear should not be shaken or rolled. As long as they remain clear they can be given without mixing.

§  Some types of insulin are naturally cloudy. Cloudy insulins should be gently rolled between your hands to mix them properly. Do not shake the insulin.

4 Fill the syringe. Know the dose you need to administer. Remove the cap from the needle, taking care not to touch the needle with your fingers or to any surface in order to keep it sterile.

§  Pull back the plunger of the syringe to the same mark as the amount of insulin you intend to remove from the vial.

§  Push the needle through the top of the vial, and push the plunger to inject the amount of air you just put in the syringe.

§  Keeping the needle in the vial and the syringe as straight as possible, turn the bottle upside down.

§  Hold the vial and syringe in one hand, and gently pull back on the plunger to withdraw the exact amount of insulin needed with the other.

§  Check the liquid in the syringe for air bubbles. With the needle still inside the vial and still holding it upside down, gently tap the syringe to move air bubbles to the top part of the syringe. Push the air back into the vial, and withdraw more insulin if needed to be sure you have the correct amount in the syringe.

§  Carefully pull the needle from the bottle, and place the syringe on a clean surface without allowing the needle to touch anything.

5 Avoid putting more than one type of insulin in a single syringe. Many people use different types of insulin to cover their blood sugar needs for a longer period of time.

§  If you use more than one type of insulin for each injection, the insulins must be drawn up into the syringe in a specific order and according to your doctor’s instructions.

§  If your doctor has instructed you to use more than one type of insulin at a single injection, draw the insulins up exactly as your doctor directed.

§  Be sure you know the the amount of each insulin you need, which product to put in the syringe first, and the total amount of insulin that should be in the syringe when you are finished drawing up both insulins.

§  The shorter acting insulin product, which is clear, is drawn into the syringe first, followed by the longer acting product, which is cloudy. You should always go from clear to cloudy when mixing the insulin.

6 Give your injection. Avoid scars and moles by one inch, and do not give insulin within two inches of your navel.

§  Avoid bruised areas or areas that are swollen or tender.

7 Pinch the skin. The insulin is to be administered into the fat layer just under the surface of the skin. This is called a subcutaneous injection. Creating skin folds by gently pinching the skin helps to prevent injecting into muscle tissue.

§  Insert the needle at either a 45 degree or 90 degree angle. The angle of the needle insertion depends on the injection site, the thickness of the skin, and the length of the needle.

§  In some cases where the skin or fatty tissue is thicker, you may be able to insert the needle at a 90 degree angle.

§  Your doctor or diabetic healthcare provider will guide you in understanding the areas on your body that should be pinched and the angle of insertion for each injection site.

8 Inject your dose using a quick dart-like motion. Push the needle all the way into the skin and slowly push the plunger of the syringe to deliver your dose. Be sure the plunger is completely depressed.

§  Leave the needle in place for five seconds after injecting, then pull the needle out of the skin at the same angle it went in.

§  Release the skin fold. In some cases, diabetic healthcare providers recommend releasing the skin fold just after needle entry. Talk to your doctor about your insulin injections specific to your body.

§  Sometimes insulin leaks from the injection site. If this is the case with you, then gently press the site for several seconds. If this problem continues, talk to your doctor.

9 Place the needle and syringe into a sharps container. Keep the sharps container in a safe place away from children and pets.

§  Both needles and syringes are only to be used once.

§  Each time a needle punctures the top of the vial and the skin, the needle becomes dulled. Dulled needles cause more pain, plus they carry a much greater risk of infection.