How To Draw Up Medication Using An Insulin Syringe

Giving Yourself an Insulin Shot for Diabetes

For those with diabetes, an insulin shot delivers medicine into the subcutaneous tissue -- the tissue between your skin and musculus. Subcutaneous tissue (also called "sub Q" tissue) is constitute throughout your body.

Please follow these steps when using an insulin syringe. Note: these instructions are non for patients using an insulin pen or a non-needle injection system.

insulin shot

Get together Insulin Supplies

Select a clean, dry work area, and gather the post-obit insulin supplies:

Bottle of insulin
Sterile insulin syringe (needle attached) with wrapper removed
Two alcohol wipes (or cotton assurance and a canteen of rubbing alcohol)
One container for used equipment (such as a difficult plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tightly secured chapeau or a commercial "sharps" container)

Wash easily with soap and warm h2o and dry them with a clean towel.

Fix the Insulin and Syringe

Remove the plastic cap from the insulin bottle.
Roll the canteen of insulin between your hands 2 to three times to mix the insulin. Practice not milkshake the bottle, every bit air bubbling tin class and bear upon the amount of insulin withdrawn.
Wipe off the safe part on the top of the insulin canteen with an alcohol pad or cotton brawl dampened with alcohol.
Set up the insulin bottle nearby on a flat surface.
Remove the cap from the needle.

If you lot've been prescribed ii types of insulin to be taken at one time (mixed dose), skip to the instructions in the side by side department.

Depict the required number of units of air into the syringe by pulling the plunger back. You need to describe the same amount of air into the syringe as insulin yous need to inject. Always measure from the top of the plunger.
Insert the needle into the rubber stopper of the insulin bottle. Push the plunger down to inject air into the canteen (this allows the insulin to exist drawn more easily). Leave the needle in the bottle.
Plow the canteen and syringe upside-down. Be sure the insulin covers the needle.
Pull dorsum on the plunger to the required number of units (mensurate from the top of the plunger).
Check the syringe for air bubbles. Air bubbles in the syringe will non impairment you if they are injected, but they can reduce the amount of insulin in the syringe. To remove air bubbling, tap the syringe so the air bubbles rise to the top and push upwards on the plunger to remove the air bubbling. Recheck the dose and add more insulin to the syringe if necessary.
Remove the needle from the insulin canteen. Carefully replace the cap on the needle.

How to Measure a Mixed Dose of Insulin

Your doctor may prescribe two types of insulin to be injected at in one case for diabetes. This mixed dose may provide better blood sugar control for some people.

Please follow these steps when injecting a mixed dose of insulin:

Follow the preparation steps described above for both bottles of insulin.
Draw the required number of units of air into the syringe by pulling the plunger back. Draw air into the syringe equal to the amount of cloudy (intermediate or long-acting) insulin needed. Always measure out from the top of the plunger (the edge closest to the needle).
Insert the needle into the rubber stopper of the cloudy insulin canteen. Push button the plunger down to inject air into the bottle (this allows the insulin to be drawn more easily). Practise not withdraw the insulin into the syringe at this time. Take the needle out of the canteen.
Draw the required number of units of air into the syringe by pulling the plunger dorsum. Draw air into the syringe equal to the amount of clear (short-acting) insulin needed. E'er measure from the top of the plunger.
Insert the needle into the rubber stopper of the clear insulin canteen. Push the plunger downwards to inject air into the bottle (this allows the insulin to be drawn more easily).
Turn the bottle and syringe upside-downwards. Be certain the insulin covers the needle.
Pull back on the plunger to the required number of units of clear insulin needed (measure from the summit of the plunger, the border closest to the needle).
Check the syringe for air bubbles. Air bubbles in the syringe will not harm you if they are injected, but they can reduce the amount of insulin in the syringe. To remove air bubbling, tap the syringe and then the air bubbles rise to the top and push up on the plunger to remove the air bubbles. Recheck the dose and add more insulin to the syringe if necessary.
Remove the needle from the clear insulin bottle and insert information technology into the rubber stopper of the cloudy insulin bottle.
Turn the bottle and syringe upside-down. Be sure the insulin covers the needle.
Pull dorsum on the plunger to the required number of full units of insulin needed (measure from the top of the plunger).

Important: This must be an verbal measurement. If y'all withdraw too much cloudy insulin, the full dosage in the syringe must be discarded. Be conscientious not to push any of the clear insulin from the syringe into the cloudy insulin. If there are big air bubbles after mixing the insulin in the syringe, discard this dosage and get-go the procedure once more. Do not push the insulin back into the bottle.

Carefully replace the cap on the needle.
You are now ready to inject the insulin. Follow the steps listed below.

Rotate Insulin Injection Sites

Because you volition be injecting insulin on a regular ground for diabetes, you need to know where to inject it and how to rotate (motion) your injection sites. By rotating your injection sites, you volition brand your injections easier, safer, and more comfortable. If the same injection site is used over and over again, you may develop hardened areas under the skin that keep the insulin from beingness used properly.

Of import: But use the sites on the front of your body for self-injection. Any of the sites may be used if someone else is giving you the injection.

Follow these guidelines:

Ask your doctor, nurse, or wellness educator which sites you should utilise.
Motion the site of each injection. Inject at least 1 ane/2 inches away from the last injection site.
Try to use the same full general injection expanse at the same time of each solar day (for case, use the belly for the injection earlier lunch). Note: The abdomen absorbs insulin the fastest, followed by the artillery, thighs, and buttocks.
Keep a record of which injection sites you lot have used.

Select and Clean the Injection Site

Choose an injection site for your insulin shot.

Exercise not inject about joints, the groin expanse, navel, the centre of the abdomen, or well-nigh scars.

Clean the injection site (about 2 inches of your skin) in a circular motion with an alcohol wipe or a cotton wool ball dampened with rubbing alcohol. Leave the alcohol wipe or cotton fiber ball nearby.

Inject the Insulin

Using the hand you write with, hold the barrel of the syringe (with the needle terminate downwardly) similar a pen, being conscientious not to put your finger on the plunger.

Remove the needle cap.
With your other manus, gently pinch a two- to three-inch fold of skin on either side of the cleaned injection site.
Insert the needle with a quick motion into the pinched skin at a 90-degree angle (straight up and downward). The needle should be all the fashion into your pare.
Push the plunger of the syringe until all of the insulin is out of the syringe.
Chop-chop pull the needle out. Do non rub the injection site. You lot may or may not bleed after the injection. If you are haemorrhage, apply low-cal pressure level with the booze wipe. Cover the injection site with a bandage if necessary.

Dispose of the Syringe and Needle

Do non cap the needle. Drop the entire syringe and needle into your container for used "sharps" equipment. When the container is total, put the lid or encompass on information technology and throw information technology away with the trash.

Exercise NOT put this container in the recycling bin. Some communities take specific disposal laws. Bank check with your local health section for specific disposal instructions in your community.