A Life-Saving Discovery Discovered in 1921, insulin was a stunning, life-saving revelation. Before they used insulin as a diabetes medication, people with type 1 diabetes often had to go without food and eat a low-carbohydrate, starvation-level diet. The discovery of insulin was followed by a long trail of advancements in the treatment of diabetes. Today, diabetes is normally managed with insulin and/or other medications, diet, and exercise. However, if you are using insulin to manage your diabetes, starting or adjusting your regimen requires the support of your healthcare team, determination, and a little practice on your part. Insulin Injection Methods There are different devices used to inject insulin, including syringes, insulin pens, insulin pumps, and jet injectors. Your doctor will help you decide which is best for you. Syringes remain a common method of insulin delivery. They’re the least expensive option and most insurance companies cover them. Syringes Syringes vary by the amount of insulin they hold and needle size. Many syringes have the needles already attached. They’re made of plastic and should be discarded after one use. Traditionally, needles used in insulin therapy were 12.7 millimeters (mm) in length. As reported in Diabetes Technology & Management, recent research shows that smaller 8 millimeter (mm), 6 mm, and 4 mm needles are as effective, regardless of body mass. This makes insulin injections more acceptable and less painful than it was in the past. Where to Inject Insulin Insulin should be injected into the fatty tissue just below your skin. If you inject the insulin deeper into muscle, your body will absorb it too quickly. This can lead to dangerously low blood glucose levels. People who take insulin daily need to rotate their injection sites. This is important because using the same spot over time can cause lipodystrophy. In this condition, fat either breaks down or builds up under the skin. Lipodystrophy causes lumps or indentations that interfere with or cause erratic insulin absorption. You can rotate to different areas within the same site, keeping injection sites about an inch apart. Generally, you can inject anywhere that there is enough fat under the skin. Absorption rates may vary depending on the injection site. Abdomen Many people prefer to inject insulin is the abdomen. Insulin is absorbed more quickly and predictably there. This part of your body is also easy to reach. Select a site between the bottom of your ribs and your pubic area, steering clear of the area surrounding your navel. Generally, don't inject within two inches of the belly button. You’ll want to avoid areas around scars, moles, or skin blemishes. They can interfere with the way your body absorbs insulin. Also stay clear of broken blood vessels and varicose veins. Thigh Inject into the top and outer areas of your thigh, about 4 inches down from the top of your leg and 4 inches up from your knee. Arm Use the fatty area on the back of your arm, between your shoulder and elbow. Buttocks The upper, padded area of the buttocks is an often-used spot. Don’t inject the part of the buttocks you sit on. Instead, aim higher, where the back pockets of pants are normally found. How to Inject Insulin The quality of the insulin you inject is vital. If it was refrigerated, allow your insulin to come to room temperature. If the insulin is an intermediate or long-acting insulin, or if a premixed syringe contains one of these, mix the contents by rolling the vial between your hands for a few seconds. Make sure not to shake the vial, and don’t use insulin that is grainy, thickened, or discolored. Follow these steps for safe and proper injection: Step 1 Wash your hands thoroughly. Step 2 Hold the syringe upright (needle on top) and pull the plunger down until the tip of the plunger reaches the measurement equal to the dose you will inject. Step 3 Remove the caps from the insulin vial and needle. Step 4 Push the needle into the stopper and push the plunger down. The air replaces the amount of insulin you will withdraw. Step 5 Keeping the needle in the vial, turn them upside down. Pull the plunger down until the black tip of the plunger reaches the correct dosage on the syringe. Step 6 If there are bubbles in the syringe, tap it gently and the bubbles will rise to the top. Push the syringe to release the bubbles back into the vial. Pull the plunger down again until you reach the correct dose. Step 7 Set the insulin vial down and hold the syringe as you would a pen. Step 8 Insert the needle at a 90-degree angle. If you are using a longer needed or are injecting into a site with less fat, injecting at a 45-degree angle is acceptable. Push the plunger all the way down and wait for 10 seconds before removing the needle. Tips You Can Use Use these tips for more comfortable and effective injections: You can numb your skin with an ice cube for a couple of minutes before swabbing it with alcohol. Avoid injecting in the roots of body hair. Ask your doctor for a chart to keep track of your injection sites. Source
