6 Ways to Give Yourself Insulin

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Nearly three million people in the United States use insulin to treat type 1 or 2 diabetes. In people with diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to manage carbohydrates, sugars, fats, and proteins from food. The use of insulin for people who have type 1 diabetes is mandatory so that they can stay alive. Many people with type 2 diabetes are usually no longer able to control their blood sugar levels with medication, diet, and exercise, so they start taking insulin. Proper administration of insulin requires an understanding of the type of insulin needed, the method of use, and a commitment to follow the necessary precautions to prevent injury or harm. Consult a doctor for a complete demonstration before trying insulin.

Step

Method 1 of 6: Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels

Step 1. Check your blood sugar level

Follow the same procedure each time to do it and record the results.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then dry them with a clean towel.
Insert the test strip into the blood sugar meter.
Use a lancet to take a small amount of blood from the thick part of the finger.
Some newer types of devices are capable of drawing blood from other areas, such as the forearm, thigh, or thick parts of the hand.
Follow the instructions for use to proceed properly based on how a tool works. Most devices use a spring to help reduce pain when injuring your skin.
Allow the drop of blood to touch the test strip at the indicated place, either before or after the strip is inserted into the meter. Again, this depends on how the tool works you are using.
The blood sugar level will appear in the tool window. Record this blood sugar level. Also write down the measurement time.

Step 2. Maintain records

Checking blood sugar levels is important for doctors and yourself to use in determining the insulin dose needed.

By keeping a record of your blood sugar levels and other variables (such as dietary adjustments or extra injections before meals/attending special events that require you to eat sugary foods), your doctor can help improve diabetes control.
Take this note with you every time you see a doctor for examination.

Step 3. Compare your measurement results with the desired target range

Your doctor or diabetes examiner may give you a target blood sugar level that is specific to your condition.

Typical targets include 80 to 130mg/dl if the test is taken before a meal, and less than 180mg/dl if the test is taken an hour or two after eating.
Keep in mind that monitoring your blood sugar levels is useful for adjusting your treatment plan, but it's not a guide to how well you're taking care of yourself. Don't let the results frustrate you.
Talk to your doctor if your sugar levels are often higher than recommended, so you can adjust your insulin dose accordingly.

Method 2 of 6: Injecting Your Own Insulin

Step 1. Gather the necessary equipment

Giving insulin by injection is one of the common methods that people often use.

Start by making sure you have everything you need, including needles and syringes, alcohol pads, insulin, and sharps storage containers.
Remove the insulin holder from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before injection. This is important so that insulin adjusts its temperature to room temperature.
Check the expiration date on the insulin package before use. Do not use insulin that has passed the limit or has been opened for more than 28 days.

Step 2. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water

Dry with a clean towel.

Make sure the area to be injected is clean and dry. Clean with soap and water if needed. Do it before you inject.
Avoid wiping the area with alcohol. If you do, allow the area to dry naturally before injecting insulin.

Step 3. Check insulin

Many people use more than one type of insulin. Look at the label carefully to make sure you have chosen the correct product for the required dosage.

If the insulin container has a lid, lift the lid and wipe the bottle carefully with rubbing alcohol. Dry naturally and don't blow.
Check the contents. Look for lumps or particles that float in the insulin holder. Make sure this place is not cracked or damaged.
Precipitate-free insulin should not be shaken or shaken. As long as the insulin is clear, you can use it without mixing.
Some types of insulin will be opaque naturally. The opaque insulin must be slowly rolled between the hands to allow it to mix properly. Do not shake insulin.

Step 4. Fill the injection tube

Know in advance the required dose. Remove the plug from the needle and be careful not to touch the needle or any other surface to keep it sterile.

Pull the injection pump until the mark matches the dose of insulin you are going to suck out of the holder.
Insert the needle into the insulin cap and press it to release the air.
Turn the insulin bottle upside down with the needle and injection as straight as possible.
Hold the vial and injection in one hand, then gently pull on the injector to suck out the required amount of insulin with the other hand.
Check the fluid on the injection and look for air bubbles. With the needle still in the vial upside down, tap the syringe gently to move air bubbles to the top. Push the air back into the bottle and suck in more insulin if needed to make sure the amount is correct.
Carefully withdraw the needle from the bottle. Place the needle on a clean surface without touching anything.

Step 5. Avoid mixing more than one type of insulin in the same injection tube

Many people need to use different types of insulin to meet their blood sugar needs over a long period of time.

If you are one of these patients, insulin must be aspirated in a specific order and according to the doctor's orders.
If your doctor has instructed you to use more than one type of insulin at a time, follow the instructions accurately.
Make sure you know how much of each insulin you will need, which one the injection should aspirate first, and the total amount of insulin that should be in the syringe after you have finished all of it.
Faster and clearer-acting insulin products usually have to be aspirated first into the syringe, followed by longer-acting and usually slightly opaque insulin. The insulin mixture should always be carried out in the order of clear to opaque.

Step 6. Inject yourself

Avoid scars and moles within 2.54 cm, and do not inject up to 5.1 cm from the belly button.

Also avoid areas that are bruised or swollen and feel tender

Step 7. Pinch the skin

Insulin must be injected into the layer of fat just under the skin. This kind of injection is called a subcutaneous injection. Making a fold of skin by pinching it will help prevent the injection from getting into the muscle tissue.

Insert the needle at a 45 or 90 degree angle. This angle depends on the point of injection, the thickness of the skin, and the length of the needle.
In some cases when the skin or fatty tissue is thicker, you may be able to poke it at a 90-degree angle.
The diabetes doctor or nurse will guide you in understanding the areas of the body that must be clamped and the angle of injection at each point.

Step 8. Inject the dose in rapid motion

Push the needle all the way into the skin and press gently to allow the injection to deliver the required dose. Make sure the pressure part is really pushed to the maximum.

Leave the needle in place for five seconds after injecting, then pull it out of the skin at the same angle as the needle was inserted.
Remove the skin fold. In some cases, diabetes nurses recommend that the skin fold be removed right after the needle is inserted. Talk to your doctor about specific rules for injecting insulin into your body.
Sometimes, insulin comes out of the injection point. If this happens to you, gently press the injection point for a few seconds. If the problem persists, talk to your doctor.

Step 9. Place the syringe and tube in a sharps storage container

Keep this container away from children and pets.

Both needles and syringes should only be used once.
Every time the needle touches the insulin bottle cap and skin, the needle will become blunt. Blunt needles cause more pain, as well as a higher risk of producing infection.

Method 3 of 6: Using a Pen Device to Inject Insulin

Step 1. Prepare in advance

Allowing a few drops of insulin to escape from the tip of the needle on this device will ensure that there are no air bubbles or anything interfering with its flow.

After the pen is ready to use, prepare the required dose by setting the dosing instructions on the device.
With the use of a new needle and a prepared device and the dosing instructions on the pen, you are ready to inject.
Follow the doctor's instructions when pinching the skin and adjusting the angle of injection for more effective insulin administration.

Step 2. Give insulin

After you've pushed the thumb button all the way through, count to ten before pulling the needle.

If you are giving a larger dose, your doctor or diabetes nurse may instruct you to count more than 10. This is important to ensure that the correct dose is administered correctly.
Counting to ten or more also ensures that the full dose has been administered. In addition, it is useful for preventing leakage from the injection point when you withdraw the needle.

Step 3. Use the pen only to inject yourself

You must not share the use of insulin pens and cartridges with other people.

Even with a new needle, skin cells are still at risk of being transferred, as is disease or infection from one person to another

Step 4. Discard used needles

As soon as you give yourself the injection, remove and discard the needle.

Do not keep the needle on the pen. Removing the needle will prevent insulin from leaking out of the pen.
This step also prevents air and other contaminating substances from entering the pen.
Always dispose of needles properly by placing them in a sharps storage container.

Method 4 of 6: Changing the Injection Point

Step 1. Create a chart

Many people use diagrams of injection points so they can rotate them regularly.

The areas of the body that are most suitable for insulin injections include the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. The upper arm area can also be used if it contains enough fatty tissue

Step 2. Rotate the injection clockwise

Develop an effective system for rotating injection points consistently. Continue to inject various parts of the body using new points.

Using a clockwise strategy is useful for many people to help regulate the rotation of their injection point.
Use diagrams or drawings of body areas to identify the points you are using or planning. A diabetes nurse or doctor can help you develop this rotation system.
Inject the abdomen at a distance of 5.1 cm from the navel and not too far to the side of the body. Look in the mirror and start at the top left of the injection area, then top right, then bottom right, then bottom left.
Move to the thigh. Start in the position closest to your upper body, then inject lower the next time.
On the buttocks, start with the left hemisphere which is closer to the sides of the body, then work towards the center, then move to the right side in the same way.
If your doctor thinks your arm can be injected, move the point systematically, both up and down.
Record all injection points that have been used in a systematic way.

Step 3. Minimize pain

One way to help minimize injection pain is to avoid injecting hair roots.

Use a shorter needle with a smaller diameter. Needles like this help minimize pain and are suitable for most people.
Shorter needle lengths include those measuring 4.5; 5; or 6 mm.

Step 4. Pinch the skin properly

Multiple injection points or needle lengths will work more effectively if you pinch the skin to create creases.

Use only your thumb and index finger to lift the skin. Excessive use of hands will cause muscle tissue to be attracted so that insulin is more prone to enter it.
Do not squeeze the folds of skin. Hold the position gently while injecting. Squeezing hard can cause more severe pain and may interfere with dosing.

Step 5. Choose the best needle length

The shorter needles fit most patients, are easier to use, and are less painful. Talk to your doctor about the right needle size for you.

The shorter needle, the trick of pinching the skin, and injecting at an angle of 45 degrees, are useful for avoiding the entry of insulin into muscle tissue.
Consider the need to use the skin folds when you rotate the injection point. Injecting areas with a thinner layer of skin and containing more muscle tissue usually requires you to pinch and position the needle at an angle.
Talk to your doctor or diabetes nurse to learn instructions for injecting areas of the body that require pinching when using short needles.
In most cases, you do not need to lift or pinch the skin when using the shorter needle.
Injections with a shorter needle can usually be done at a 90-degree angle if the point contains a sufficient amount of fatty tissue.

Method 5 of 6: Using Other Methods

Step 1. Consider an insulin pump

An insulin pump contains a small catheter that is inserted into the skin with a mini needle. The needle is attached with a special adhesive, while the catheter is attached to a pump that stores and introduces insulin through the catheter. Pumps have their own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the positive effects:

The pump keeps you from having to inject insulin.
The insulin dose given is also more accurate.
Pumps are usually able to improve long-term diabetes management. This is evident through the measurement of hemoglobin A1c in the blood.
The pump is also capable of delivering insulin constantly in some cases, thus balancing the measurement of blood sugar levels.
The pump also facilitates additional dosing if needed.
People who use pumps also have fewer hypoglycemic episodes.
The pump also provides greater flexibility about what and when you can eat, and allows you to exercise without consuming too many carbohydrates.

Step 2. Identify insulin pump deficiencies

According to the American Diabetes Association, despite the disadvantages of using an insulin pump, most people agree that the positive effects outweigh the negative effects. Some of the disadvantages of using an insulin pump include:

Pumps are reported to cause weight gain.
Serious reactions include diabetic ketoacidosis and can occur if the catheter is removed.
Insulin pumps may be expensive.
Some people have difficulty using this tool, which is usually worn over a belt or skirt/pants all the time.
Insulin pumps usually require the sufferer to be hospitalized for a day or more so that the catheter can be inserted. You also have to be trained to use it properly.

Step 3. Adjust to the pump

The pump will change your daily routine.

Develop a routine to limit time when you're not using it.
Have insulin pens or bottles and injections ready as a back-up plan in case the pump doesn't work properly.
Learn to calculate the level of extra carbohydrates consumed to adjust the insulin dose at the pump.
Record blood sugar levels accurately. A daily log containing the time and extra food consumed is the best way. Some people record this three times a week (separately) to keep the information balanced.
Your doctor will use the recorded results to adjust your insulin levels and improve the general treatment of your condition. Usually, an average of three months' blood sugar levels will tell your doctor how effective your diabetes control is.

Step 4. Ask your doctor about jet injectors

Jet injectors for insulin do not need to use a needle to pass through the skin. Instead of using a needle, this injector uses pressure, or a strong spray of air, to introduce insulin through the skin.

Jet injectors are very expensive and difficult to use. This type of technology is still new. Talk to your doctor if you are considering this method.
In addition to the high cost, there are some detectable risks, such as inaccurate dose measurements and trauma to the skin.
There is research underway to determine the risks and benefits of administering insulin in this way.

Step 5. Use inhaled insulin kits

Several types of fast-acting insulin are now sold in inhaler form, which are similar to spray kits for asthma.

Lozenges of insulin should be given before a meal.
You will still need to absorb primary long-term insulin using another method.
Several manufacturers in the US sell this type of insulin, but in fact there is still ongoing research. Much remains to be learned about the risks and benefits of using inhaled insulin.

Method 6 of 6: Following Precautions

Step 1. Ask the doctor to show you a demonstration

Don't rely on online articles or videos to learn to use insulin, whether by injection, inhaler, or other device. The doctor can answer all questions and show the correct route of administration (for example, he can demonstrate the correct needle angle). The doctor will also give you the right dose as well as all the necessary prescription medicines.

Step 2. Avoid all insulin products if you have an allergic reaction

Seek immediate medical attention if you have an allergy.

Some types of insulin come from animals, especially pigs, and may trigger allergic reactions in certain people.
The most common allergic reactions are local and systemic reactions. Local reactions appear in the form of redness, minor swelling, and itching at the injection site. This type of skin reaction usually goes away within a few days to a matter of weeks.
Systemic allergic reactions can occur in the form of a rash or spots that cover most of the body, difficulty breathing, wheezing, sneezing, reduced blood pressure, increased heart rate, and sweating. This is a medical emergency and you should call the hospital or go to the ER immediately if it is nearby.

Step 3. Do not give insulin if you are hypoglycemic

Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar level is too low. Insulin will exacerbate hypoglycemia; You should eat fast-acting carbohydrates or simple sugars.

Low blood sugar levels will interfere with brain function.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia can include dizziness, shaking, headache, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, feeling confused, and sometimes difficulty speaking. Other symptoms can include tremors, excessive sweating, increased heart rate, feelings of anxiety, and hunger.
Fast-acting insulin used in hypoglycemic states will rapidly lower blood sugar levels and result in great confusion, difficulty communicating, and loss of consciousness.
If you use insulin incorrectly when you have hypoglycemia, tell friends or family immediately for medical attention, or call an ambulance when you are alone. Hypoglycemia is a serious and life-threatening condition.
You can start reversing the reaction by drinking orange juice, taking glucose tablets or gel, or consuming sugar immediately.

Step 4. Observe whether the skin is lipodystrophic

Lipodystrophy is a reaction that sometimes appears on the skin that is often injected with insulin.

Symptoms include changes in the fatty tissue just below the skin's surface. Changes that indicate this condition include thickening and thinning of fat tissue at the injection point.
Check the skin regularly for signs of lipodystrophy as well as inflammation, swelling, or other signs of infection.

Step 5. Dispose of used needles properly

Never throw needles or syringes into the regular trash can.

Sharp objects, including needles, lancets, and injections, are considered biological waste because they come into direct contact with a person's skin or blood.
Always dispose of damaged or used needles in sharps containers. These containers are designed as a safe way to get rid of needles and syringes.
Sharps containers can be purchased at your local pharmacy or online.
Study the biological waste disposal instructions in the area where you live. Many locations have specific programs and recommendations to help you develop a routine biological waste disposal system.
Take advantage of the carnival service (send back). Some companies supply sharps containers of the right size, and can arrange to ship them back to them when they are full. These companies will then dispose of the biological waste properly according to the health guidelines in force in the area where you live.

Step 6. Never reuse or share needles

After the injection, throw the needle and injection into a sharps container. When the insulin pen is empty, throw the pen into the same container.

A needle that has penetrated a person's skin will not only become blunt, but become contaminated with a disease that may be serious and contagious

Step 7. Do not change insulin brands

Some insulin products are very similar but not the same. Talk to your doctor before you make any changes to insulin, including changing the brand.

Although several brands are similar, doctors will certainly have chosen the best one based on your needs. The dose given has also been adjusted based on how it reacts to your body.
Use the same brand of injection and needle. You can get confused and inject the wrong dose if the appearance of the needle and the injection used is different.

Step 8. Never use expired insulin

Check the date on the insulin product packaging. Avoid insulin that has crossed the line.

While the efficacy may still be close to what it was when you bought it, expired insulin also poses other risks, such as contamination or particles forming inside the bottle

Step 9. Discard insulin that has been opened for 28 days

After the first dose is administered, the insulin is considered exposed.

This includes insulin that is properly stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Because the tops are pierced, there is an increased risk of insulin containing contaminants, even if you store it properly

Step 10. Get to know your product and dosage

Know the brand and dose of insulin, as well as the brand of other equipment you use.

Make sure you continue to use the injections and needles of the same size as your doctor prescribes.
Using a U-100 syringe instead of a U-500 (and vice versa) is a very dangerous thing.
Talk to your doctor or diabetes nurse if there are any changes to the products you are using, or if you have any questions.