Where Should I Inject My Insulin

Select And Clean The Injection Site

Where do I inject my insulin?

Choose an injection site for your insulin shot.

Do not inject near joints, the groin area, navel, the middle of the abdomen, or near scars.

Clean the injection site in a circular motion with an alcohol wipe or a cotton ball dampened with rubbing alcohol. Leave the alcohol wipe or cotton ball nearby.

What Is Different About Insulin Lispro

Insulin lispro is a new type of insulin. It starts working sooner than other insulin types. It also reaches peak activity faster and goes away sooner. Insulin lispro helps keep your blood sugar level from going too high after you eat. To keep your blood sugar level steady, your doctor will probably prescribe either a longer-acting insulin or another drug for you to take each day in addition to the insulin lispro.

If you need to mix insulin lispro with a longer-acting insulin, it’s best that you mix insulin lispro only with Humulin U or Humulin N, which are brand names for certain longer-acting insulins. Insulin lispro should always be drawn into the syringe first. This will keep the longer-acting insulin from getting into the insulin lispro bottle.

Types of insulin

Each type of insulin works at a different speed and lasts for a different length of time.

Quick-acting, such as insulin lispro , begins to work very quickly and lasts for 3 to 4 hours.
Short-acting, such as Regular insulin, starts working within 30 minutes and lasts about 5 to 8 hours.
Intermediate-acting, such as NPH or Lente insulin, starts working in 1 to 3 hours and lasts 16 to 24 hours.
Long-acting, such as Ultralente insulin, doesn’t start to work for 4 to 6 hours, but lasts 24 to 28 hours.
NPH and Regular insulin mixture, two types of insulin mixed together in 1 bottle, starts working in 30 minutes and lasts 16 to 24 hours.

Do Rotate The Place Where You Inject Insulin

Try not to inject your insulin in the same exact place on your body every time. This is to prevent a condition called lipodystrophy. In lipodystrophy, the fat under the skin either breaks down or builds up and forms lumps or indentations that can obstruct insulin absorption.

Instead, rotate injection sites. The best places for injecting insulin are your abdomen, front or side of thighs, upper buttocks, and upper arms due to their higher fat content. Each injection should be at least two inches from the previous site. Try not to inject too close to your belly button or into any moles or scars.

For mealtime insulin, its best to consistently use the same part of the body for each meal. For example, you can inject in your stomach prior to breakfast, your thigh prior to lunch, and your arm prior to dinner.

Clean your skin with cotton dipped in alcohol or an alcohol pad before you inject yourself. Wait 20 seconds for the area to dry before you inject. This helps avoid infections.

You should also wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before you handle any needles.

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When Should I Not Take Lantus

You should not use Lantus if you are having a episode of hypoglycemia
You should not use Lantus if you are hypersensitive or allergic to any of the ingredients in Lantus injections.
Lantus is not recommended for use in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Lantus is a man made form of a long acting insulin that is given by injection to diabetic patients, to lower their high blood sugar levels. Lantus is designed to give a steady level of insulin over 24 hours, even when you are not eating such as between meals and overnight. This helps keep blood glucose levels consistent during the day and at night.

When Lantus is given as an injection, it is slowly absorbed and reaches a steady level, which gives the blood sugar lowering effect that lasts for 24 hours.

Can You Inject Insulin Into Muscle

The short answer is yes, but you shouldnt inject insulin into muscle unless its very intentional and you understand the consequences and risks.

Injecting insulin directly into muscle is going to completely change how quickly it is absorbed into your bloodstream and how it quickly it starts affecting your blood sugar levels.

The onset, peak, and duration will all change when insulin is injected directly into muscle tissue.

Reasons To Avoid A Particular Site

If you develop lumps and bumps at injection sites, avoid the area of the bump for several months because that area will absorb insulin differently and this can affect your blood sugar levels.

In addition, avoid sites that you plan on exercising, as this can increase the risk of hypoglycemia due to increased absorption.

Lastly, avoid injecting into moles or scar tissue as these can also affect insulin absorption.

How Do I Take An Insulin Injection

Below you can find a few steps on how to inject insulin.

Wash your hands with soap and water before injecting insulin. This is not always possible when you are not home or in a place where you can’t wash your hands.
Gather all the necessary supplies needed for injecting insulin including insulin, syringe, alcohol swabs, and needles. If you are using an insulin pump you will need to follow the steps according to your pump.
Select the site where you’re injecting insulin by either injecting it into the lower back, upper legs, hips, or buttocks. Lower injection sites are usually preferred due to less pain and quick injection time.
Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab before injecting.
Inject your insulin slowly to prevent bumps.

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Where Should You Not Inject Insulin

Avoid sites that you plan on exercising as this can increase the risk of hypoglycemia due to increased absorption. Avoid injecting into areas of your skin, moles, or scar tissue, as these can also affect insulin absorption. If you develop lumps and bumps at injection sites, avoid the area of the bump for several months because that area will absorb insulin differently and this can affect your blood sugar levels.

Also, try to avoid places that you can’t easily reach or places where your skin doesn’t allow you to be pricked by a needle.

What Is Insulin Aspart

How I Rotate My Insulin Injection Sites

A A A Medications and Drugs Brand Names: NovoLog, NovoLog FlexPen, NovoLog PenFill Generic Name: insulin aspart What is the most important information I should know about insulin aspart ? What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using insulin aspart ? What should I avoid while using insulin aspart ? Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the body. It works by lowering levels of glucose in the blood. Insulin aspart is a fast-acting form of insulin. Insulin aspart is used to treat type 1 diabetes in adults and children who are at least 2 years old. Insulin aspart is usually given together with another long-acting insulin. Insulin aspart may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide. What are the possible side effects of insulin aspart ? Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of insulin allergy: itching skin rash over the entire body, wheezing, trouble breathing, fast heart rate, sweating, or feeling like you might pass out. Call your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as: swelling in your hands or feet or low potassium . Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is the most common side effect of insulin aspart. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, nausea, hunger, confusion, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, trouble concentrating, confusion, or seizure . Watch for signs of low blood sugar.Continue reading > >

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Questions Your Doctor Might Ask You

How do you feel while taking your insulin?
Have you noticed any side effects?
How are you responding to your insulin dose? Are you having any problems with high or low blood sugar?
Have you had any trouble using your insulin syringe, pen, or pump?
Do you know how to store and dispose of your used syringes or needles?

If you have any questions between doctor visits, write them down so you remember to ask them next time. Your doctor can check on your progress so that you can successfully manage your diabetes.

Show Sources

Vivian Fonseca, MD, FRCP, chief, Section of Endocrinology, Tulane University School of Medicine president, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association.

American Diabetes Association: “Insulin Basics ” “Insulin Routines ” and “Insulin Storage and Syringe Safety.”

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “What I need to know about Diabetes Medicines.”

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “Insulin.”

News release, FDA.

Proper And Safe Insulin Injection Technique

Well, this is simple. Every time you inject insulin into body fat or muscle, its important to ensure that the area is clean and that you are using a clean syringe or insulin pen.

Insulin syringes and pen needles are designed to be used once.

And you should sanitize the intended injection site with an alcohol swab before every injection.

Is this realistically always possible? Not really not in the real life of diabetes when youre taking many injections a day. But the goal is to inject insulin into the cleanest location possible to prevent infections.

Having to inject insulin into your body on a daily basis is not fun, but it keeps us alive. The more thought and consideration you put into where you inject your insulin, the better off youll be.

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Lower Back Hips Or Buttocks

Insulin injection sites are a very personal choice, but insulin in the lower back, hips, or buttocks is generally the preferred insulin injection site for people with diabetes. Lower insulin injection sites were once more popular because it’s easy to inject insulin quickly and it is less painful than areas such as the stomach or upper legs.

Injecting Your Insulin Shot

To perform your insulin injection:

Wherever possible, wash your hands with soap and water before injecting.
Put a new needle onto your pen.
Remove the caps of the pen needle.
Hold the pen upright and perform an air shot. This requires dialling up at least 2 units and pressing the plunger to expel a test shot of insulin. This helps to clear any bubbles out of the needle. If you do not get a steady stream, repeat the air shot until you do get a steady stream of insulin coming out.
Dial up your dose.
Pick a soft fatty area to inject. Tops of thighs, belly, bum and triceps .
Some people may need to raise a fold of fatty flesh slightly between your thumb and fingers. If you are unsure about whether you need to do this, ask your health team.
Put the needle in and keep the pen steady.
Push the plunger relatively slowly to inject the dose.
After the dose has been injected, hold the needle in for a good 10 seconds to help insulin get delivered and prevent any of the dose escaping out.
Ensure that the used needle bin is deposited into a sharps bin.

To inject, you will need an insulin pe, enough insulin for the dose, a new pen needle and some cotton wool or a tissue.

FREE insulin duration chart

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Where On The Body Do I Inject With The Insulin Pen

Recommended injection sites include the abdomen, front and side of the thighs, upper and outer arms and buttocks. Do not inject near joints, the groin area, the navel, the middle of the abdomen, or scar tissue.

You will also need to rotate, or switch, your injection sites. If you use the same injection site over and over again, you may develop hardened areas under your skin that keep the insulin from working properly. Rotating your injection sites will make your injections easier, safer and more comfortable.

Follow these guidelines:

Ask your healthcare provider which sites on your body you should use for injections.
The injection site is about two inches of skin. Clean this area with an alcohol wipe in a circular motion.
Move the site of each injection. Inject at least one-and-a-half inches away from the last spot where you injected.
Try to inject in the same general area of your body at the same time each day.
Keep a record of which injection sites you have used. Every time you give yourself an injection, write down the date, time and site.

Depending on which type of insulin you are taking, different parts of the body may absorb the insulin differently.

How To Give Insulin In The Stomach With An Insulin Pen Or Syringe

Injecting insulin into the stomach is easy, and the same method can be used whether you are using a syringe or an insulin pen.

If you want to, wipe the area of skin where you wish to inject the insulin into with an alcohol swab beforehand, and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Pinch the skin around the stomach or waist area and hold it with the hand that isnt holding the needle.

Insert the needle from the syringe all the way into the skin at a 90-degree angle . If you are thin, you may find it better to insert the needle at a 45-degree angle. If you are using an insulin pen, take the cap off the pen and hold the base of the pen firmly against the skin.

Slowly push the plunger of the syringe all the way in, and then leave the needle in the skin for 10 seconds. If you are using a pen, while holding the base against the skin, push down on the injection button. You will hear a loud click. This will insert the needle and start the injection. Keep holding the pen against your skin until you hear a second click in about 5 to 10 seconds.

Remove the syringe or pen. Throw the used syringe away in an approved sharps container and recap the pen for later use.

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Do I Still Need Lantus Injection When My Blood Sugar Level Is Low

Bennychiu said:Diabetes type II, I injected myself every night before I go to bed and I always check my blood sugar first.180 should be the number 2 hours after meal for diabetes and it happened quite often that my blood sugaris at 120s – 140s, should I still need to inject Lantus? in some occasion, I woke up with blood sugar at 70s and oncein a while in the 60s.

Disposing Of Needles Syringes And Lancets

How to choose where to inject your insulin

In the United States, people use more than 3 billion needles and syringes each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These products are a risk to other people and should be disposed of properly. Regulations vary by location. Find out what your state requires by calling the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at 1-800-643-1643, or visiting their site at .

You arent alone in treating your diabetes. Before beginning insulin therapy, your doctor or health educator will show you the ropes. Remember, whether youre injecting insulin for the first time, running into problems, or just have questions, turn to your healthcare team for advice and instruction.

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How Should We Prepare For An Insulin Injection

Before giving an insulin injection, know the basics so you can set up and do it safely and with confidence:

The belly, legs, upper arms, buttocks, and hips are good places to inject insulin. It is important to rotate injection sites to prevent lumpiness under the skin.
Use a fresh needle with each dose. This is also the case if you use a syringe or a pen.
Check the bottle or pen. Before giving an injection, always make sure you’re giving the right type of insulin and that it hasn’t expired. Inspect the bottle for any changes to the insulin for example, don’t use insulin that looks cloudy or has anything floating in it.
If you dose with a syringe and bottle of insulin, insert the needle on a syringe into the bottle to draw up the right amount of insulin. If your child takes two kinds of insulin at the same time, often you can give them both with one injection. Ask your diabetes team to make sure.
If you dose with a pre-filled insulin pen, make sure to prime the pen first, then turn the dial on it to the correct dose before injecting it. When the pen is empty, you’ll need a new one because you cant refill it. An insulin pen contains just one type of insulin. So, if your child uses pre-filled pens and needs two types of insulin, they will need two separate injections.

Injecting Insulin As A Child

Theres no right age for your child to start doing their own injections. Some children prefer to do it themselves straight away. Others may want to get used to having injections given to them by an adult, before learning to inject themselves when they feel theyre ready.

Your child needs to make the decision in their own time. When theyre ready, you can help them take on the responsibility themselves.

When they say theyre ready, try to encourage them. You can show them how its done using our video, or by reading through these simple instructions with them.

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