Patient education: How to give an insulin shot (The Basics)

What is insulin? — Insulin is a medicine many people with diabetes use as part of their treatment. Diabetes is a disorder that disrupts the way a person's body uses sugar. This causes sugar to build up in the blood. Insulin can lower a person's blood sugar level.

Insulin is most often given as an "injection," or shot. The shot can be done with a small needle and syringe, or with an insulin pen.

Where do I give an insulin shot? — Give insulin shots in your belly, upper arms, buttocks, or thighs (figure 1). The needle is placed into fatty tissue right under the skin. Change where you give yourself the shot each time. This helps avoid soreness, skin thickening, and fat deposits.

Different parts of the body absorb insulin differently. Insulin is absorbed more quickly if given in your belly. Try to avoid areas close to moles or scars. Do not inject insulin within 2 inches of your belly button.

What should I know about insulin? — Your doctor will work with you to make a treatment plan that tells you:

●When to use insulin – Some people use insulin with each meal. Others use insulin at the same time each day.

●What type of insulin to use – Some types of insulin start working faster. Other types last longer. You might use more than 1 kind of insulin.

●How much insulin to use – How much insulin you need is based on things like your blood sugar level and what you plan to eat. Other things like exercise and if you are sick can also change how much insulin you need.

How do I give an insulin shot? — Start by getting your supplies together:

●Wash and dry your hands.

●Gather the insulin, syringe, and alcohol wipes. Make sure that you are using the correct syringe for your type of insulin. For example, use a U-100 syringe with U-100 insulin. Using the wrong syringe with your insulin can cause a dangerous insulin overdose.

●If you take 2 types of insulin, you might be able to take them using only 1 shot. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will tell you if the insulins can be mixed in 1 syringe and, if so, how to do this.

●Check your insulin regularly to make sure that the expiration date has not passed. If you have any medicine that has expired, call your doctor, nurse, or pharmacy to get a refill. After opening, make sure that you know how long the product is good for and how to store it. Ask the doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

●Some types of insulin are clear and colorless. Others are cloudy. Make sure that you know if your insulin should be clear or cloudy. If your insulin is cloudy, it needs to be mixed. Do not shake the vial, since the insulin can clump together. Instead, gently roll the vial back and forth between your hands 10 times.

●Clean the rubber stopper at the top of the vial with an alcohol pad, and let it dry.

Get the syringe ready (figure 2):

●Remove the cover over the needle.

●Pull the plunger back until the tip of the plunger is at the line indicating the number of units of insulin you need.

●Push the needle into the rubber stopper. Then, push the plunger down so the air goes into the vial of insulin.

●Turn the vial with the syringe in it upside down, and hold the vial with 1 hand. Pull back on the plunger with your other hand, and slowly pull the insulin into the syringe until it reaches the line for the dose you need.

●Look at the insulin in the syringe. If you see any air bubbles, push the insulin back into the vial. Repeat this until you do not see any air bubbles in the syringe. You can also tap on the syringe to move the air bubbles so you can push them back into the vial.

●Look at the color and appearance of the insulin in the syringe. Some types of insulin are clear and colorless. Others are cloudy. Make sure that you know if your insulin should be clear or cloudy.

●If you see any clumps or particles, do not use the insulin.

●Recheck to make sure that you have the right dose.

●Pull the needle out of the rubber stopper.

●If you are not giving the shot right away, cover the needle before putting it down.

●Put your insulin away. Ask your doctor or pharmacist where you should store your insulin.

Give the shot (figure 3):

●Wash and dry your hands.

●Clean the skin where you plan to give the shot with an alcohol wipe. Let the skin dry fully. The alcohol helps to prevent infections.

●Relax your muscles where you will give the shot.

●Pinch 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of skin between your fingers and thumb on 1 hand. This keeps the insulin from going into the muscle, where it is absorbed more slowly.

●Hold the syringe like you would a pencil at a 90° angle. Quickly push the needle all of the way into the pinched-up skin. Slowly press the plunger all of the way down. Let go of the skin, and remove the needle. Children and people with less fatty tissue might need to inject the insulin at a 45° angle.

●If you see blood or clear fluid when you remove the needle, press the area for about 5 seconds. Do not rub.

●Throw the used needle away in a special container made of thick plastic (picture 1).

●Wash and dry your hands.

What else should I know? — Checking your blood sugar levels helps you know if you are managing your diabetes well. Your doctor might want you to keep track of your levels. They might also want you to note when you gave the insulin and how much. Write down what you ate and when you exercised.

Your doctor might order a blood test called a "hemoglobin A1c" every 3 to 6 months. This test shows your average blood sugar level over a period of time. This can also help let you know how you are doing and if you need any changes to your treatment plan.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●Your blood sugar levels are too high or too low.

●You do not know how much insulin to give yourself.

●You are not able to afford your insulin or supplies.

More on this topic

Patient education: Type 1 diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Type 2 diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Treatment for type 2 diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Using insulin (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child insulin (The Basics)
Patient education: Checking your child's blood sugar level (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing blood sugar in children with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Low blood sugar in people with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Should I switch to an insulin pump? (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing diabetes in school (The Basics)
Patient education: The ABCs of diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Diabetes and diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Diabetic ketoacidosis (The Basics)
Patient education: How to dispose of needles and other sharps (The Basics)

Patient education: Type 1 diabetes: Insulin treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Type 2 diabetes: Insulin treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Glucose monitoring in diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Type 2 diabetes: Treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) in people with diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Exercise and medical care for people with type 2 diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Preventing complications from diabetes (Beyond the Basics)