InsulinInjectionTechniqueThisdocumentprovidesashortguideoninsulininjectiontechnique.

Insulinshouldbestoredinfridge2-8ºC

Insulininusecanremainatroomtemperaturefor4weeks(5weeksforLevemir).

Howeveravoidanyexposuretodirectsunlightorheatfromradiator.

QuickActing(QA)insulinsareclearinappearance.

LongActing(LA)Analogues(LantusandLevemir)arealsoclearsolutionssoitisimportanttocheckthenameonyourinsulin.

Isophaneinsulins(HumulinI-Insulatard)andMixedinsulinsarecloudy.Theseinsulinsneedtobere-suspendedbecausetheinsulinisboundtoaprotaminethatslowsitsaction.Itisthereforeessentialtomixtheinsulinsothatitiscloudyinappearancethroughout.

Insulincomesin:

• 10mlVials• Pen-fillCartridges• PrefilledPendevices

Checknameofinsulin

Checkexpirydate

Applyneedle-(maybe4mm5mm6mm8mm)

Primeneedle-2unitsinitially&untildropsobservedatneedletip

Noneedtodisinfectinjectionsite.

Insulinshouldbeinjectedintosubcutaneoustissueabdomen,thigh,andbuttocks.

Abdomenhasthequickestabsorptionrate.

Thighshaveamediumabsorptionrate.

Buttockshaveslowestabsorptionrate.

Injectinginthearmisnolongerrecommendedastheriskofinjectingintomuscleisincreased.Ifinsulinisinjectedintomuscletheinsulinisabsorbedtoofast.

Inserttheneedleata90degreeangleandpresstheplungerofthesyringeorpenallthewaydown.

Ifusinganinsulinpenholdtheneedleinplaceandcountto10secondsbeforeremovingtoensurethefulldoseofinsulinisreceived.

Withthecorrectneedlelengthnopinchupoftheskinisrequired.Howeverifyouareveryslimitmaybeadvisabletouseashorterneedlelength.

Heatincreasesinsulinabsorption,sobeawareofhotbaths/sauna/exercise.

Overuseofinjectionsitesshouldbeavoided.

Rotateinjectionsites.

Inoverused,fattylumpscandevelopininjectionsitesknownaslipohypertrophy(lipos).

Ifinsulinisinjectedintoareasoflipohypertrophy,theactionofinsulincanbeveryunpredictable.

Alwaysuseanewinsulinneedleforeachinjectionandfollowlocalguidanceforsharpsdisposal.

Manythankstofitforpermissiontousetheireducationalmaterial.