INSULIN: How to Administer It
Tips to make your life easier while making your loved one's healthier
BY:MARGARET FARLEY STEELE
Insulin pumps, insulin pens and inhaled insulin are revolutionizing the way insulin is administered, but insulin injections are still commonplace among people with diabetes, especially those with type 1 diabetes.Before attempting to give insulin injections, consult a certified diabetes educator (CDE) and follow the instructions that come with the insulin starter kit, advises Jean Kostak, MS, RD, CD-N, center administrator, Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate, New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT.
Tips for administering insulin vary according to the injection site-usually the stomach, thigh, arm or buttock. The Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, however, offers this general advice to assist you:
- Avoid the inner thigh because of the many blood vessels and nerves there
- If rotating sites around the same injection area, keep injections an inch (or two fingers' width) apart
- Avoid injecting scar tissue, because it might interfere with absorption
- Although refrigerating insulin is recommended, cold insulin sometimes makes injections more painful. If that is a problem, you can store the insulin bottle you are using at room temperature for up to a month but avoid temperature extremes
- If using an insulin pen, inject straight on and hold the pen in place for several seconds after the insulin is ejected
- Insulin sometimes spoils, so always check the expiration date and examine the contents for clarity. If the insulin appears cloudy or contains particles, do not use it; return unopened bottles to the pharmacy
For more about Insulin, click on:
INSULIN: What It Does
INSULIN: Is It Necessary?
INSULIN: Non-Insulin Drug Therapy