Technique for Insulin Administration

Technique for Insulin Administration

Let us remind you that before injecting insulin, as well as other medications, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and wipe with alcohol. Only after this can you begin the procedure.

In order not to confuse the doses of simple (fast-acting) and long-acting insulin (medium or long-acting), first of all, decide on the sequence of drawing the drug into the syringe. This means that you must decide which insulin to dial first: long-acting or regular insulin. Choose the sequence once and never break it in the future so as not to get confused.

Let's say you need to enter 6 units of actrapid and 16 units of monotard. You remember that fast-acting insulin is a clear solution. This means that when you take a bottle of transparent insulin, you will take actrapid.

Wipe the cork with a cotton swab and alcohol. Open the insulin syringe. Draw 6 units of air into it. Inject the syringe into the insulin vial. Release the air into the vial, turn it upside down and draw insulin. Remove the needle from the bottle. If there is any air left in the syringe, it should be removed. Holding the syringe with the needle up, tap it with your finger. When the bubbles rise, press the plunger lightly - the air will come out through the needle.

Place the sterile case on the needle and set the syringe aside - it is ready for injection. Then, repeating the same manipulations, draw 16 units of monotard into another syringe. The amount of insulin can be taken 1-2 units more than the recommended dose, because small air bubbles get into the syringe, part of the drug remains in the needle, and a drop of medicine can come out of the injection site. All this will amount to approximately 1-2 units of insulin.

Clean the intended injection site with alcohol. Make a skin fold by grabbing the skin between your thumb, middle and index fingers. With your free hand, grasp the syringe like a spear, be sure to hold the needle cannula with your middle finger, and quickly inject (the syringe can be held strictly vertically or at an angle).

After injecting insulin, do not remove the needle and syringe for 5-6 seconds to prevent the drug from flowing out of the injection site after the needle comes out. Press the injection site with alcohol for a few seconds.

Use the same techniques for the second injection.