If you are beginning to take insulin, you need to know how and where to inject it. Let’s learn this for an easy and pain free experience
For painless insulin injections, choose the layer of fat on the stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks and backs of the arms.1
These areas have no nerve endings, which makes injecting, painless.1
Keep rotating your injection spot, to prevent fatty lumps from
forming1
Avoid injecting at any scarred tissue and 2-inch area around the belly button.1
Are you ready for an insulin injection?
Choose a spot:
Choose a spot on your skin that is easy to reach. 1,2
Hygiene first:
Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure that the site is clean. Clean the site with soap and water or wipe it with alcohol.1,2
Pinch the skin:
With one hand, pinch a little part of your skin and fat (1-2 inches portion) between your thumb and index finger (first finger).1,2
Holding and inserting the needle
Hold the needle:
With your other hand, hold the syringe or pen like a pencil at a 90-degree angle to the skin.1,2,3
Insert the needle:
Inserting slowly can be painful, so insert the needle with one quick motion, almost like hitting a dart. Also, make sure you insert the needle all the way in.1,2,3
Injecting insulin
Release the pinch:
Let go of the skin pinch before you inject the insulin. 1
Inject the insulin:
Push the plunger with your thumb slowly and steadily until the insulin is fully injected. Continue pushing all the way down until you see ‘0’. 1
In case you are using a syringe, keep the needle in the skin for 5 seconds. If you are using a pen, keep the needle in the skin for 10 seconds. 1
Pulling out the needle
Remove the needle:
Be sure that you have taken the full dose of insulin. Count for 10 seconds and then gently pull out the needle at the same 90-degree angle at which you inserted it.1,2
Don’t let the insulin leak:
It is quite possible for the insulin to leak out from the injection site. Avoid this by pressing the injection site with your finger for 5-10 seconds.1
Giving a pain-free insulin injection
Don’t fear the injection pain. Try these tips for a pain-free experience:
Always use a brand new needle
Relax your muscles and don’t hold them tight
Use insulin and a needle which is at room temperature
Push the needle in quickly
Try not to wiggle the needle while injecting or withdrawing it
Disposing the needle
Protect yourself and your loved ones from accidental needle sticks.
Throw away the syringe after recapping.
Throw away used syringes and pen needles in a thick plastic container.
When the container is nearly full, close it tightly with a screw-on cap and close it with a tape.