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.