Video: How to Inject Insulin for Diabetes

Step 2: Measure Air
Measure air into your syringe by pulling the plunger back. Match the black plunger tip with the correct marking on the syringe.

Step 3: Equalize the Pressure
Remove the cap from the top of the insulin vial, revealing the rubber stopper. Remove the needle cover. Put the needle through the rubber stopper and push down on the plunger to put the air into the insulin vial. This helps equalize the pressure in the bottle, making it easier to withdraw the insulin.

Step 4: Prepare Your Dose
Leaving the needle in place, turn the bottle upside down. The needle tip should be fully submerged in the insulin.

Pull the plunger down to measure your dose, again using the black tip of the plunger to match the markings on the syringe.

Pull the needle out of the vial.

Turn the syringe with the needle pointing up and gently tap on the syringe to move any air bubbles up. Then, slowly push the plunger so that the air exits the syringe.

Step 5: Inject Your Insulin in the Appropriate Injection Site
To inject yourself:

Hold the syringe like a pencil.

Gently pinch skin with your free hand and quickly insert the needle at a 90-degree angle.

Release the pinch.

Push down on the plunger in a steady motion until the syringe is empty. Pull the needle straight out of the skin.

That’s it! As I mentioned earlier, with a little practice you’ll be able to inject yourself in a matter of seconds. My patients generally find that anticipating the injection is the hardest part.

If your health care provider has prescribed insulin for you to inject using an insulin pen, follow these four steps:

Step 1: Choose Injection Site
Regardless of whether you are injecting insulin via a syringe or the pen, select a different injection site each time you inject.

Step 2: Prime the Pen
Insert the needle into your insulin pen. Turn the knob to the number "2" and press down on the knob to prime the pen.

Step 3: Set the Pen to Your Dose
Turn the knob until you see the correct dosage digits.

Step 4: Inject Yourself
Press the dosing knob. This inserts the needle and delivers the insulin.

If, however, your health care provider has recommended and prescribed you inject insulin using an insulin pump, you would go through additional training on the use of the device.

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This content was developed with the support of sanofi-aventis.