Insulin – Patient Instructions

Insulin is a crucial medication for the management of diabetes and is administered via injection. Here’s a detailed explanation of how insulin is typically given:

  1. Types of Insulin:
    1. There are various types of insulin, categorized by how fast they work (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting) and how long their effects last.
  2. Preparation and Administration:
    1. Choosing the Injection Site:
      1. Common sites include the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks. Rotating injection sites is important to prevent lipodystrophy (changes in fat tissue leading to lumps or indentations).
    2. Preparing the Insulin:
      1. If using a vial and syringe, roll the vial between your hands (don’t shake) if the insulin needs to be mixed (e.g., NPH insulin).
      2. Clean the top of the vial with an alcohol swab.
    3. Loading the Syringe (if using vial and syringe):
      1. Draw air into the syringe equal to the insulin dose.
      2. Inject the air into the vial (this prevents a vacuum).
      3. Turn the vial upside down and draw the required amount of insulin.
    4. Using Insulin Pens:
      1. Pens are more convenient for many users.
      2. Attach a new needle, prime the pen to remove air, dial the dose, and inject.
    5. Injection Technique:
      1. Cleaning the skin with an alcohol swab is not required and does not reduce infection rates.
      2. Pinch up a portion of skin if necessary (especially if the layer of fat under the skin is thin).
      3. Insert the needle at a 90-degree angle to avoid intradermal injection
      4. Push the plunger slowly and hold the needle in place to avoid unnecessary trauma
      5. Dispose of needles safely in a sharps container.
  3. Dosage and Timing:
    1. The dose and type of insulin are based on blood sugar levels, diet, physical activity, and other factors.
    2. Rapid-acting insulin is usually taken before meals, long-acting insulin is often taken once daily, and other types may have different timing.
  4. Important Considerations:
    1. Store insulin properly (refrigerated until opened, then at room temperature).
    2. Cold insulin may sting.
    3. Regularly monitor blood glucose levels to guide insulin dosing.
    4. Be aware of the signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and how to treat it.
  5. Safety Tips:
    1. Never reuse needles.
    2. Don’t share insulin pens or needles with others.
    3. Properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Insulin therapy can seem overwhelming at first, but with education, practice, and support from healthcare professionals, it becomes an integrated part of diabetes management.