Insulin Injection Vial and Syringe

The material contained in this video presentation provides general information on the management of diabetes. This information is for reference purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. For specific information and recommendations based on your health condition, please consult your medical provider.

Hello, my name is Annette McClenaghan, and I'm a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist here with Lee Health. To talk to you today about insulin injection using a violin syringe.

There are many kinds of insulin, and your doctor will decide what insulin type, amount, and injection times are best for you. Sometimes people feel a little nervous or anxious about taking insulin injections, but with a little practice, you'll see it only takes a few seconds to do, and it can be rather easy.

Supplies needed: insulin vial, a new insulin syringe, alcohol swabs, and a sharps container.

The insulin syringe has many parts as shown on this slide. Before preparing your insulin injection, wash your hands with soap and water.

Preparing the insulin vial: Check the label and color of the insulin. It should be clear unless you've been prescribed a cloudy insulin. There should not be any crystals or sediment in the insulin vial. Confirm the name of the insulin, check the expiration date. Do not use insulin after the expiration date. If using cloudy insulin, mix by rolling between your hands 15 to 20 times. Do not shake an insulin vial. Remove the insulin vial cover and clean the rubber stopper with alcohol.

Drawing insulin from the vial: Remove the needle cap from the insulin syringe. Do not let the needle touch anything. Pull the plunger down to the number of units of insulin you will be taking. Measure the dose using the side of the stopper closest to the needle. Insert the needle straight through the center of the rubber top of the vial of insulin. Push the air from the syringe into the vial. This makes it easier to draw the insulin out of the vial while keeping the needle in the vial. Turn the vial and syringe upside down. Pull the plunger down to fill the syringe to the exact number of units you will be taking. Measure the dose using the side of the stopper closest to the needle. Check the syringe for air bubbles. If you see air bubbles, push the insulin back into the vial and slowly pull the plunger back down to the exact number of units that you will be taking. Pull the needle out of the vial of insulin and do not let the needle touch anything. Confirm the insulin dose.

Choosing an injection site: Insulin is injected into the fatty tissue as seen on the slide. Any area where you see dark green is an approved area for insulin injection. Insulin is fastest absorbed in the stomach or the abdomen area, so sites can be the abdomen or stomach. As long as you stay two inches away from the belly button, you can use the outer part of the thighs, buttocks, or the upper outer part of the arms. Again, we wanna make sure that we are injecting insulin into the fatty tissue no matter what site you use. Avoid injecting within two inches of a scar. You also want to rotate sites. Never continue to inject insulin in the same site repeatedly.

Insulin injection: Choose the site for injection and clean with alcohol. Allow the area to dry. Hold the syringe like a pencil, gently pinch up a fold of skin. Insert the entire length of the needle into the fold of the skin at a 90-degree angle. Let go of that pinched skin and push the plunger all the way down to administer the full dose of insulin. Hold and count for five seconds. After five seconds, pull the needle straight out of the skin. It's recommended to avoid injecting cold insulin that may sting or be more uncomfortable. Room temperature insulin injection is more comfortable.

Sharp's disposal: Do not attempt to recap the needle. We wanna avoid any unnecessary sticks. Dispose of the syringe in an approved sharps container. You can purchase a sharps container at the local pharmacy or check with your local department of health for their sharps policy. Only use a syringe once and discard. We never reuse a syringe as that can cause bruising and put us at an increased risk for infection.

Insulin storage: Unused insulin vials should be stored in the refrigerator. Vials that are in use can be stored at room temperature. Check the manufacturer information for insulin expiration time once the vial is in use. Once you open the insulin, the expiration date changes. You want to mark your vial with that new expiration date. If you use that insulin after that new expiration date, it may not be as effective. It is important to read all the information on the packaging and speak to your healthcare provider about when your insulin expires after opening or once in use. Do not freeze insulin and do not keep insulin in a hot place or in direct sunlight. If insulin freezes or it gets warmer than 86 degrees Fahrenheit or 30 degrees Celsius, it may no longer work.

This video provided a brief overview of insulin violin syringe injection. To obtain more information or support, please reach out to a certified diabetes care and education specialist. Thank you.