Diabetes Treatment – Insulin

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Diabetes Treatment – Insulin - Dosage and How to Use

How should Diabetes Treatment – Insulin be used?

How to Injection Insulin

Knowing where to inject your insulin will make the injection easier, safer and more comfortable. Insulin is injected into the fatty tissue that is between the skin and muscle layer. After insulin is injected, it is absorbed into the blood and is used by your body.　

There are three main areas of injection:

　Abdomen — insulin is absorbed fastest here into the blood
　Arm
　Thigh and buttocks — insulin is absorbed slowest here into the blood

Your doctor or nurse will advise you on the best area to inject. You should keep to the same injection area (abdomen OR arm OR thigh/buttock) to ensure consistent insulin absorption.

You should rotate the injection site within the same area to prevent your body from forming lipodystrophy (a small lump or dent in the skin that forms when a person repeatedly injects in the same spot).

Insulin injected into these hardened areas may not be absorbed well.
Check your injection areas every few days by pressing gently and running your fingertips across the skin.
Inform your healthcare professionals if there are any lumps, painful spots or change in colour anywhere.
Avoid using these areas until they have recovered.

If you are injecting into the abdomen area, inject at least two inches away from the belly button and avoid areas with scars or bruises.

Insulin Devices

Syringes　

Syringes are used to deliver the correct and accurate insulin doses to patients. Choose a suitable syringe that best matches the number of units required.

A 0.3mL syringe should be used for doses up to 30 units. A 0.5mL syringe should be used for doses up to 50 units. A 1mL syringe can be used for doses up to 100 units.

Do not reuse insulin syringes. Throw away the syringe after every injection.

Insulin Pens

Insulin pens combine both the insulin cartridge and measuring dial into one device. Some insulin pens are disposable whereas some are reusable. Thus, insulin injections become more convenient as you do not have to carry syringes and insulin vials separately with you.　

Insulin Pumps

The insulin pump is a small computerised device that pumps insulin continuously through a fine plastic tube into a site under the skin throughout the day.

Pump users have to monitor their blood sugar frequently so as to make adjustments to the amount of insulin delivered. The insulin pump generally gives you better control and more meal flexibility but is more expensive and requires more frequent blood sugar monitoring.