Insulin Administration
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Additional Information:
Insulin Administration Details
The first step you should always take prior to insulin administration is to wash your hands with warm water and soap. This is an important step in prevention of infections as well as contamination of medications. Once you have cleaned your hands, you should visually inspect the insulin.
Things to look for are dating, color, and particles. Rapid and short acting insulins should appear clear without any particles floating. Intermediate- and long-acting insulins should look cloudy, also with no clumps or crystals in the bottle. If the date is older than a month, it is usually not recommended for use.
Once the insulin has passed the visual inspection, choose the injection site according to your site rotation plan.
Mixing Insulin
If you're using intermediate or long acting insulin, you may mix the insulin by rolling the bottle between your hands to mix it evenly. Never shake the bottle, as shaking can make the insulin clump together.
Insulin Administration and Units
Always check how many units you are going to need to inject. Then pull back the plunger on the syringe to draw that amount of air in. Hold the insulin bottle upright and push the needle into the top of the bottle. Push the plunger to put air into the bottle. Holding the needle in the bottle, turn the bottle upside-down. Then slowly pull out the plunger to measure out a bit more insulin than you actually need.
With the needle still in the insulin bottle and the bottle still upside-down, tap the side of the syringe gently. Any air bubbles will rise to the top. Then push the plunger in just enough to get rid of the air and the extra insulin. You should now have just the right amount of insulin in the syringe and no air bubbles. Always double-check to make sure you have drawn the right amount of insulin. Then take the needle out of the bottle.
Hopefully these insulin administration tips have been helpful. They are intended as a tips and do not replace your doctors guidance on how to prepare and administer insulin.