Insulin cannot be taken as a pill or tablet because digestive enzymes would break it down before it could get into the bloodstream. Therefore, it must be injected—a prospect that may sound scary but, in fact, is routine for six million people in the United States, according to research published in 2016 inDiabetes Spectrum.
Whether you are new to self-injecting insulin with a syringe and needle, would like to fine-tune your technique or explore using aninsulin pumpor other alternative, or will be giving insulin shots to someone else regularly, there’s much to know about how best to administer this medication safely and effectively.
Brianna Gilmartin / Verywell
What You Will Need
In order to inject insulin, you will need to always have on hand several items:
Insulin:This comes in small bottles or vials that hold enough insulin for multiple injections. Although most people take only one type of insulin at a time, some need to mix twotypes.
Storing InsulinAll unused insulin, including prefilled cartridges and pens, should be stored in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees F. When this isn’t possible, it should be kept as cool as possible (between 56 and 80 degrees F) and away from heat and light. Once opened, a bottle of insulin can be kept at room temperature for a month.
Storing Insulin
All unused insulin, including prefilled cartridges and pens, should be stored in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees F. When this isn’t possible, it should be kept as cool as possible (between 56 and 80 degrees F) and away from heat and light. Once opened, a bottle of insulin can be kept at room temperature for a month.
Syringes:These are the clear tubes into which each dose of insulin is measured for injection.Syringesvary in size based on how much medication they can hold and are labeled either in milliliters (mL) or cubic centimeters (cc). Either way, the volume is the same: 1 cc of medication is equal to 1 mL of medication. Obviously, the size of the syringe you choose for injecting insulin will need to accommodate your prescribed dose.
Needles:Needles are labeled according to two measurements: gauge, which refers to the thinness of the needle, and length. Because insulin does not have to be injected deeply into the body, a short, thin needle should suffice: typically one-half to five-eighths of an inch long with a gauge of 25 to 30.
Choosing Syringes and Needles for Injections
Alcohol wipes:Keep a generous supply of these pre-wrapped alcohol-saturated squares on hand. You’ll need one to two per injection.
Sharps container:Syringes and needles must be disposed of safely. You can purchase a sharps container from a pharmacy or medical supply store, or use an empty laundry detergent container with a screw-top lid.
When either is filled, they will need to be dropped off at a collections site. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administratio (FDA), this may be a healthcare provider’s office, hospital, pharmacy, health department, medical waste facility, or police or fire station, depending on local health department rules.
Learn How to Dispose of Your Used or Expired EpiPen
Using a Syringe and Needle
If you will be giving yourself an insulin shot, these are the steps to take:
Gather your supplies.As listed above, you’ll need your prescribed insulin (which may be one bottle or two), a needle and syringe, alcohol wipes, and a sharps container.
Make sure you have the right insulinand that it has not expired; any insulin left in an opened bottle should be discarded after 30 days.
TipTo avoid using insulin that may have lost its potency, always write the date on the bottle when you first open it.
Tip
To avoid using insulin that may have lost its potency, always write the date on the bottle when you first open it.
Look at the quality of the insulin.If you see any clumps, toss that bottle and get a fresh one. If you’ll be using intermediate-acting insulin, it will look cloudy. This is normal. To mix it, roll it gently between your palms. Do not shake the bottle.
Wash your hands with soap and waterand dry them thoroughly.
Swab the top of the insulin bottle with an alcohol wipe. If it’s a new bottle, remove the protective cover. It should pop off with a little upward pressure.
Uncover the needle.Hold the syringe in one hand. With the other, grasp the cap covering the needle and pull it straight off without touching the needle.
Check for air bubbles.If any are trapped in the syringe, tap it gently with your fingernail to dislodge them. Push the air bubbles back into the bottle and pull back again to fill the syringe with the correct amount of insulin.
Choose and prepare the injection site.Insulin enters the bloodstream at different speeds—“more slowly from the upper arms and even more slowly from the thighs and buttocks,” according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The ideal spot is the abdomen.
Rotating Injection SitesAlthough it’s ideal to inject insulin in the same general area, it’s also important tonot inject it in the exact same spot. Doing this could lead to the development of hard lumps or extra fatty deposits, which are both unsightly and likely to interfere with the effectiveness of the insulin.
Rotating Injection Sites
Although it’s ideal to inject insulin in the same general area, it’s also important tonot inject it in the exact same spot. Doing this could lead to the development of hard lumps or extra fatty deposits, which are both unsightly and likely to interfere with the effectiveness of the insulin.
Remove the needle.Slowly withdraw it at the same angle at which it was inserted. You may see a drop or two of blood; apply pressure with the alcohol wipe. The bleeding should stop within a few seconds.
Safely dispose of the used syringe.Being careful not to stick yourself, carefully place the cap back on the needle and put the syringe into the sharps container.
Syringe SafetyNever reuse a syringe.Once used it’s no longer sterile and could be a source of infection. Cleaning a used needle with an alcohol wipe is not advisable. Doing so will strip it of the silicone coating that helps it glide comfortably into the skin.Never share syringes.Diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis are spread via blood; using a syringe someone else has used could put you at risk of infection.
Syringe Safety
Never reuse a syringe.Once used it’s no longer sterile and could be a source of infection. Cleaning a used needle with an alcohol wipe is not advisable. Doing so will strip it of the silicone coating that helps it glide comfortably into the skin.Never share syringes.Diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis are spread via blood; using a syringe someone else has used could put you at risk of infection.
If you are using two types of insulin, repeat these steps with the second bottle. Do not mix two types of insulin into one syringe unless otherwise instructed. Your healthcare provider will tell you which type of insulin to inject first: Always stick to that order.
Troubleshooting
For most people, self-injecting insulin goes smoothly after some practice. However, the process isn’t without a few common glitches.
The shots hurt.Most people find that self-injections of insulin are not painful—at least once they get the hang of doing them. If even after you’ve mastered the steps you still find it uncomfortable to inject insulin:
Easing Injection Pain
Insulin sometimes leaks out of the injection site.This can happen even if you leave the needle in place for the recommended five to 10 seconds before withdrawing it. Leakage isn’t a problem unless large drops appear, but it’s best to prevent it if possible. To do this you can:
Alternative Injection Methods
There are a number of ways to take insulin besides using a needle and syringe. These include:
Insulin pens:There are two types: Pens into which an insulin-filled cartridge is inserted and disposable pens that are prefilled and meant to be discarded after all the insulin has been used. For both types, the insulin dose is “dialed” on the pen and the insulin isinjected through a needle. Cartridges and pre-filled insulin pens contain only one type of insulin; if you take two types of insulin, you will need two different pens.
What Is an Insulin Pen and How Is It Used?
Insulin pumps:Consisting of a reservoir to hold insulin and a pump, these devices connect to the body via tubing and use a cannula that holds a needle for delivering insulin into the body. All insulin pumps provide a slow, steady stream of fast- or short-acting basal insulin, with an option to deliver a larger dose of additional insulin (known as abolus) at meals.
Pros and Cons of Insulin Pump Therapy
Insulin patch:There is only one such device on the market—theV-Go. Unlike traditional insulin pumps, this device is credit-card size and adheres to the skin. The patch holds a small reservoir and a pre-filled needle.
A Word From Verywell
The thought of sticking yourself with a needle multiple times a day is understandably daunting. But even though the idea may be new to you, it’s actually an aspect of diabetes treatment that has been around for a very long time—long enough for biomedical engineers to refine the process so that it’s as easy and painless as possible.
Your healthcare provider or a diabetes educator will help you learn the ropes of self-injection and decide ifa pen, pump, or patch is likely to work better for you than a traditional needle and syringe.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sarbacker GB, Urteaga EM.Adherence to insulin therapy.Diabetes Spectr. 2016;29(3):166-170. doi:10.2337/diaspect.29.3.166Kaiser Permanente.Storing Insulin and Prefilling Syringes: Topic Overview. August 31, 2020.Food and Drug Administration.How to get rid of a sharps container safe disposal of needles and other sharps used at home, at work, or while traveling.American Diabetes Association.Insulin routines.American Association of Diabetes Educators.Pro tips (and tricks) for easier andbetter insulin injections.Additional ReadingAmerican Association of Diabetes Educators.Diabetes injection know-how: Pro tips (and tricks) for easier insulin Iinjections. Published 2020.MedlinePlus.Giving an insulin injection. August 29, 2020.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sarbacker GB, Urteaga EM.Adherence to insulin therapy.Diabetes Spectr. 2016;29(3):166-170. doi:10.2337/diaspect.29.3.166Kaiser Permanente.Storing Insulin and Prefilling Syringes: Topic Overview. August 31, 2020.Food and Drug Administration.How to get rid of a sharps container safe disposal of needles and other sharps used at home, at work, or while traveling.American Diabetes Association.Insulin routines.American Association of Diabetes Educators.Pro tips (and tricks) for easier andbetter insulin injections.Additional ReadingAmerican Association of Diabetes Educators.Diabetes injection know-how: Pro tips (and tricks) for easier insulin Iinjections. Published 2020.MedlinePlus.Giving an insulin injection. August 29, 2020.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sarbacker GB, Urteaga EM.Adherence to insulin therapy.Diabetes Spectr. 2016;29(3):166-170. doi:10.2337/diaspect.29.3.166Kaiser Permanente.Storing Insulin and Prefilling Syringes: Topic Overview. August 31, 2020.Food and Drug Administration.How to get rid of a sharps container safe disposal of needles and other sharps used at home, at work, or while traveling.American Diabetes Association.Insulin routines.American Association of Diabetes Educators.Pro tips (and tricks) for easier andbetter insulin injections.
Sarbacker GB, Urteaga EM.Adherence to insulin therapy.Diabetes Spectr. 2016;29(3):166-170. doi:10.2337/diaspect.29.3.166
Kaiser Permanente.Storing Insulin and Prefilling Syringes: Topic Overview. August 31, 2020.
Food and Drug Administration.How to get rid of a sharps container safe disposal of needles and other sharps used at home, at work, or while traveling.
American Diabetes Association.Insulin routines.
American Association of Diabetes Educators.Pro tips (and tricks) for easier and
better insulin injections.
American Association of Diabetes Educators.Diabetes injection know-how: Pro tips (and tricks) for easier insulin Iinjections. Published 2020.MedlinePlus.Giving an insulin injection. August 29, 2020.
American Association of Diabetes Educators.Diabetes injection know-how: Pro tips (and tricks) for easier insulin Iinjections. Published 2020.
MedlinePlus.Giving an insulin injection. August 29, 2020.
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