How can I avoid problems?
There are several recommendations concerning insulin injection. Therefore, we have put together all the information you need to prevent as much trouble as possible during your therapy.
Get a fast overview of the most common handling errors with the Do's and Don'ts list below.
Please consult your healthcare provider whenever you have additional questions. They will help you with your injection routines.
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Needle length
DO
Choose a needle length and a suitable injection technique. Pinch up for needles longer than 6 millimeter.
DON'T
Avoid intramuscular injection. It is not only painful, but the insulin will be absorbed irregularly.
Single use
Single use
DO
Use a new pen needle for every injection.
DON'T
Don‘t use a needle more than once, because it is no longer sterile, the tip gets damaged – injecting hurts more and may cause lipos. Residues may block the needle.
Air shot
Air shot
DO
Perform an air shot before every injection to ensure that the insulin flow is steady.
DON'T
Never inject insulin without having checked that the needle is blockage free.
Injection area
Injection area
DO
Pick an injection area. The site and the skin should be in good condition. Preferred areas are your outer thighs, abdomen or buttocks.
DON'T
Avoid using your upper arm. It is rather difficult to reach and you would need a second person for the pinch up.
Pinch up
Pinch up
DO
If you pinch up, use your thumb, index and possibly your middle finger. Gently pinch the fatty tissue underneath the skin away from the muscle and create a skin fold.
DON'T
Don‘t squeeze too hard, since you will pinch up the muscle as well. This will increase the risk of intra-muscular injections.
Skin injection
Skin injection
DO
Always inject directly into the skin. And remember to always inject into healthy fatty tissue.
DON'T
Never inject through your clothes. The silicone finish rubs off, the delicate tip gets bent, and shreds of fabric might block the needle or even enter your skin.
Place the needle
Place the needle
DO
When injecting into the abdomen, make sure you keep 2 centimeters away from your belly button.
DON'T
Avoid intramuscular injection. It is not only painful, but the insulin will be absorbed irregularly.
Needle insertion
Needle insertion
DO
Insert the needle all the way to the hub till it is fully inserted. The hub should have skin contact during the whole injection.
DON'T
Never insert the needle only partly. To reach the fatty tissue, the needle should not be visible while you inject insulin.
Duration of injection
Duration of injection
DO
After the injection, leave the needle in the fatty tissue for at least 10 seconds. This prevents leakage.
DON'T
Don‘t pull the needle out directly after injection.
Site rotation
Site rotation
DO
Change injection spots to prevent lipohypertrophies (short: lipos).
DON'T
Never inject into the same spot more than once in a row; the risk of lipos forming is too high.
Disposal with needle container
Disposal with needle container
DO
After injection, dispose of the needle straight away according to local regulations. Use the outer needle container to do so.
DON'T
Don’t recap the needle to reuse it. This is no protection and it is no longer sterile. And you might hurt yourself, since the needle shield is small.
Disposal with sharps collector
Disposal with sharps collector
DO
Use a medical sharps collector such as the Omnican® box or Medibox® to ensure a safe disposal of every needle.
DON'T
Don’t collect the needles in bottles or cans for disposal. Such containers may break or be punctured. An uncapped needle puts everyone at risk.