Who needs insulin injection?
Type 1 diabetics are dependant on insulin as their body is unable to produce insulin.
In Type 2 diabetes, there may be periods (eg. during illness, surgery or pregnancy) when insulin is required. In addition, some Type 2 diabetics do better on insulin injections, especially when tablets are no longer effective.
Types of Insulin
Fast Acting
This is a clear solution. It has a quick onset and short duration of action.
Intermediate Acting
This is obtained by adding a substance which delays the absorption of insulin. This results in formation of tiny insulin crystals which give the insulin a cloudy appearance.
Premixed
This is a ready-made mixture of fast-acting and intermediate-acting insulin. They come in different portions of fast-acting and intermediate-acting insulins, e.g. 30% of one and 70% of the other.
Long Acting
There are also long-acting insulins that have a duration of action of more than 24 hours.
Very-fast acting
This form is the latest to come on the market. It acts even faster than the fast-acting insulin but its duration of action is shorter.
Insulin treatment must be individualised for each patient according to needs. Your doctor will choose the type or types of insulin that will best suit you.
How to Store Insulin?
Unopened insulin vials should be stored in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees centigrade. The vials can be kept at the door or the lower compartment, away from the freezer. Frozen insulins should never be used.
The current vial in use canbe keptr in the coolest possible place for up to 6 weeks. Avoid extreme temperatures and direct sunlight.
Long exposure to direct sunlight will give the insulin a yellow-brown colour. Do not use the insulin if this happens.
Cloudy insulin can form clumps when not properly stored or when subjected to excessive shaking. They should be thrown away.
Types of Insuin Delivery Devices
Syringes and Needles
The best syringes are plastic disposable ones.
Insulin Pens
An injection pen is convenient to use and carry about. It loads a large quantity of insulin of any kind. The amount of insulin to be injected can be easily dialed up and delivered.
Insulin Pumps
Pumps have been developed to supply basal insulin continuously. Boluses of insulin can be activated and delivered before meals. The pump is attached via a tube and needle to the user. The control that can be achieved is comparable to a carefully monitored multiple injection regime.
Disposal Insulin Pens
These are the latest form of insulin-delivery device. The pens are preload with insulin, and thrown away after each injection.
How to Inject Insulin (Syringe Needle)
Getting ready
- Get ready a syringe and needle.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Clean the rubber stopper on the insulin bottle with an alcohol swab.
- Roll the insulin bottle gently between your hands to suspend the insulin and warm it up.
Filling the Syringe
- Pull back the syringe plunger until the tip reaches the marker for the correct number of insulin units you will need.
- Put needle through stopper of insulin vial. Push plunger down putting air into the vial.
- Turn vial and syringe upside down and pull plunger down to just beyond the unit marker for the correct dose of insulin. (slightly more than the correct dose)
- Flick any air bubbles to the top of the syringe and push plunger up to unit marker for your dose.
- Take needle out of vial.
For a mixed insulin injection, do the above procedure for the clear insulin first and the cloudy insulin second.
Giving the Injection
- Clean injection area and firmly pinch up skin. Holding the syringe like a pencil, quickly push the needle all the way into pinched up area. The usual injection angle is between 45 and 90 degrees.
- Push plunger all the way to inject insulin beneath pinched-up skin.
- Remove syringe. Gently press hand over the area for a few seconds if bleeding occurs. Do not rub the injection area.
- Dispose of your syringe and needle safely.
- Record insulin dose in your diary.
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