How to use insulin and where to inject it right

There are various ways of using insulin for the treatment of diabetes, including by using a syringe, insulin pen, insulin pump, and jet injector. The method of administering insulin using the syringe and insulin pen is the most common method. However, injecting insulin cannot be done carelessly. The reason is that insulin can only absorb the maximum when it is injected into certain parts of the body. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to where the injection is, how to use injectable insulin, and when it is administered.

Where is the right location for insulin injection?

The purpose of giving insulin injections in the treatment of diabetes is to control blood sugar. Artificial insulin which is injected into the body is a substitute for the natural insulin hormone which cannot be produced or work optimally in the body.

Injecting insulin, either through a syringe or an insulin pen can be done independently at home. The correct way to use insulin is to be injected into the fatty tissue under your skin, otherwise known as subcutaneous tissue.

There are several areas in your body that are commonly used to inject the artificial insulin hormone. Each location where insulin is injected in your body has a different working period.

1. Stomach

Many choose the stomach as the location for injecting insulin because this part of the body is easy to reach, making the injection process easier.

Besides being easier to do, injecting insulin in the stomach makes insulin quickly absorb into the bloodstream.

To inject insulin in the stomach, choose the injection site in the abdomen, which is the part of the abdomen that stores the most fat tissue, usually around the navel.

The point of injection should be done at a distance of 5-6 cm from the navel. Pinch the fat tissue between your waist and hipbone.

Also, avoid areas of the abdomen that have scars, moles, or skin blemishes. These various conditions can interfere with insulin absorption.

2. Upper arm

In addition to the stomach, the upper arm can also be a location for insulin injection. However, the insulin injection in this area has a lower absorption rate.

How to inject insulin is done in the fatty area on the back of the arm (tricep area), which is between the shoulder and elbow.

Instead, inject it into the part of the arm that is not used predominantly, for example the left arm for right-handed people and the right arm for left-handed people.

One of the drawbacks of injecting into this one part is that it is more difficult to do independently. You may need someone else to do it.

3. Thigh

The thigh is one of the locations for insulin injection that is very easy to reach.

However, the insulin absorption rate in the thighs is the slowest compared to others. In addition, even though it's easy to reach, usually injecting insulin in your thighs makes you feel uncomfortable when running or walking.

If you want to keep the injection in the thigh, the most appropriate location for injection is the front of the thigh, which is the middle between the upper thigh and the knee. To inject it, pinch or take the fatty front of the thigh about 2.5-5 cm.

4. Lower back or hips

The lower back or hips are an alternative location for other insulin injections.

However, his insulin absorption rate is the slowest. You will also need someone else to help you with the injection because it is located on the back of your body.

The needle will be positioned around the top of the buttocks between the hips. To be precise, at the distance between the spine and the side below the waist.

Do not inject insulin at the same point over and over again

It is very important to change the injection point when you are giving insulin. Don't use the same dot over and over.

The use of insulin like that actually risks causing skin irritation and enlargement of fat cells (lipohypertrophy). Enlarged fat cells make insulin can not be absorbed optimally.

You are also not recommended to inject insulin in the muscles. If the insulin is injected too deep into the muscles, the body will use insulin too quickly. As a result, blood sugar (glucose) levels drop dramatically and cause hypoglycemia.

Also avoid injecting the parts of the body that will be used for activities. Take for example, do not inject insulin in the thigh if you are going to play soccer.

How to give insulin through a syringe

To ensure that insulin is actually injected into the fat tissue, it is quite difficult if you are not used to it.

Apart from needing to estimate the exact position of the fat tissue, the angle of injection also needs to be considered. Insulin injection is usually done perpendicular to the injection point.

In order not to do the wrong injection, you can follow the method of using injectable insulin below:

Before touching syringes, clean hands with soap or alcoholic cleaner.
Hold the syringe upright (needle on top) and pull it out plunger (the tip of the syringe) down to the end plunger reach the size according to the dose prescribed.
Remove the cap from the insulin bottle and needle. If you have used this bottle before, clean the plug at the top with an alcoholic cotton ball.
To get insulin from the bottle, insert the needle into the point of the plug and push plunger down.
Keeping the needle in the bottle, turn it upside down. Pull plunger down to the black tip plunger reach the right dose.
If there are bubbles in the syringe, tap it gently, and the bubbles will rise to the top. Push the syringe to release the bubbles back into the bottle. Pull plunger drop again until you reach the correct dose.
Place the insulin bottle down and slowly remove the syringe from the bottle.
Determine the injection point that is adjusted to the part of the body where the insulin is injected. Clean with alcoholic cotton.
To start the injection, gently pinch the skin 2.5 - 5 cm before inserting the needle.
Inject the needle into the specified point at an angle of 90 degrees by pressing plunger slowly. Wait for 10 seconds before removing the needle.

Generally, it is now easier for you to administer insulin injections because of their pen-like shape. No longer using manual injections like before.

How to use insulin pen is also easier, because usually the dosage has been adjusted according to your needs so you no longer need to be difficult to move insulin from the bottle to the injection. In the insulin pen, there is a regulator that you can adjust for your dose. You can inject with a similar method using a syringe.

To reduce pain, you can apply ice to the area around the injection point for a few minutes before cleaning it with alcohol. This will make the stinging sensation less pronounced when the needle is injected.

Tips for safe using injectable insulin

Before injecting, there are a number of things you need to pay attention to about your insulin, namely:

If you are storing insulin in the refrigerator, wait until it is at room temperature before injecting it.
Always check the expiration date. Do not use insulin that has changed color or has foreign particles in it even though it has not expired. The use of insulin that exceeds the safe limit of use can risk increasing blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).
We recommend that the syringe be used only for 1 time. Even so, syringes are still safe to use 2-3 times as long as the cleanliness of the equipment is maintained properly.

Time or schedule for insulin use

Taking regular insulin therapy makes blood glucose levels easier to control.

However, each type of insulin has a different working time speed so it is important to understand well the type of insulin used. Based on the speed at which it works, insulin is divided into 5 types, namely:

Fast acting insulin (lispro, asprate, gluisine)
Short acting insulin
Medium acting insulin
Long acting insulin (long acting insulin)
Ultra long acting insulin

According to the American Association of Diabetes, the way to inject insulin that gives the most effective results is done 30 minutes before eating. That way, insulin will immediately be able to control the glucose that is processed from food so that blood sugar levels remain under control.

In insulin therapy for diabetes, you usually use two different types of insulin and are injected at different times. The doctor will provide medical advice regarding the type of insulin and the timing of injection.

What if you forget your insulin shot?

The immediate effect that will occur when you forget to inject insulin is hyperglycemia. This condition can worsen the symptoms of diabetes that you are experiencing.

If you use insulin very closely, you also run the risk of developing the side effect of insulin, namely hypoglycemia. To determine whether you have injected insulin or not, try checking your blood sugar levels independently after eating.

For those of you who are using insulin for the first time, especially for people with type 2 diabetes who are required to undergo insulin therapy, do not hesitate to consult a doctor if you find difficulties in injections. The doctor will explain how to use insulin for novice patients.