How to store insulin?

Insulin is a protein and tends to break down and become ineffective, if gets too hot or cold. So, keep opened bottles of insulin at room temperature. Do not leave insulin vials on a sunny window sill or in the freezer. Store unopened bottles in the refrigerator, and rotate your supply, so that you use the oldest bottles first.

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Demonstrate technique for mixing and drawing up insulin.

PeoTechnique of mixing and drawing up insulin depends on whether you use one type of insulin or a combination of insulins.

If you use one type of insulin:
Always wash hands before starting the procedure. This lessens risk of infection. Do not shake the bottle. Mix it by turning the insulin bottle on its side and roll it between your palms. Wipe the top of the insulin bottle with an alcohol wipe. Pull the syringe plunger to draw in enough air to equal your insulin dose. Push the needle through the bottle top and inject the drawn air into the bottle. Keeping the needle in the bottle, turn it upside and pull the plunger to fill the syringe past your dose of insulin. Push slowly to the line of your correct dose of insulin. Check for air bubbles. If bubbles are present, tap the syringe to make them rise. After the air bubbles are removed. Remove the needle from the bottle, and carefully rest the syringe so that the needle touches nothing.

If you use more than one type of insulin:
When you use insulin in combination, always draw the regular insulin and then the other insulin. As with any other procedure, wash your hands and wipe the tops of both insulin bottles with an alcohol wipe. Turn the NPH or Lente insulin bottle upside down and roll between your hands to mix. Take care not to shake the bottle. Pull plunger to draw in enough air to equal your NPH or Lente insulin dose. Push the needle through the top of the NPH or Lente insulin bottle and inject air into the bottle. Remove empty syringe and needle from bottle. Pull plunger to draw in enough air to equal your Regular insulin dose. Push the needle through the top of the Regular insulin bottle and inject air into the bottle. With the needle in the bottle, turn it upside and pull to fill the syringe past your dose of Regular insulin. Push slowly to the line of your correct dose of insulin. Check for air bubbles. If bubbles are present, tap the syringe to make them rise. Remove the needle from the bottle with Regular insulin in the syringe. Push the needle through the top of the NPH or Lente insulin bottle and carefully pull plunger back to your total dose of insulin. Remove the needle from the bottle, and carefully rest the syringe so that the needle touches nothing.

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Identify age appropriate injection sites.

You can inject insulin into several places on your body. The most common injection site is the abdomen. The back of the upper arms, the upper buttocks or hips, and the outer side of the thighs are also used. These sites are the best to inject into because they have a layer of fat just below the skin to absorb the insulin, but not many nerves; which means that injecting there will be more comfortable than injecting in other parts of your body. Insulin injected near the stomach works fastest. Insulin injected into the thigh works slowest. Insulin injected into the arm works at medium speed.

Some people prefer injecting in the abdomen because the insulin absorbs well there. But injecting in the abdomen isn't right for everyone, especially young children or people who are so thin and/or heavily muscled that they can't pinch up a half-inch of fat. Your body absorbs insulin differently depending on where it is injected. Insulin is absorbed fastest when injected into the subcutaneous tissue in the abdomen (stomach), and somewhat less quickly in the upper arms, thighs, and buttocks/hips.

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Instruct injection technique.

Draw the required amount of insulin into the syringe. Choose your injection site. Wipe the area with alcohol to clean it. Grasp a large pinch of skin between your thumb and fingers. Push the needle straight into the skin. Press the plunger in. Holding the alcohol wipe next to the injection, pull out the needle. Wipe the area with the alcohol wipe.

Tips for insulin injection

• Use different spots for different shots. Take advantage of the fact that insulin is absorbed differently at the various injection sites.
• Move around within one area. If it's more comfortable to inject in one body area, be sure to move around within that area, giving each injection at least an inch and a half away from the previous one. This technique will help you avoid fat hypertrophy or atrophy.
• Move to a new injection site every week or two. Inject in the same area of the body, making sure to move around within that area with each injection, for one or two weeks. Then move to another area of your body and repeat the process. Use the same area for at least a week to avoid extreme blood sugar variations.

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