Using Injected Insulin

You can’t take insulin by mouth because the acids in your stomach would destroy it. Most people take insulin by injection, or shots. Your healthcare team will show you how to give yourself insulin injections. Use the steps below as a reminder.

Where to Place Your Injections

Injection sites

Insulin is most often injected into the fat over the abdomen, where it is best absorbed.
Change the injection site each time you give yourself insulin. This helps prevent skin problems.
Have an organized way of moving from site to site. Use all the sites in the same area before moving on to the next. Or use the same area for injections given at the same time of day.
Keep about 1 inch between sites.
Leave at least 2 inches around your belly button.
Do not inject into broken or scarred skin or into broken blood vessels.
Don’t inject over or near a muscle you plan to exercise.

Related Video: I Didn't Think I Could Inject Insulin

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Afraid to self-inject? These people were too. Let these stories help you cope with fear of self-injection.

Medical Reviewer: Medical Reviewer: Gerald W. Smetana, MD Last Annual Review Date: Last Annual Review Date: August 30, 2010 © 2012 Healthgrades, Inc. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades, Inc. Use of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.

Indications and Usage for Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection)

Prescription Lantus® is a long-acting insulin used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes for the control of high blood sugar. It should be taken once a day at the same time each day to lower blood glucose.

Do not use Lantus® to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.

Important Safety Information for Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection)

Do not take Lantus® if you are allergic to insulin or any of the inactive ingredients in Lantus®.

You must test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as Lantus®. Do not make any changes to your dose or type of insulin without talking to your healthcare provider. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision.

Do NOT dilute or mix Lantus® with any other insulin or solution. It will not work as intended and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious. Lantus® must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with no particles visible. Do not share needles, insulin pens or syringes with others.

The most common side effect of insulin, including Lantus®, is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may be serious. Some people may experience symptoms such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, and blurred vision. Severe hypoglycemia may be serious and life threatening. It may cause harm to your heart or brain. Other possible side effects may include injection site reactions, including changes in fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions, including itching and rash. In rare cases, some allergic reactions may be life threatening.

Tell your doctor about other medicines and supplements you are taking because they can change the way insulin works. Before starting Lantus®, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including if you have liver or kidney problems, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.

Lantus® SoloSTAR® is a disposable prefilled insulin pen. Please talk to your healthcare provider about proper injection technique and follow instructions in the Instruction Leaflet that accompanies the pen.

Please click here or the link below for the full prescribing information for Lantus®

When to Inject Your Insulin

Try to inject your insulin at the same time every day.
Eat 5–15 minutes after injecting your insulin. (This will depend on the type of insulin you take.)

Getting Ready

Wash your hands. Use soap and warm water.
Gather your supplies. You need a clean needle and syringe, your insulin, alcohol wipes, and a sharps container.
Clean the insulin bottle. Wipe the rubber stopper with alcohol.
Prepare the insulin. If you use cloudy-type insulin, roll the bottle gently between your hands.

Preparing the Syringe

NOTE: If you mix insulin, put the clear insulin into the syringe first. Then put the cloudy insulin in.

Pull back the plunger. Pull back until the end of the plunger is even with the number of units of insulin you take.
Insert the needle into the top of the bottle. Hold the needle and bottle straight up and down. Then push the plunger in all the way.
Turn the bottle and syringe upside down. Hold them in one hand. Turn your hand over so that the bottle is on top.
Pull back on the plunger again. Pull back until the end of the plunger is even with the number of units of insulin you take.
Remove the needle. Then tap the syringe with a fingertip to remove any air bubbles.

Injecting the Insulin

Patient injecting insulin into abdomen

Syringe and insulin.

Clean your injection site using the alcohol wipes.
Gently pinch up about 1 inch of skin. Do not squeeze the skin.
Insert the needle into the location that you were taught to inject.
Push in the plunger. Press until the syringe is empty. Let go of the skin. Then withdraw the needle. Don’t rub the site after you remove the needle.

Disposing of the Syringe

After you inject, put the needle and syringe directly in a sharps container. Never lay them down anywhere.
When the sharps container is full, put it into a garbage bag and secure the top. Label the bag “needles” or “sharps.”
Call your local waste company to ask about disposal requirements for needles. You can also check with the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal at 800-643-1643, www.safeneedledisposal.org.

Storing Your Insulin

Store insulin according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Never freeze insulin. And don’t let it get above 86°F.
Always use insulin before the expiration date on the bottle. Throw bottles away after that date.
When you travel, take all of your supplies with you. Put them in an insulated bag, and keep the bag with you. Never put your supplies in luggage that you check on an airplane or a bus.
Never leave insulin or needles in the car. They can get too hot or too cold or get lost.

Medical Reviewer: Chang, Alice MD Copyright: © 2000-2010 The StayWell Company, 780 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.