Welcome to Your New Life: Part 2

Still review. Now we review how to take an insulin shot. This isn't hard, but can hurt from time to time. I'm pretty... we'll call it chubby, so I don't know if it hurts if you're skinny.  Also listed below in picture format are some good places to put the needle in. So here we go:

First, get your stuff ready and take your sugar. Insulin needle, insulin pen, alcohol pen and glucometer. Some people have actual needles and actual insulin, which is what they started me off on. It's basically the same steps, but you actually have to draw the insulin.

 

Now, take off the insulin cap and wipe off the insulin top. We do this to protect ourselves against germs, even though it has a cap on.

 

Next, put on the needle (or put the drawing needle into the little vial of insulin). Usually this is a good time to wipe off your place of injection. Usually I use my stomach (which is the picture, please excuse the blur)

 

Now dial up/draw up the insulin. You need to know your carb ratio and take into account the carbs you are eating/drinking. (Example: My carb ratio is 1 to 10, meaning 1 unit per every 10 carbs) You also need to know your number. If you are higher than the doctor recommends, then you MIGHT need to take extra insulin to cover for how high you are, but ASK YOUR DOCTOR FIRST! (Picture's a little blurry, the insulin is set at seven)

 

 

Put your needle in your injection sight. The most recommended way is to pinch the skin you are using and put the needle in. It doesn't hurt as much, but pinch lightly. If you actually pinch, you'll hurt yourself.

 

 

Press down on the dial. You should hear clicks if you have a pen. Make sure that the dial is at zero before you take it out of your skin. You need ALL of the insulin that you are giving.

 

Take the needle out of your skin now. Put the cap back on the needle, you don't need to poke yourself again and needles are NOT reusable. Wipe off your injection site one more time and take the needle off. Make sure to dispose of it properly. Usually you put it in a container to take to your hospital, which unfortunately you usually have to pay for, and they will dispose of them.