Giving an Insulin Injection Into the Belly Using an Insulin Pen
Attach needle to insulin pen
After you have put the insulin cartridge in the insulin pen, screw on a new needle.
Get ready
Remove the outer cap from the needle. Keep this outer cap. You will use it later to safely dispose of the needle.
Remove needle cover
Remove the inner cover from the needle. Be careful not to prick yourself. To keep the needle clean, set the insulin pen on a counter or put the outer cap back over the needle while you do the next step.
Clean
Clean the area of skin where you will give the injection. If you use alcohol to clean the skin, let it dry.
Pinch up
If you covered the needle with the outer cap, remove it now. Check to make sure that you have the right dose. Then, using the hand not holding the insulin pen, slightly pinch a fold of skin between your fingers and thumb.
Stick it
Push the needle all the way into the pinched-up area.
Inject and wait
Let go of the pinched-up area, and push the plunger of the pen all the way in. Count to five before taking the needle out.
Recap
Put only the outer cap back over the needle. The thin, inner cover is harder to put back on and you may stick yourself.
Needle safety
After covering the needle with the outer cap, unscrew the needle and throw it away in a sharps container or other solid plastic container. You can get a sharps container at your pharmacy.
Last Revised: October 1, 2010
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology
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