Health Benefits Center

Diabetes PreOp® Patient Education Injecting Insulin

www.PreOp.com Diabetes Patient Education This program will demonstrate injecting insulin. The goal is to inject the insulin into the subcutaneous tissue between the top layer of the skin, the dermis and the underlying muscle layer. The only concentration of insulin available in the United States is 100 units per milliliter. A milliliter is equal to a cubic centimeter. All insulin syringes are graduated to match this concentration. Insulin syringes are available in various volumes, for example 3/10 cc, which would hold a maximum dose of 30 units, 1/2 cc to hold a maximum dose of 50 units and 1 cc to hold a maximum dose of 100 units. Some insulins are cloudy suspensions. To ensure uniform dispersion of the insulin in the cloudy suspension, roll the vial gently between your hands. Avoid vigorous shaking, which will produce air bubbles or foam and interfere with obtaining the accurate dose. Wipe off the top of the bottle with an alcohol swab. Discard the swab. Pick up the syringe and remove the needle cap. With the syringe held upright, pull the plunger back until the end of the plunger is at the mark of your dose, which in this example is 20 units. There is now air in the syringe. Check the insulin bottle to ensure you have the correct type of insulin. With the insulin bottle held firmly on a counter or tabletop, insert the needle through the rubber cap into the bottle. Diabetes Patient Education Push the plunger down so that the air goes from the syringe into the bottle ...