Diabetes is of two types. Type I is
also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM, or juvenile-onset
diabetes mellitus. People with this type of diabetes mellitus make little or no
insulin in their body, and need regular insulin injections to manage the
problem. Patients with IDDM have to take insulin shots or injections whenever
their blood glucose level increases. Most such patients have to learn to inject
themselves with insulin, which is a simple procedure. Following are the steps
involved in preparing and giving an insulin shot:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Mix the insulin in the ampoule gently by rotating the bottle between your
palms or by inverting it slowly from end to end.
- Take off the cap and clean the top with sterilised cotton/gauze swab soaked
in spirit.
- Remove the cover from the needle and pull the plunger back till the marking
corresponding to your insulin dose. The syringe should be filled with air and
NOT the insulin at this time.
- Push the needle into the insulin bottle and release the air inside without
taking in any of the insulin.
- Invert the insulin ampoule and insert the tip of the needle into the
insulin. Now pull the plunger back till the marking of your dose to suck in the
required amount of insulin. Take care to avoid sucking in any air bubbles. If
you can see air bubbles inside the syringe, discard the dose and repeat the
procedure.
- If any extra amount of insulin is sucked in, carefully discard the extra
amount outside the bottle. Do NOT inject the insulin back into the bottle.
- Choose the site for the shot carefully. The sites can be discussed with the
doctor beforehand.
- Clean the skin at the site of injection with an alcohol swab.
- Pinch up an area of the skin and insert the needle at a right angle fully
into the skin.
- Release the plunger and push it all the way down to inject the insulin into
your body. Release the pinched skin.
- Pull the needle out and pat the area with the swab. Do not rub the site of
injection.
- Dispose off the needle after use.
Though the procedure seems
fairly easy and becomes a routine after some practice, it should always be
practised first in front of the doctor. |