Syringe Injection
Blue Box
Tools in this box
Syringes
Needle and syringe used with insulin vial.
Insulin Bottles (Vials)
Container holding insulin to be used with syringe.
Video: Learn How to Inject Insulin with a Syringe
*Note: Your devices may differ from the ones that appear in the video
Step by Step: Learn How to Inject Insulin
1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water
2. Check the insulin type and expiration date
Check for right insulin type, right dose, and right time. Make sure the bottle (vial) is not expired.
There are many different kinds of insulin, and each insulin stays in your body for a different length of time.
Once opened, insulin expiration dates vary, so check the guide that came with each vial.
3. For a new insulin bottle, remove cover over the rubber stopper on bottle
You only need to do this the first time.
4. Wipe the top of the insulin bottle with an alcohol wipe
Alcohol wipes are in the Yellow Box.
5. Remove the (A) needle cover on the syringe and (B) bottom cap
Syringes come in different sizes and needles come in different lengths.
6. Pull the plunger back to your insulin dose
7. Turn syringe upside down and insert the syringe into the rubber stopper of the bottle
Hold the bottle steady on the table.
8. Push all the air into the bottle until dose goes back to zero
This dose of air is the same as your insulin dose and helps remove air bubbles.
9. Pick up the bottle with syringe attached. Flip upside down and hold bottle steady.
10. Slowly pull the plunger down to your insulin dose
11. Remove the syringe from the bottle
12. Remove air bubbles
Do this by slowly tapping the syringe with your finger or against the edge of a table.
13. Choose site to inject insulin
You can inject in your belly, thigh, or back of your arm.
14. Clean the injection site with an alcohol pad
Wait 10 seconds until the alcohol is dry.
Alcohol wipe in Yellow Box.
15. Inject the insulin
(a) Pinch skin.
(b) Hold syringe straight and push needle into skin.
(c) Hold firmly in skin and count to 10. Remove syringe.
Try this using the practice skin in Yellow Kit.
16. Replace syringe needle cover
17. Place the syringe in the sharps container and put the insulin bottle in a safe place
Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long you can store your insulin bottle at room temperature.
