Diabetic Insulin Injection

Insulin is a hormone produced by the body that helps to covert the food you eat into energy.  People with diabetes may need or require insulin injections either because they do not produce enough insulin in their bodies, or they cannot properly use the insulin that they do produce, or for both reasons.  Insulin is like a key that opens up the locks on the cells within your body so that blood sugar can get inside and be used for energy.  If the sugar cannot get inside your cells, it will build up in your bloodstream and if left untreated a high blood sugar level can cause long-term complications to your health.  Insulin cannot be taken orally as a pill or capsule because the digestive juices in the stomach ruin its effectiveness, so the only way to take it currently is by injection.

With the use of insulin you may hear your provider talking about the onset of action, peak and duration of the medication.  The onset of action is how fast the insulin starts to work after it is injected.  The peak is when the insulin is working the hardest, resulting in the greatest effect.  The duration is how long the insulin continues to work after it reaches its peak.  As a diabetic requiring insulin use, it is very important for you or your loved one to be familiar with these concepts to prevent hyper- or hypoglycemia.  Your provider will supply you with material for the specific insulin you are prescribed because they do vary.

Remember to always read the instructions carefully that come with your insulin.  Vials of insulin open or unopened when stored at room temperature are considered “good” for approximately 28 days, after this your insulin may lose its potency.  If stored in a refrigerator, unopened vials are “good” until the expiration date printed on the label.  Opened vials stored in a refrigerator should be used within 28 days of being opened.  Many people store only unopened vials in the refrigerator and keep their open vials at room temperature because they find it more uncomfortable to inject insulin that is cold.  Do not freeze insulin or store it in direct sunlight.  Do not use insulin vials past the expiration dates that are printed on the label, and no matter what the expiration date is, dispose of opened vials at least one month after they are opened.  A good tip to keep in mind is that whenever you open a new vial, write the date on it so that you know when the 28 days have been reached.  On the other hand with insulin pens and their cartridges, the storage life will range from seven days to one month, make sure to read instructions or consult with your provider regarding this issue.

There are many different types of diabetes, generally though the majority of people are only familiar with Type 1 and Type 2.  Type 1 is referred to as IDDM, or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.  Type 2 is referred to as NIDDM, or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.  So, the key to controlling blood glucose levels for type 1 diabetics is the administration of insulin.  For Type 2 diabetics, at times insulin may be administered, otherwise the blood glucose levels are controlled by dietary habits, exercise and oral medications. 

Insulin should be injected into the same general area of the body to maintain some sort of consistency; however injections should never be consecutively administered in the exact same location.  The most common site for an insulin injection is the abdomen; other appropriate locations are as follows:  back of the upper arms, the upper buttocks or hips, and the outer sides of the thighs may be used.  The areas mentioned are used because they have a layer of fat just below the skin and not many nerves, so that the medication will be best absorbed with the least amount of discomfort.  Some people prefer the abdomen as their first choice for injection because it will absorb the best there.  However, others such as young children or people who are so thin or heavily muscled that they are unable to pinch at least a half an inch of subcutaneous tissue, find it more difficult to inject into the abdomen.  Patients should consult with their provider as to what the best location is for their insulin injections.  The provider will most likely take into play both insulin absorption and site rotation.

If you are a diabetic and require daily injections of insulin, Total Home Health has a program available for you!  If admitted with us, you or your loved one will receive a Daily Diabetic Insulin Injection kit that contains tools to help monitor your treatment.  Also enclosed in the kit is teaching material and tips to help ensure our patients and caregivers are aware of all aspects of the importance regarding daily insulin injections.  You definitely will not be alone in your journey, because with us you will always be informed of the best treatment options to maintain your optimal health.