Effective insulin injection technique is essential to ensure optimal management of diabetes. Those who administer insulin should understand how it works, in particular its link to blood glucose levels.
This article outlines how to administer an insulin injection, including: the competencies healthcare practitioners require to undertake this procedure; the steps they should undertake to safely administer insulin; and the evidence base supporting safe and effective insulin injection.
Insulin can be injected using either an insulin pen or a syringe and vial. There are various insulin regimens available, such as basal only, basal-bolus and mixed insulin.
Potential insulin injection sites include the abdomen, thighs, buttocks or arms. The presence of lipohypertrophy at an insulin site indicates that another site should be used.
Insulin should be injected into the subcutaneous tissue at a 90-degree angle. The skin should be raised to reduce the risk of injecting into the muscle; however, this risk is reduced with the use of shorter needles.
‘How to’ articles can help update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of:
How you think you could use this article to improve your practice in administering insulin injections.
How you could use this resource to educate your colleagues about administering insulin injections.
Nursing Standard. 32, 16-19, 41-46. doi: 10.7748/ns.2017.e10855
CorrespondenceCorrepsondence Tracey.Curtis@porthosp.nhs.uk
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Conflict of interestNone declared
CorrepsondenceContributing to the How to seriesTo suggest a ‘How to…’ article, please email how.to@rcni.com with a synopsis of your idea
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Received: 27 February 2017
Accepted: 14 September 2017
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