How do I take insulin with a pen?

In this small video, I'll show you how to take insulin with a pen. But first I'll tell you a bit about the insulin pen. Always wash your hands and maintain good hand hygiene when you have your insulin pen in your hands. The insulin pen is your personal treatment tool and should therefore only be used by you. If you have opened your insulin, store it at room temperature. Store insulin you are not using in the refrigerator. Do not take insulin in or out of the refrigerator, as temperature variations can impair its effect. It's also a good idea to write the date on the pen when you start using it. Before taking your insulin, make sure you are using the right pen. There is a big difference in how different types of insulin work, and if you need mixed insulin or basic insulin that must be rotated before use, you must follow the instructions for that. And you need to do this to ensure that the insulin is mixed and will work properly.

Now I'll show you how to take your insulin correctly. You start by screwing a needle onto the pen. Your needle should be 4-6 millimetres long. You must change the needle each time you inject yourself. Every time the needle is used, it becomes increasingly dull and will destroy your skin over time. This is essential to avoid changes to your subcutis, which is your underskin. Before you take your insulin, you must make a test shot. With a test shot, you ensure that the needle is filled and that it works as it should. You can perform your test shot on a piece of kitchen towel or tissue. When the tissue/kitchen towel gets wet, you know that the needle is filled and working.

Now, turn the pen up to the number of units you need. Then choose the area of your body where you want to inject yourself with the needle. Remember, you must not inject yourself in the same place every time. Spread your injections out properly. It will be assimilated better and work better in your body.

We recommend that you take your insulin in your abdominal tissue, thigh or the top of your buttock. Do not take insulin through your clothing. So when you are wearing trousers or a top, the pull your clothes up or down. When you're at home, you don't need to sterilize with alcohol before taking your insulin. However, if you have been admitted to the hospital, you should do so to prevent infections.

When you inject yourself, inject at a 90 degree angle with no skin fold. Do not depress the plunger quickly or remove the needle quickly. This should be done slowly so that the insulin can be delivered and brought into your tissue where it must do its work. When the plunger is depressed completely, count to 10 before pulling the needle out. You then unscrew the needle and discard it in a needle box, and you put the cap back on the insulin pen. You have now given yourself an insulin injection.