how do you measure and draw up insulin?

Answer 1

If your Dr. didn't show you, you probably shouldn't be doing it. Against my better judgement, here goes. Draw the syringe back, drawing air in up to the amount of insulin you want. Then stick the needle into the bottle and push the air in. That should force the same amount of insulin back out. Or, just stick the needle in and pull back on the plunger until you get the desired amount. If you couldn't figure that out, you shouldn't be allowed to have needles or drugs. Sorry, but true.

Answer 2

Best technique (clear insulins):
1. Take the cap(s) off your syringe.
2. Draw room air into the syringe by pulling the plunger back until the end of the rubber gasket nearest the needle is at the set dose you intend to inject. (if the gasket has a dome or conical shape the dose should be set at the widest part of the gasket and not the tip)
3. Puncture the insulin vial with the needle and inject the air into the vial. This seemingly useless step has a purpose --- if you were to not inject air to replace the insulin you withdrew, after many fillings a vacuum would eventually develop making subsequent fillings difficult.
4. Invert the syringe and vial and hold them vertically (vial on top, syringe directly underneath) and then RAPIDLY pullback the plunger until the barrel is filled with insulin well beyond your dose (eg. to about 15 units if your dose is to be 5 units)
5. Slowly push the plunger in, still holding vertically, until the appropriate part of the gasket reaches the desired dose.
6. Continue to hold syringe and vial vertically as you remove the filled syringe and needle from the vial.

For cloudy insulin follow steps 1-3 seen above.
4. Before drawing out any insulin , while still holding the vial and syringe in one hand, VIGOROUSLY shake them back and forth ten times. Holding both syringe and vial vertically, rapidly draw back the plunger IMMEDIATELY after shaking to fill the syringe with well beyond your actual dose. Do not delay, as grey particles will settle quickly.
5-6. Still holding vertically, slowly push plunger in until desired dose is reached, then remove needle and filled syringe from vial. (see steps 5-6 for clear insulin)

Hope this helps. I would recommend that you visit and speak with your diabetes educator/nurse/physician about this further if you have ANY questions.

Answer 3

If this is for the care of yourself or a loved one then that is something way too important/personalized to be asking here! You need to get that info from the doctor or diabetic educator.

If it's just for general knowledge or a question on a test, insulin is measured in "units." You draw it up using a syringe just like any injectable. The amount drawn up is dependant on type of insulin and doctor's orders and on what the blood glucose testing level is.

Answer 4

I am a type 1 and need 5 shots a day. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and my doctor sent me to an endocrinologist and he prescribed me insulin and needles and sent me on my way w/ out any instruction at all. So I went to a web site that showed me step by step. And the pharmacist (who's tech was a good friend ) also showed me. Play it safe and go that route.

Answer 5

each little line on the needle is an unit. ifyou are to take 10units shot then you go to number 10 but first you pull the need to 10 and shot the stuff into the bottle and then pull out the insulin to 10 that way it won't go back down or lose it. take care doctor should show you how to do this take care.