Step-by-Step Patient
Injection Guide
Table of Contents
How your insulin works Definitions to review
Insulin action curves
• Rapid-acting insulin
• Long-acting insulin
Learning about pen needles Pen needle selection
• Pinch-up guide
• Pinch-up technique
• Preparing and injecting with a reusable insulin pen
Site selection and rotation
Proper use and disposal
How your insulin works
Definitions to Review:
• Onset of action: The length of time before insulin reaches the bloodstream and starts
working.
• Peak of action: The time insulin is at its maximum strength or working the hardest to
lower blood glucose.
• Duration: How long the insulin continues to work in the body.
• Basal: Steady and long-acting insulin that works between meals and throughout the
night.
• Bolus: Rapid burst of insulin that works to match food or lower high blood glucose.
• Basal-bolus therapy: Also called “flexible therapy” because it allows for greater flexibility
throughout the day. Meals do not have to be eaten at the same time every day and
insulin can be taken prior to meals, whenever thosemeals are scheduled.
How your insulin works
Rapid-acting insulin: Starts to work very quickly, but lasts only a few
hours. Injection is usually taken before a meal. This is a type of bolus
insulin.
• Type of insulin: Humalog®, NovoLog®, Apidra®
• Onset of Action: Within 15 minutes
• Peak Action: 1 to 2 hours
• Duration: 3 to 4 hours
How your insulin works
Long-acting insulin: Provides 24-hour insulin coverage and may be
given1 to 2 times per day. Injection is usually taken before bedtime
and/or in the morning. This is a type of basal insulin.
• Type of insulin: Lantus®, Levemir®
• Onset of Action: 2 to 4 hours
• Peak Action: No peak, stable
• Duration: 20 to 24 hours
Learning about pen needles
*Some children as well as very thin or
muscular teens and young adults, may
want to use the pinch up technique if
injecting into areas
with minimal fat below the skin (i.e.
legs, arms, abdomen) to further
reduce the risk of intra-muscular
injection.
Preparing and injecting with a
reusable pen
Site selection and rotation
How to rotate sites:
Each new injection should be about a
finger’s width away from the last
injection.
Proper use and disposal
• To maintain healthy injection sites, only use pen
needles one time.
Needle reuse contributes to the build-up of scar tissue,
which may interfere with insulin absorption. Insulin may
not work as expected, if injected into that area. Please
remember that syringes and pen needles are sterile
products that are designed for single use only and they
are no longer sterile after one use.
• Properly dispose of your syringes and pen needles.
• Needles should be disposed of responsibly without
risk to others
