Treatment

Insulin Pen Injection With Clear Insulin

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Step-by-Step

  • Insulin pen and new needle.

    1. Gather your supplies.

  • Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

    2. Wash your hands.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand pulling off insulin pen cap.

    3. Remove the cap.

  • One hand holding sealed needle and other hand removing bottom seal.

    4. Open the needle.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand pushing new needle onto pen.

    5. Push the needle on.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand turning new needle until tightly attached to pen.

    6. Turn until it’s tight.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand pulling outer cap off needle.

    7. Remove the outer cap.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand pulling smaller inner cap off needle.

    8. Remove the inner cap.

  • Hand turning dial on end of insulin pen to correct priming dose.

    9. Turn the dial to prime your insulin pen.

  • Hand holding insulin pen with needle up and thumb pushing plunger to remove air bubbles.

    10. Push the plunger to remove air bubbles.

  • Hand turning dial on end of insulin pen to correct dose.

    11. Turn the dial to load your insulin dose.

  • A person’s front and back, with highlighted areas where insulin can be injected, including area around belly button, front of waist, upper thighs, upper buttocks near hips, and back of upper arms.

    12. Pick a spot. Use a different one each time.

  • Hand pinching skin on chosen spot.

    13. Pinch your skin.

  • One hand pinching skin at chosen spot and other hand pushing needle with loaded insulin into skin, with needle at a 90-degree angle.

    14. Push the needle into your skin.

  • One hand holding insulin pen with needle inserted into skin and other hand pushing plunger down to inject insulin.

    15. Push the plunger down.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand holding plunger down, with stopwatch showing time passing.

    16. Hold the needle in for 10 seconds.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand pushing clear outer cap back on needle.

    17. Replace the outer cap on the needle.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand turning clear outer cap on needle until loose.

    18. Turn until the needle is loose.

  • One hand holding insulin pen and other hand pulling needle off insulin pen.

    19. Remove the needle.

  • Used needle going into sharps container for disposal.

    20. Throw the needle away.

Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN

Online Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN

Online Medical Reviewer: Robert Hurd MD

Date Last Reviewed: 03/01/2023

© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.

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