Diabetes Learning Center
Proper injection technique is important to keep diabetes in control and reduce discomfort. Insulin syringes and pen needles play a role in reducing pain from injection.
If you inject insulin or another medication for your diabetes, here are some things to keep in mind:
1) Consistent delivery into fat layer
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Injections should consistently enter the fat just underneath the skin and should avoid the muscle.
Watch demonstration: how to inject with a syringe
Watch demonstration: how to inject with a pen
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Injections into the muscle are more common with longer needles, leading to quicker insulin action and greater risk of low blood sugar.
Learn how to recognize and treat low blood sugar
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A 4mm x 32G pen needle rarely enters the muscle as compared with longer 6mm-12mm pen needles.
Learn which pen needles do not require a pinch up.
2) Injection site location and rotation
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Common injection sites include the stomach, thigh, buttocks and upper arm.
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Rotating among these sites may reduce the risk of lypodystrophy, lumps of fat that develop under the skin from injecting in the same spot repeatedly.
- A 4mm pen needle length allows for a “straight in” no pinch injection technique at all injection sites. This allows you to inject with one hand into harder to reach areas like the upper arm or the buttocks.
3) Choices of needle type, length and gauge
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Factors to consider when choosing a needle are the thickness (gauge) and the length of the needle.
- People who have participated in studies seem to prefer the 4mm x 32G pen needle over other longer pen needle lengths.
4) Additional tips
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How to improve your injection technique
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A reused needle does not enter the skin as easily or as cleanly because it has become dulled by use and the lubricant that lets the needle enter the skin has been rubbed off. Use pen needles and syringes only once.
- All used sharps should be contained and disposed of in a sealed sharps container according to local municipality regulations.