Nurses from the Department of Specialty Nursing at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) show the proper way of injecting insulin and storing it.
How to inject insulin - A step-by-step guide
Watch the video!
1. Wash both your hands with soap and water.
2. Dry your hands with a tissue paper or a hand towel.
3. Select the injection site at the abdominal area.
![](/sites/hexassets/Assets/diabetes/insulin-administration-step-3.jpg)
4. Cleanse the injection site with an alcohol swab.
5. Wait for the alcohol to dry.
6. Lift the skinfold using a thumb and the index finger.
![](/sites/hexassets/Assets/diabetes/insulin-administration-step-6.jpg)
7. Inject insulin at 90 degrees perpendicular to the injection site.
![](/sites/hexassets/Assets/diabetes/insulin-administration-syringe-step-7.jpg)
8. Inject the dose by pressing the circular tip all the way in at a steady speed.
![](/sites/hexassets/Assets/diabetes/insulin-administration-syringe-step-8.jpg)
9. Withdraw the insulin syringe and apply light pressure on the injection site using a cotton wool swab/alcohol swab.
10. Discard the used insulin syringe into a container (e.g. plastic bottle subsequently sealed with a cap) before disposing it into the rubbish bin.
How to store insulin vials
Insulin |
Storage |
Remarks |
Insulin in-use |
At room temperature (max. approximately 25-30°C for 4 weeks. |
Once the vial is in use, it need not be kept in a fridge.
Label each vial with a date on the sticker. |
Brand new insulin |
In the fridge at 2-8°C.
Do not store insulin in the freezer! |
Insulin should be removed from the fridge at least 30 minutes before injecting.
Always check the expiry date before using the insulin. |
Note: Each insulin vial is for single patient use only.
See page 2 for how to mix short-acting and intermediate-acting insulin.
See page 1 for
how to draw insulin from a vial using a syringe.
Ref: O17
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