Giving yourself an insulin shot takes some practice, but it's not hard. Here are the general steps to follow.
[How to Give Yourself an Insulin Shot—Single Dose]Giving yourself an insulin shot takes some practice, but it's not hard. Here are the general steps to follow.Gather your supplies: sharps container, alcohol wipes, syringe and insulin vial. If you store your insulin in the refrigerator, first let the vial come to room temperature. Injecting cold insulin can be painful.Then wash your hands well with soap and warm water.Now you're ready to start. Remove the plastic cap on the vial if you are opening a new vial. Then wipe the top of the insulin vial with an alcohol swab and let it dry.Next, get a new syringe. Unwrap it, if necessary and remove the cap from the syringe. Experts recommend using a new syringe for each injection.Each syringe has a barrel, a plunger, and a needle. On the side of the barrel are marks for units. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much insulin you need for each shot.Pull the plunger back to the mark your healthcare provider has told you to use. Insert the needle into the top of the insulin vial. Push the plunger all the way down so air enters the vial. Turn the vial and syringe upside down.Slowly pull back on the plunger until it reaches the same mark you used before. Be sure the tip of the needle is still in the insulin liquid.If you see any bubbles in the barrel of the syringe, you will need to remove them. First, try tapping the barrel of the syringe to get the bubbles to the top. If this does not work, try pushing the plunger back in and then slowly pulling it back to the mark on the barrel.Remove the needle from the vial.Next, use an alcohol swab to clean the skin area where you will give yourself the shot. Allow the alcohol to dry.Pinch the skin between your thumb and first two fingers. Hold the syringe in your other hand like you would a pencil. Put the needle into your skin, so that it is pointing straight in.Then, slowly push the plunger all the way in. Make sure the syringe is empty. Then pull the needle straight out of your skin.Throw the syringe away in a sharps container.You can make your own container with a detergent bottle that has a screw-on top. Label it so everyone in your family knows what it is.If the insulin vial was a single dose, throw it away. If it contains multiple doses, you can leave it as is. It will last about a month at room temperature.
© 2000-2025 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.
