II. Indications: Medications
III. Technique
- Administered beneath Dermis and Epidermis
- Locations (typical Insulin injection sites)
- Needle Sizes
- Length: 1/2 to 5/8 inch (regardless of age)
- Needle gauge
- Insulin: 28 to 32 gauge
- Other aqueous medications: 22 to 25 gauge
- Thick solutions: 21 to 23 gauge
- Technique: General
- Prep area (e.g. Alcohol swab)
- "Pinch an inch" of skin
- Inject at 45 to 90 degrees
- Technique: Insulin needles
- Typically shorter (4 to 5 mm long)
- Avoid pinching skin
- Inject at 90 degrees
- Reducing injection pain
- Allow medication dose to warm to room Temperature before infection
- Apply ice to the skin area for 10 min prior to injection
- Biologic Agents may have additional strategies for reducing injection site pain
IV. Precautions
- Rotate injection sites (risk of Lipodystrophy with frequent repeat use)
- Patients should dispose of needles in sharps container (NOT the trash)
- Avoid rubbing injection area after injection