Insulin injections are one of the treatments for diabetics. However, this injectable drug cannot be used carelessly. Therefore, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the dosage and how to use it, so that the drug can work optimally.
Insulin injections are generally used to control blood sugar in diabetics. The way artificial insulin works is almost the same as the natural insulin hormone in the human body, which is to control blood sugar levels by processing it into energy. In addition, insulin can also prevent the liver from producing excessive sugar.
Insulin Injections in Diabetics
Insulin injections are given to people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes to replace the function of the hormone insulin that should be produced by the pancreas.
Type 1 diabetes makes the sufferer unable to produce insulin in sufficient quantities or even not produced at all. This condition makes insulin injections the main treatment for people with type 1 diabetes.
Meanwhile, in people with type 2 diabetes, the body can still produce insulin naturally even though the amount is not sufficient or the cells in the body are not sensitive to the effects of the hormone.
In this condition, the doctor will usually suggest other treatments, such as living a healthy lifestyle and giving diabetes medication to drink.
However, if your diabetes condition worsens or if other diabetes management methods are no longer effective, your doctor will recommend insulin injections.
Types of Insulin Injections
The use of insulin injections must be based on a prescription and instructions from a doctor. Before recommending the right type and dose of insulin, the doctor will first examine the patient, such as a physical examination and supporting examinations, including blood sugar and HbA1c tests.
Based on how it works and the duration of its effect, insulin injections are divided into several types, namely:
- Fast acting insulin (rapid-acting insulin)
- Short acting insulin (short acting insulin)
- Intermediate acting insulin (intermediate acting insulin)
- long acting insulin (long acting insulin)
- Mixed insulin
Insulin injections can be used before meals or at night before going to bed to keep blood sugar levels stable. However, each type of insulin injection has a different way of working. Therefore, its use must be adjusted to your conditions.
It is not recommended that you stop taking insulin, change the dose, or change the type of insulin without consulting your doctor first, as this can affect the success of diabetes therapy.
How to use insulin injections
After determining the type of insulin that suits your condition, the doctor will explain how to use insulin injections and explain which areas of the body can be injected insulin.
Generally, areas of the body that are recommended by doctors are parts of the body that have a lot of fat tissue, such as the thighs, stomach, buttocks, or upper arms.
Injection of insulin can be done with a conventional syringe or insulin pen. How to inject insulin with the two devices is not much different. The following is how to inject insulin using a conventional syringe:
- Wash your hands first with soap and running water.
- Pull the plunger pump on the syringe until it reaches the predetermined dose number.
- Clean the top of the insulin bottle pack using a clean tissue or alcohol swab.
- Insert the tip of the syringe into the vial until it penetrates the rubber layer of the packaging, then push the pump slowly so as not to leave air in the syringe.
- Position the insulin bottle up and the syringe down.
- Pull the pump until the syringe is filled with the required dose of insulin.
- If there are air bubbles, tap the syringe to let the air bubbles rise to the top, then push the syringe pump to release the bubbles.
- Pinch the area of the skin to be injected and clean with an alcohol wipe.
- Insert the syringe at a 90 degree position, then push the syringe pump until all doses of insulin enter the body.
- When you're done, pull out the syringe first before releasing the pinch.
- Avoid rubbing the injection site even if a little blood appears. If necessary, apply gentle pressure and cover the injection site with gauze.
Keep in mind that syringes should only be used once and after use they must be immediately disposed of in a special medical waste container.
If injecting insulin with a conventional syringe is inconvenient, you can use an insulin pen. The syringe on the insulin pen should also only be used once and should be replaced immediately after. This tool is more widely used because it is easier and more practical.
The use of an insulin pen is more or less the same as a conventional syringe. The difference is that the use of an insulin pen does not need to measure the dose of insulin used. You simply set the number listed on the insulin pen according to the dose recommended by the doctor, then directly inject it.
Injecting insulin using an insulin pen can be done with the following steps:
- Remove the insulin pen from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before use.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water.
- Remove the insulin pen cover, then attach the insulin pen needle at the end. After that, adjust the amount of insulin dose to be given according to the doctor's instructions.
- Clean the area of the skin to be injected with a tissue or alcohol swab.
- Remove the needle cover and remove air from the insulin pen by tapping the tube until air collects at the top. Then inject insulin by pressing the button on the end of the insulin pen.
- Be sure to inject insulin until it runs out according to the prescribed dose. Do not be too quick to pull out the insulin pen needle. Hold for about 10 seconds to make sure the entire insulin dose has been taken.
Avoid injecting insulin in areas that have bruises or cuts, and try to inject insulin in a different area of the body from the previous injection site.
After injecting insulin, you need to be careful because insulin injections have the risk of causing blood sugar levels to drop below normal (hypoglycemia). This condition can cause symptoms such as:
- Weak
- Headache
- Excessive sweating
- Tired quickly
- Body shaking
- Starving
- Dizzy
- pounding chest
If severe enough, hypoglycemia can cause fainting, convulsions, or even coma. Therefore, diabetics who experience hypoglycemia after receiving insulin injections or diabetes medications need to be taken to a doctor immediately for treatment.
Insulin injections are indeed one of the main options for diabetes treatment, but not all diabetics need insulin injections. If you have diabetes, consult your doctor to determine whether you need insulin injections.
If your doctor prescribes you injectable insulin, don't forget to ask your doctor about the correct way to inject insulin and what side effects you need to watch out for.