Materials Preparation

Premixed insulin pen Injection needle Alcohol pad Needle collection container (with a lid and impenetrable protection)​

Injection Steps

Wash your hands.
Take out the pen and remove the cap.
Check whether the solution has expired or deteriorated, and inspect the bottle for any cracks or defects. Inspect the solution for expiration or contamination, and check the bottle for cracks or damage. Before use, verify that the solution has not expired and that the bottle is free from cracks or defects.
Roll the pen between the palms 10 times and invert it up and down 10 times (or at least 20 times) until the solution becomes uniformly white and cloudy.
Disinfect the rubber stopper at the top of the pen using an alcohol pad.
Remove the protective seal from the needle.
Attach the needle straight onto the tip of the pen
Turn it clockwise until it is securely attached.
Remove the outer cap of the needle.
Remove the inner cap of the needle.
Expel air: Set the dose to 2 units for the initial use. Before expelling air, hold the pen with the needle pointing upward and gently tap the cartridge several times to allow air bubbles to rise to the top. Then press the injection button fully until a drop of solution appears at the needle tip.
Set the dose by turning the dial to the required amount. If an incorrect dose is selected, adjust directly to the correct dose without resetting to zero.
Disinfect the injection site with an alcohol swab.
Select the appropriate injection site and press the injection button fully until the dose indicator returns to zero. Keep the needle in place for at least 10 seconds before withdrawing it.
Replace the outer needle cap and unscrew the needle.
Dispose of the used needles in the sharps container.

Injection Sites

Abdomen: Inject on both sides of the abdomen. Do not inject within a fist-sized area around the navel.
Thigh: Upper outer thigh.
Arm: The outer portion below deltoid.
Buttocks: Upper outer quadrants of the buttocks.

Injection Techniques

1. kin pinching: For thin patients or children, use only the thumb and index (or middle) finger to gently pinch the skin to avoid pinching the muscle.
2. Injection angle: Insert the needle into the pinched skin at a 90-degree angle to reduce the risk of intramuscular injection.
3. Injection site rotation: Use different injection sites and avoid repeated injections at the same site. Each injection site should be approximately one finger-width away from the previous site.

​Other Notes

1. Insulin storage: Unopened pens should be refrigerated at 2–8°C until the expiration date. Once opened, pens may be stored at room temperature below 30°C for up to 4 weeks.
2. Needle disposal: Place used needles in a puncture-resistant container. They may be disposed of either at the injection room on the 1st floor of the Lifu Medical Building or the 1st floor of the Critical Care Center Building, or at the Diabetes Education Room on the 6th floor of the Meide Medical Building.