HOW TO DRAW UP THE DOSE OF INSULIN: INSTRUCTIONS FOR SINGLE INSULIN
Posted by adminYou be instructed as to what type of insulin your child needs and the correct dose for him. He may be on a single type of insulin – for example, Isophane insulin – or he may be on a mixture of insulins – for example, Isophane and Actrapid insulin. It is of course important to measure the dosage accurately, as a small variation may affect the blood glucose significantly. The method of drawing up the insulin is set out below.
Clean hands
Wash hands thoroughly in soap and water. Dry them well.
Clean the insulin bottle
Wipe over the upper cap of the insulin bottle with a cotton wool swab which has been moistened with spirits.
Mix the cloudy insulin well
Any insulin which is cloudy such as Isophane insulin must be agitated so that it is thoroughly mixed just before drawing up. You can do this by gently inverting the bottle a number of times or by rolling the bottle gently between your hands. This must be done immediately before drawing up as insulin suspension settles very quickly.
Take the syringe and draw the plunger down to the mark giving the correct dose that you are to give. This allows air to enter the needle and syringe and the volume of air will be the same as the dose that you are giving. Next, checking that the insulin has been mixed properly, plunge the needle through the cap of the bottle so that the needle is just through the cap.
Put the air into the bottle
Invert the bottle so that the point of needle is below the surface of the insulin, and push the plunger up so that all the air is expelled into the insulin bottle. This will make it easier to withdraw the insulin, as the pressure will remain the same inside the bottle, the withdrawn insulin being replaced by an equal volume of air.
Draw down insulin
When you draw down the plunger to the correct mark some air will enter the barrel. Hold the syringe with the needle and bottle still in place in a vertical position with the needle pointing upwards and tap the barrel gently so that the air bubble is at the top of the insulin in the syringe.
Now push the plunger back a little way to force the air back into the bottle. Draw down again to the correct mark. If air is still in the syringe, repeat this until it is completely gone. Now finally check that the plunger is down to the correct mark giving the right dose.
Remove the syringe and needle from the bottle. You are now ready to give the injection.
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