Keep unopened insulin containers in the refrigerator. Once an insulin container is opened, it's okay to store it at room temperature for as long as the label instructions permit. Always check the storage and disposal information for your insulin before you use it. Keep insulin products from becoming too hot or too cold and out of bright light or sunlight. Never use insulin after the expiration date on the label. The labels and expiration dates on insulin products vary, so read the labels carefully. Many people find that their injections are less painful if the insulin is at room temperature. If your insulin looks discolored or lumpy, don't use it. Many people find prefilled disposable insulin pens a convenient alternative to a syringe. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens. Talk with your diabetes care team about your options for insulin injection.

Make sure to voice your concerns to your diabetes care team. They are there to help you understand your need for insulin and to support you. If you are worried about using a syringe, there are other ways to inject insulin. The needles on some insulin delivery systems are much finer and shorter than those on a syringe.

Always wash your hands and the injection site before injecting insulin. Pinch the skin at the site and push the needle into the skin fold. Push down the plunger or button all the way and hold it down for several seconds to make sure your full dose is delivered. Then pull out the needle. To avoid needle sticks, do not recap the needle. Instead, safely get rid of it in a “sharps” container. (Many states have laws on how to get rid of diabetes products. Talk with your pharmacist or local waste authority about how to do this correctly). Do not reuse needles. Talk with your doctor or diabetes care team about what insulin injection technique is best for you.

No. The American Diabetes Association does not recommend wiping the skin with alcohol before injecting insulin. But the area you inject with insulin should be clean. If you do decide to use an alcohol swab, wait until the alcohol has dried before injecting. This will help keep the injection from stinging.

Insulin should never be shaken because this will make bubbles. What you do with the insulin before injecting it depends on the type of insulin that you are taking and your insulin delivery method. Talk with your doctor or diabetes care team and always read and follow the instructions that accompany your insulin delivery device.

Insulin works best when injected into the fat layer just beneath the skin. Some areas of the body to use include the abdomen (except a 2-inch circle around your belly button), thighs (top and outer parts), and the backs of the upper arms. It is important to use the same injection sites, but not the same exact spot, to avoid the buildup of lumps or scar tissue. Where you inject insulin can affect how fast it works. Before you begin taking insulin, be sure you understand how to prepare and inject it and how fast it will work. Talk with your doctor or diabetes care team about where you should inject insulin.

Injecting air under your skin doesn't harm you. But it could be painful. Also, the air in the syringe takes the place of the insulin and you will get less insulin than you need. To avoid injecting air, you may want to think about switching to a prefilled disposable insulin pen. Insulin pens are also portable, self-contained, convenient, and discreet. They provide accurate dosing, can be used more than once, and use smaller needles than syringes. Ask your doctor if a prefilled insulin pen might be right for you. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens.

Many people who worry about injecting themselves with a syringe find the insulin pen a good alternative. There are a number of advantages to using a prefilled disposable insulin pen. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens.

• They are disposable, discreet, and convenient to carry
• They use needles that are shorter and thinner than those used on syringes
• The easy-to-read dosing dial helps you take the right amount of insulin and avoid mistakes
• It is easy to correct your dose. Just dial backward or forward to correct your error
• There is no need to refill or change cartridges. Pens are easily disposed of when empty

Prefilled insulin pens have easy-to-read dials. This can help ensure that the correct amount of insulin is taken. If you dial the wrong amount, you can just move the dial to the right amount. Prefilled pens are also very convenient and discreet. Ask your doctor if a prefilled disposable insulin pen might be right for you. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens.

You can see a demo at novonordiskcare.com. Or ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you one.

The needles used with prefilled disposable insulin pens are often shorter and thinner than those used on syringes. Some short, thin needles are silicone coated and electropolished to reduce friction. That makes injecting insulin practically pain free. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens.

The technical term for these lumps is lipohypertrophy. These hard lumps are made up of fatty deposits. They can form when a person injects insulin in the same place each time. Children seem to get these lumps more than adults. The reason is that children seem to inject into the same site over and over again. Children find that injecting into a lump can be less painful. But it's also less effective. The insulin absorption rate after injecting into these lumps varies. To prevent lumps, it's important not to inject in the same exact spot each day.

Each pen needle should be used only once and then thrown out. The same is true for syringes. Reusing a needle puts you at risk for infection or painful injections. Learn more about pen needles that are practically pain free.

No. Remove and dispose of the needle after each use. Depending on the temperature, the pen may expand and insulin may leak out. Or the pen may contract and air may get inside. Learn more about pen needles that are practically pain free.

Absorption rates vary from person to person. Different absorption rates can affect your blood sugar levels. It is thought that the more fat at an injection site, the more slowly the insulin is absorbed by the body. The temperature of your body based on outside influences also has an effect on absorption. Cold temperatures or cold compresses can actually decrease absorption, while hot temperatures, such as from a hot shower or sun bathing, can speed up absorption. Smoking can also decrease absorption, while massaging or exercising the injected area will speed up absorption.

Also, the absorption rate differs depending on the insulin injection site. For instance, injecting into your abdomen results in the quickest absorption. After the abdomen, absorption is best in your upper arms, buttocks, and thighs, in that order. It's recommended that you inject your insulin into the same body part. However, be careful not to use the same exact spot over and over again to prevent lumps from forming. Talk with your doctor or diabetes care team about the best site for you to use to inject your insulin.

Exercise increases insulin absorption. During exercise and often for hours afterward, blood sugar levels go down. Always check your blood sugar levels before you start or change your exercise program. Also, check your blood sugar levels if you change your medicine or meal plan. The best time to exercise is one to three hours after meals. That's the time when blood sugar levels are highest and your risk of low blood sugar is lowest.

It is best not to exercise when your insulin is at its peak effect. Also, do not exercise if your blood sugar level is too low. You should always have a sugary snack on hand in case of a low blood sugar problem. Always check your blood sugar level within 15 minutes after you stop exercising.

If you have type 1 diabetes and test positive for ketones, do not exercise. Exercise usually lowers blood sugar. But if you have ketones, strenuous activity could make blood sugar levels go even higher.

Always talk with your doctor before starting or changing your exercise program.

People with type 1 diabetes will always have to take insulin because the beta cells in the pancreas no longer produce insulin. For those with type 2 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas do not produce enough insulin to meet the needs of the body, so insulin becomes part of their diabetes care plan. It is likely that they will continue to need insulin injections

Some insulin pens are calibrated to deliver insulin in half-unit increments. Learn more about this type of delivery system.

Some people find that using syringes for their insulin therapy is inconvenient. Prefilled disposable insulin pens are easy to carry and use. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens.