Giving an insulin injection into the arm

Clean Clean the area of skin where you will give the injection. If you use alcohol to clean the skin, let it dry. Remove the cap from the syringe. Pinch up Using your knee, push up the back of your arm to create a “pinched-up” area. Stick it Push the needle all the way into the pinched-up area. Relax Lower your knee…

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Giving an insulin injection into the arm

Clean

Cleaning the area around the injection site
slide 1 of 6
slide 1 of 6, Clean,

Clean the area of skin where you will give the injection. If you use alcohol to clean the skin, let it dry. Remove the cap from the syringe.

Pinch up

Pinching up the skin
slide 2 of 6
slide 2 of 6, Pinch up,

Using your knee, push up the back of your arm to create a "pinched-up" area.

Stick it

Putting the needle into the skin
slide 3 of 6
slide 3 of 6, Stick it,

Push the needle all the way into the pinched-up area.

Relax

Relaxing the pinched skin
slide 4 of 6
slide 4 of 6, Relax,

Lower your knee slightly so that the back of your arm is no longer pinched up.

Inject and wait

Pushing in the plunger
slide 5 of 6
slide 5 of 6, Inject and wait,

Push the plunger of the syringe all the way in. Count to five before taking the needle out.

Needle safety

Throwing away the needle in a solid plastic container
slide 6 of 6
slide 6 of 6, Needle safety,

Throw away the needle in a sharps container or other solid plastic container. You can get a sharps container at your pharmacy.

Current as ofApril 16, 2019

Author: Healthwise Staff
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
David C.W. Lau MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology
Rhonda O'Brien MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.