Mastering your diabetes injections can help you get the most out of your medication. In the United States, people living with diabetes use insulin injections or newer non-insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels. However, according to an estimate, almost one-third of them don’t inject their medications correctly, which means they are not getting the right amount of the drug as they should have.
That’s why their blood sugar levels swing too high or too low. As a result, the diabetes symptoms become worse with time. So, for them, it’s necessary to know some things to use to improve their self-injections. And here we will talk about those things, so keep reading.
Fight The Needle Phobia
Having a phobia related to needles is common, but when life puts you with diabetes, you have no choice but to fight it. Get used to the medical syringe. You can take help from a few techniques to overcome your fear and anxieties of needles. Consult with your doctor and go for “exposure-based therapy.” Therapy entails gradually increasing one’s comfort level with needles—from simply observing a syringe without a needle to observing one with a needle, handling one with a needle, and so on. Counseling is also beneficial.
Ask about shorter needles
You have options if the size of your 3cc syringe with needle worries you. Go for the shorter needles. However, do not go for this change on your own first. Consult your doctor as the shorter needles contain less doss, so you might have to take shots more than once to balance your insulin dose.
Other than this, shorter needles work as effectively as longer needles at delivering diabetic medication, regardless of the user’s weight. Ask your doctor if it would be suited for you to convert to a four-millimeter needle if you now use a 3ml syringe to a 5ml syringe.
Switch To Pens
Pens offer more convenience, are less uncomfortable, and are easier to hold. So, if you carry a hard time with the needles, switch to pens.
But, before substituting the medical syringe, make sure to talk with your doctor to know if a pen alternative is better for you. If your doctor agrees with you switching to a pen, that’s good because pens are easy to use and straightforward.
Know The Right Temperature For The Insulin
Depending on the temperature, body absorption changes. So, you want to ensure that your medicine stays at the right temperature.
Your body shouldn’t absorb it more quickly or later than necessary. Once you open the syringe, store the insulin at room temperature. You can keep them in your fridge and avoid administering diabetes needles right after a workout, hot bath, or shower.
Choose The Injection Site Carefully
As you may already know, injection, the diabetes medication,
affects how your body absorbs the medicines. Medical experts believe that the abdomens are the ideal site for insulin, but it’s one excellent and effective option. When taking the insulin through the abdominal body, it takes a perfect time to consume it.
But, it can differ from person to person. So, you want to ask your doctors to help you find the best spot for the injection. Changing the injection site can also be beneficial as it will give the required time to the skin to take a rest. Also, after injecting, ensure your clothes are clean as you don’t want to get the infection.
Prep Your Needle or Pen Every Time
There are different pre-injection procedures for various drugs and equipment. You can entail a pen by turning a dial or releasing a small amount of medication before injecting it.
Before using insulin pens and vials, you must roll or tip it 10 to 20 times. When you’re done, the insulin should not appear foggy but rather clear. Also, before you go to take the injection, make sure there are no air bubbles and don’t be scared to ask your doctor to walk you through the entire procedure.
Rotate Injection Site
Depending upon your health and skin type, your doctor can advise injecting your diabetic medicine into your upper arm, upper thigh, buttocks, or abdomen.
Actually, the main goal is to choose a broad area for the injection. Avoid injecting in the same spot repeatedly, as this can lead to lipohypertrophy, which is a medical condition that makes the skin lumpy or hardened skin and reduces the absorption of the medication. If you feel pain on the skin site, you can use the thin needle for injection after taking the advice from your doctor.
Lipohypertrophy affects about half of people who inject themselves with insulin, but you can avoid it by switching up the injection site. Don’t inject diabetes medications into moles or scars, either.
Prepare for Hypoglycemia
People with diabetes are always under the threat of Hypoglycemia. And it is somewhat not just a feat, but it’s also true if you don’t take their diabetes medication injections. Although Hypoglycemia isn’t a common side effect of biological injectables, it is for insulin therapy. About 30% of individuals using insulin treatment experience it.
While Hypoglycemia does not cause harsh side effects, you may want to maintain a snack with at least 15 grams of carbohydrates on hand, or your doctor may specify glucagon injections in case of emergency.
Wrapping Up!
These are some of the precautions that can help you to increase the effectiveness of your medications. Remember, when making any changes in your insulin dose or the way you take you have to consult your doctor, whether these are minor changes like changing the regular needle to a thin needle. Every tiny bit of change should be done under the scrutiny of the doctor. Otherwise, you might not take the proper dose of your insulin medicine, or you might even have to face profound consciousness. So, that is all about the guide. If you want to buy the needles and syringes at an affordable price, then you can visit the Cheappinz store to purchase insulin syringes with or without the needle.