Handling guide

Reconstitution, injection and storage

The physical side of the numbers in the library. Written for someone who has never held an insulin syringe.

Reconstituting a vial

1. 1Gather and clean. Lyophilized vial, bacteriostatic water, a mixing syringe, alcohol swabs. Wash hands and wipe both rubber stoppers.
2. 2Draw the water. Pull the volume listed in the Recon column (usually 2 mL). More water means a lower concentration and larger, easier-to-measure draws.
3. 3Add it slowly, down the glass. Angle the needle so water runs down the inside wall rather than hitting the powder directly. Peptides are fragile chains; force breaks them.
4. 4Swirl, never shake. Roll the vial gently until the solution is clear. Cloudiness or particles after a few minutes means something is wrong.
5. 5Label and date. Write the concentration (mg/mL) and the mix date on the vial. Use the calculator to work out your draw.

Reading the syringe

Insulin syringes come in 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mL sizes. Smaller barrels have wider spacing between marks, which makes small draws like 4 to 10 units easier to read accurately.

Subcutaneous injection

Subcutaneous means into the fat layer just under the skin, not the muscle. The abdomen, two finger-widths away from the navel, is the usual site because it is easy to see and has a consistent fat layer. The outer thigh and back of the upper arm also work.

Swab the site, pinch a fold of skin, and insert the short insulin needle at 45 to 90 degrees. Push the plunger steadily, hold for a few seconds, then withdraw. Rotate sites each time so no single area gets irritated.

Used needles go in a sharps container, never household waste. Needles are single-use; reusing one dulls the tip and introduces bacteria into the vial.

Storage