Measuring Insulin

If you have diabetes and you take insulin, you might be looking for ways to measure the correct dose accurately and we've got some tips that can help no matter your level of vision.

Be sure to talk with your healthcare team too. They'll help you choose an option that fits your needs and they'll provide training on the devices that work best for you.

When you're getting ready to measure your insulin, the first step is to get everything organized. Setting up your supplies on a tray like a cafeteria tray or a cookie sheet with raised edges helps you keep things where you want them.

And if you lay out the items you need in the same way each time, you'll be able to reach things more quickly and easily.

If you have low vision, be sure to set up in an area with lighting that works well for you.

A desk clamp with a flexible gooseneck can give you extra light directly where you want it, and you can point it in different directions to cut down on glare.

Having a handheld or video magnifier nearby can be helpful too. And our workshops on magnifiers offer some great options.

If you use syringes and you take the same dose of insulin each time, take a look at a few ways you can make sure you're getting the right amount in every dose.

One way to be sure you have the right amount is to ask your pharmacist to prefill the syringes ahead of time. You can also fill syringes yourself and there are some handy devices to help.

One is called a center aid. This is a simple metal cap that slips over the top of the insulin vial. It provides a sloped area to help you slide the needle into just the right place.

A needle guide can also help you get the needle into the insulin vial more safely and easily. This device has an area at one end where you place the bottle of insulin.

At the other end, you slide the syringe along a channel which guides the needle straight into the vial. A needle guide usually has a built-in magnifier to help you read the dose as you draw insulin into the syringe. But depending on your vision and your needs, this magnifier alone may not be powerful enough.

The count-a-dose is another option that helps you guide the needle into the syringe and it helps you measure the correct dose too.

This device has marks you can feel and it uses a dial that clicks so you can hear it and feel it while you count the units of insulin. If you lose track, you can click all the way back until the dial stops and start over.

All three of these tools are linked in the resources and your healthcare team can help you learn more. And here's one more tip that's helpful. If you're using syringes and vials, it's important to know how many times you can use a vial of insulin before it gets too low so you're not drawing air into the syringe.

Check out the resources for a handout that explains some great ways to keep track. Now let's look at another option, insulin pens. Many people find pens easier than a separate vial and syringe because they're pre-filled with insulin and take fewer steps to use insulin.

Pens are about the size and shape of a marker or a large pen. When it's time to measure a dose, you dial the end of the pen and listen or feel for the clicks.

It's helpful to bring the pen close to your ear so you can focus and listen carefully. And if you lose count, you can always dial the pen backward. It'll stop at zero, and then you can start again.

If your doctor prescribes an insulin pen, your healthcare team will teach you how to use it. For most pens, you'll count one click per unit of insulin.

But check with your pharmacist or healthcare team to make sure you know exactly how your pen works.

And if you have more than one type of insulin pen, you can mark them differently with colored tape, rubber bands, or another label you can see or feel, that makes it easier to tell them apart.

One step your care team will cover is making sure there's no air in the needle which is called priming the pen.

For this step, you'll need to make sure a small amount of insulin comes out of the needle before you inject your dose. Here's a handy technique for doing this.

Using your sense of touch and smell, start by holding the pen with the needle pointing up and tap the collar to make sure any air comes to the top.

Then, tip the pen over the back of your other hand, making sure the needle is still pointing upward at an angle. When you press the button to prime the pen, feel for a squirt of liquid or a few drops on the back of your hand.

You can also use your sense of smell and check your hand for the scent of insulin which is usually described as antiseptic or medicinal. And finally, after you've used the pen to inject your insulin, here's a technique to help you safely dispose of the needle.

This works whether you're using a sharps container from the pharmacy or another container. Use one hand to hold the top of your pen and point it at a downward angle with the needle inside the opening of your container.

Next, use the thumb and index finger of your other hand to grasp the pen near the top and slide down the barrel until you reach the collar where the needle attaches.

Twist the collar to unscrew the needle and let it fall straight into the container. Then, close the lid. For more information on how to safely dispose of your needles, check out the resources.

As always, if you need more information or you've got your own tips to share, contact a Hadley Learning Expert. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice, and you'll get there.