How to Treat Child Diabetes Type 1 With an Insulin Injection Pen
Children with type 1 diabetes, like their adult counterparts, must take insulin. One of the most popular new delivery systems for children is the insulin pen. They particularly like it when they must give their own injections. The proper dosage can be set directly on the pen to guard against overdose. The pens are also popular because they are disposable or come with pre-filled cartridges that can be discarded after use..
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Instructions
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Sanitize hands thoroughly before giving the pen injection. Use sanitation gel or cream. You may also simply wash hands with soap and water.
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Choose and prepare the injection site. Use hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball to swab the site clean. An antibacterial wipe will also do. Make sure the skin is completely dry before doing the injection.
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Hold the skin of site area between two fingers in a gentle--yet firm--pinching motion. This will make it easier to inject the insulin with the pen.
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Insert the pen quickly into the site at a slight angle. Slow or deliberate injection can be painful.
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Deliver the insulin, pushing it through the pen at an even pace. Relax the pinch on the skin as you near injection completion.
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Pull the needle out exactly the way it went it. Keep it straight as it is removed.
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Use a finger to apply a slight pressure to the injection site. While this isn't a necessary step, many people think it makes the process less painful.
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Rotate the injection site area periodically. For example, use the bottom in the morning and the arm in the evening.
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Tips & Warnings
The American Diabetes Association calls the pens accurate and recommends them for children and adults who are constantly on the go. They also recommend the pen for the visually impaired since the system is easily deliverable despite potential sight issues. If you are doing the injection, explain to the child what is going to happen and answer any questions he has before proceeding with the injection. Children with type 1 diabetes often must take an insulin injection about 30 to 45 minutes before each meal. Common injection spots include the arm, hips, bottom, or thighs. Allow the injection pen to reach room temperature before using. An injection with an insulin pen should take no more than a few seconds. Dragging it out by delivering the drug slowly will frighten the child and make the process more painful than it has to be. Store insulin at room temperatures below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Insulin pens are more expensive than the more traditional "shot." Do not lie to a child and say the injection won't hurt. If you do, chances are you will have a much tougher time with the next injection. Do not push the injection too deep, or it will hit muscle and be extremely painful for the child. Do not twist, turn, rotate, or otherwise move the needle within the injection site or while removing it. Doing that can damage the skin, cause the needle to bend or break, and make the entire process more painful than necessary. Do not inject insulin into any part of the body that is constantly being exercised. Activity could affect the way the insulin is absorbed and cause problems such as hypoglycemia. Do not inject insulin into or around areas that are infected or inflamed, moles, the belly button, a skin rash, or scars. Do not use the same injection site every time. Stay with the same area like the arms, legs, or buttocks, but move the new site a few inches from the previously used one. Failure to properly rotate the injection site can lead to serious scarring. Do not apply too much pressure or rub the injection site since those actions could have an impact on how the drug is absorbed by the system. Do not use insulin that is more than 30 days old. It may not work effectively.
