How to Teach the Use of an Insulin Pen
When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, be it a child or an adult, getting used to insulin injections can be difficult. It is essential to teach the person with diabetes to use an insulin pen correctly, if that is the method that will be used to give insulin injections. Although pens differ in their usage, the general method of teaching someone to use an insulin pen is the same no matter what type of pen is used.
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Instructions
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Explain how to check the insulin in the pen before usage. Discuss which type of insulin is in the pen (cloudy or clear) and how that type of insulin is supposed to look. Also give directions about what to do if the insulin has a different appearance (such as if clear insulin turns cloudy).
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2
Show how to attach the needle to the insulin pen and prime the pen. Make sure the person understands if the pen must be primed before each use, as well as how to tell when the priming process has finished.
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3
Make sure to give explicit dosage instructions, as some diabetics may use different doses of insulin depending on the time of day, meal eaten, etc. Then explain how to measure out the correct dosage using the insulin pen.
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Demonstrate how to prepare the injection site. Practice on an orange several times, as this will be a more comfortable way for the patient to focus on the process without fearing the pain or discomfort. Once you are relatively sure that the process has been understood, encourage the patient to inject herself once (assuming that an injection is needed at that time).
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Explain what to do in case of any problems that might arise, such as if an incorrect amount of insulin was injected accidentally. Also explain how the specific type of insulin must be stored.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to explain that insulin pens should never be shared, and that a new needle must be used for each injection.
