Subcutaneous Injection Information

Giving a Subcutaneous Injection

Gather your supplies (vial, insulin syringe, alcohol pad).
Wash your hands and then dry well.
If you have a new vial, first pop the colored cap off and throw it away.
Use one side of an alcohol pad to clean the top of the vial and the other side to clean your skin where you plan to inject; let the area dry.
Remove both orange caps from the insulin syringe
Insert the needle into the vial’s rubber stopper, flip the vial upside down, and pull up the appropriate amount of units.
Slightly pinch skin at the chosen injection site, then push the needle all the way into the skin at a 90 degree angle.
Slowly push the plunger all the way down, count to 3, then release the skin and remove the needle.

Where to Inject

In fatty part on top of the thigh or the belly area (about 2 inches away from the belly button)
Rotate injection sites each time you inject

Demonstration Video

Other Information

Insulin syringes are provided with each vial. The markings on an insulin syringe are in units. Pay close attention to your label and inject the number of units specified on your prescription. Units are just another way of measuring and are related to the number of milliliters (mL) you are to inject. For example, 10 units = 0.1mL , 25 units = 0.25mL, 50 units = 0.5mL, and so on. If you have any questions about how much to inject please contact one of our pharmacists for help.
The beyond use date (similar to the expiration date) is given on each vial from the manufacturer. Once the vial has been opened or used, the CDC recommends discarding any unused portion after 28 days.
We recommend that the vial be refrigerated. If the vial is accidentally left un-refrigerated, the products have been tested and shown stability at room temperatures. Just place the vial back in the refrigerator as soon as possible.
These products are manufactured using an FDA-Registered 503B Outsourcing Facility that thoroughly tests each batch of medications to ensure sterility and potency.