Diabetes occurs when the pancreas is malfunctioning, when it begins to produce insufficient insulin for the needs of the body or completely stops its production. As a result, diabetes mellitus of the second or first type develops. In the latter case, the resumption of all metabolic processes requires the introduction of insulin from the outside. The hormone is injected with an insulin syringe, which will be discussed in this article.
Types of syringes used for diabetes
In the second type of diabetes, the pancreas is still able to produce its own hormone, and the patient takes medication in tablets to help develop it. But patients with this diagnosis of the first type must always have insulin with them in order to carry out the necessary therapy. This can be done with:
- pump
- syringe pen;
- special syringes.
All these products are produced by different companies, and they have different prices. There are two types of insulin syringes:
- With a removable needle, which is changed after a set of the drug from the bottle to another, to introduce it to the patient.
- With integrated needle. The kit and injection are done with one needle, which saves the amount of the drug.
Syringe description
The medical product for insulin is made so that the patient can independently enter the necessary hormone several times a day. A standard insulin syringe consists of:
- A sharp short needle with a protective cap. The length of the needle is from 12 to 16 mm, its diameter is up to 0.4 mm.
- A transparent cylindrical plastic housing with a special marking.
- A movable piston provides insulin collection and smooth drug administration.
Regardless of the manufacturer, the syringe body is made thin and long. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the price of division on the body. Labeling with a low division price allows the drug to be administered to children with type 1 diabetes and people with hypersensitivity to the drug. A standard 1 ml insulin syringe contains 40 units of insulin.
Reusable syringe with replaceable needle
Syringes for injecting insulin are made of reliable and high-quality plastic. They are made by both Russian and foreign manufacturers. They have interchangeable needles that are protected during storage with a special cap. The syringe is sterile and must be destroyed after use. But subject to all hygiene standards, an insulin syringe with a removable needle can be used repeatedly.
For the introduction of insulin, the most convenient syringes are with a unit price of one unit, and for children - 0.5 units. When purchasing syringes in the pharmacy network, you need to carefully look at their markings.
There are devices for different concentrations of insulin solution - 40 and 100 units in one milliliter. In Russia, insulin U-40 is still used, which contains 40 units of the drug in 1 ml. The cost of the syringe depends on the volume and manufacturer.
How to choose the right syringe for insulin injection?
Pharmacy chains offer many different models of insulin injectors from various manufacturers. To select a high-quality insulin syringe, the photo of which is available in the article, you can use the following criteria:
- large indelible scale on the case;
- fixed (integrated) needles;
- silicone needle coating and triple laser sharpening (minimize pain);
- the piston and cylinder must not contain latex to ensure hypoallergenicity;
- small step of division;
- insignificant length and thickness of the needle;
- It is convenient for patients with low vision to use a syringe with a magnifying glass.
The cost of disposable syringes for injecting insulin is higher than usual, but this is justified by the fact that they allow you to accurately enter the required dose.
Marking of medical devices for insulin administration
Vials of insulin, presented in the pharmacy chains of Russia, as a standard contain 40 units of substance in one milliliter of solution. The bottle is marked as follows: U-40.
For the convenience of patients, the calibration of syringes is carried out in accordance with the concentration in the vial, therefore, the marking strip on their surface corresponds to units of insulin, and not milligrams.
In a syringe marked for U-40 concentration, the marks correspond to:
- 20 PIECES - 0.5 ml of solution;
- 10 PIECES - 0.25 ml;
- 1 UNIT - 0.025 ml.
In most countries, solutions containing 1 ml of 100 units of insulin are used. It is labeled as U-100. Such insulin is 2.5 times higher than the standard concentration (100: 40 = 2.5).
Therefore, to find out how many units in a U-40 insulin syringe to collect a U-100 solution, their number should be reduced by 2.5 times. After all, the dose of the drug remains unchanged, and its volume decreases due to higher concentration.
If you need to enter insulin with a concentration of U-100 with a suitable syringe on U-100, then you should remember: 40 units of insulin will be contained in 0.4 ml of solution. To eliminate confusion, manufacturers of U-100 syringes decided to make protective caps in orange and U-40 in red.
Insulin pen
A syringe pen is a special device that allows subcutaneous insulin to be administered to patients with diabetes mellitus.
Outwardly, it resembles an ink pen and consists of:
- nests where the cartridge with insulin is placed;
- the container fixing device in the desired position;
- a dispenser that automatically measures the required volume of solution for injection;
- start buttons
- informative panel on the device case;
- interchangeable needles with a cap protecting it;
- a plastic case for storing and transporting the device.
Advantages and disadvantages of a syringe pen
When using the device does not require special skills, just read the instructions. The advantages of an insulin pen include the following:
- does not cause discomfort to the patient;
- takes up very little space and fits in a breast pocket;
- compact but roomy cartridge;
- a variety of models, the possibility of individual selection;
- the dose of the drug can be set by the sound of clicks of the dosing device.
The disadvantages of the device are:
- the unreality of setting a small dose of the drug;
- high cost;
- fragility and low reliability.
Operating requirements
For long-term and effective use of the syringe pen, you must follow the advice of manufacturers:
- Storage temperature about 20 degrees.
- Insulin located in the cartridge of the device can be kept in it for no more than 28 days. After the expiration of time it is disposed of.
- The device must be protected from sunlight.
- Protect the syringe pen from dust and high humidity.
- Cover used needles with a cap and place in a container for used materials.
- Keep the pen in the original case only.
- Wipe the outside of the device with a soft, damp cloth. Make sure that after this there are no lint left on it.
Syringe needles
Patients with diabetes have to make a large number of injections, so they pay special attention to the length and sharpness of the needles for an insulin syringe. These two parameters affect the correct administration of the drug into the subcutaneous tissue, as well as the sensation of pain. It is recommended to use needles, the length of which varies from 4 to 8 mm, the thickness of such needles is also insignificant. The standard for the needle is considered a thickness equal to 0.33 mm.
The criteria for choosing the length of the needle for the syringe are as follows:
- adults with obesity - 4-6 mm;
- beginners insulin therapy - up to 4 mm;
- children and adolescents - 4-5 mm.
Often, insulin-dependent patients use the same needle repeatedly. This contributes to the formation of minor microtraumas and skin tightening, which subsequently leads to complications and improper administration of insulin.
Syringe kit
How to get an insulin syringe? To do this, you need to know the dose that you want to enter the patient.
For a set of medicines you need:
- Release the needle from the protective cap.
- Extend the syringe plunger to the risks corresponding to the required dose of the drug.
- Insert the syringe into the vial and press on the piston so that there is no air left in it.
- Turn the bottle upright and hold it in your left hand.
- Pull the piston slowly with your right hand until the necessary division.
- If air bubbles enter the syringe, tap on it without removing the needle from the vial and without lowering it. Squeeze air into the vial and add more insulin if necessary.
- Carefully pull the needle out of the bottle.
- The insulin syringe is ready for drug administration.
Keep the needle away from foreign objects and hands!
What parts of the body are injected with insulin?
To enter the hormone, several parts of the body are used:
- stomach;
- hips in front;
- shoulders outside;
- buttocks.
It must be remembered that insulin, injected into various parts of the body, arrives at its destination at different speeds:
- The drug begins to act most quickly when it is introduced into the stomach. It is best to inject short-acting insulins in this area before eating.
- Long-acting injections are injected into the buttocks or thighs.
- Doctors do not recommend injecting themselves into the shoulder, because it is difficult to form a fold, and there is a risk of intramuscular administration of the drug, which is dangerous for health.
For daily injections, it is better to choose new injection sites so that there are no fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Each time it is necessary to deviate from the place of the previous injection by about two centimeters so that skin seals do not occur and the drug is not disturbed.
How is the drug administered?
Every diabetic should master the technique of administering insulin. How soon the drug is absorbed depends on the place of its administration. This must be taken into account.
You must always remember that insulin is injected into the subcutaneous layer of fat. In a patient having a normal body weight, subcutaneous tissue is small in thickness. In this case, it is necessary to make a skin fold during the injection, otherwise the drug will enter the muscle and a sharp change in the level of glucose in the blood will occur. To prevent this error, it is better to use shortened insulin needles. They, in addition, have a small diameter.
How to use an insulin syringe?
It must be remembered that the hormone is injected into fatty tissue, and the most favorable places for an injection are the stomach, arms and legs. It is recommended to use plastic syringes with built-in needles so as not to lose a certain amount of the drug. Syringes are often used repeatedly, and this can be done by observing hygiene rules.
In order to make an injection, you must:
- Make room for an injection, but do not wipe it with alcohol.
- To form a skin fold with the thumb and forefinger of the left hand to avoid insulin getting into muscle tissue.
- Insert the needle under the fold for the entire length perpendicularly or at an angle of 45 degrees, depending on the length of the needle, the thickness of the skin and the injection site.
- Press the piston all the way and do not remove the needle for five seconds.
- Pull out the needle and release the crease of the skin.
Put the syringe and needle into the container. With repeated use of the needle, pain may occur due to the curvature of its tip.
Conclusion
Type 1 diabetes patients are constantly in need of an artificial insulin replacement. For this, special syringes are most often used, having a thin short needle and convenient marking not in millimeters, but in units of the drug, which is very convenient for the patient. Products are freely sold in the pharmacy network, and each patient can purchase a syringe for the required volume of the drug of any manufacturer. In addition to the syringe, use pumps and syringe pens. Each patient chooses the device that suits him the most in practicality, convenience and cost.