Insulin injections can be virtually pain-free if you have the right technique down.

Daily Tips

Insulin injections can be virtually pain-free if you have the right technique down. Here’s how. Grab a handful of flesh with underlying fat. Hold the syringe like a dart with the thumb and first three fingers of either hand. Penetration must be rapid. Never put the needle against the skin and push. If you are very thin, you should make sure the needle pierces the skin at a 45-degree angle. If you have sufficient flesh to inject into, plunge the needle straight in at any angle between 45 and 90 degrees.

The stroke should begin about 4 inches from you target to give the moving needle a chance to pick up speed. Pretend you’re throwing a dart – but don’t let go of the syringe. The needle should penetrate the skin for its entire length. As soon as it’s in, push the plunger all the way down to inject the fluid, then promptly remove the needle from the skin.

Tip of the Day courtesy of Dr. Richard Bernstein, author of Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution.

If you've accidentally stained your clothes after a lancet or syringe stick, there is an easy way to remove the blood stain.

Reviewed by Francine Kaufman, MD. 4/08

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