Rubber Seal
Insulin Reservoir
Dose Window
Dosage Dial
Injection
Button
Needle
Inner Needle Cap
Outer Needle Cap
Pen Cap
This leaflet helps to explain how to use GlucoRx Pen Needles,
available in sizes:
FinePoint/CarePoint 4mm*, 4mm Ultra*, 5mm*, 6mm*,
8mm*, 10mm, 12mm.
Safety Pen Needles: 5mm, 8mm
* These sizes in the FinePoint range are 5 bevel pen needles instead of 3 bevel, which produce a higher
level of comfortable injection to patients.
Insulin Pens
Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when preparing your insulin pen for use. Never share your insulin pen
with anyone because of cross contamination risk.
An insulin pen is a convenient, almost painless and discreet way to inject insulin. Some pens use replaceable cartridges,
and others use non-replaceable cartridges which must be disposed of after use.
Your healthcare team should help choose the most suitable needle length and insulin pen for you, i.e. depending on
which insulin you are using, ease of pen operation, size of numbers on it, your build.
Store unused insulin pen cartridges and pre-filled pens in the fridge. Keep your insulin pen and pen needles separate
until ready to inject. The insulin should not get warm or be exposed to direct sunlight. Warm to cold causes insulin
compression; cold to warm causes insulin expansion.
Key Features
• Universal fit on all insulin pen
devices
• Enhanced ease of injection
• Reduced injection time, without
fragmentation
Typical Insulin Pen Anatomy
Needle Length
- Consult your Healthcare Professional for a needle length that is most suitable for you.
Depending on your needle length (and build), you may use one of two methods to administer insulin.
With Lifted Skin Fold Technique
Without Lifted Skin Fold Technique
Right
Wrong
90° angle with skin fold
4 / 5 / 6mm needle
Using shorter needles - mostly 4mm in children,
and 4/5/6mm in adults depending on injection site
Short needles are reported to give lower-pain injections. If there is enough fatty
tissue in relation to shorter needle length, a 90˚ angle can be used. If injecting into
slim limbs/abdomen, even short needles may warrant a lifted skin fold.
Using needles longer than 4mm in children and
8mm in adults
To form a lifted skin fold, pinch the skin using your
thumb and index finger without including any blood
vessels or muscle and inject at a 90˚ angle.
Load an insulin pen cartridge, if necessary.
Remove the new pen needle seal and affix
onto your pen using the outer protective
cap.
Remove the outer, then inner protective
cap.
Cloudy and premixed insulin should be
gently rolled at least 10 times between your
palms to mix the insulin thoroughly.
Prime your insulin pen to clear air bubbles/
dead space and ensure insulin flows freely
through the pen needle.
Dial in the exact dose required. Some pens
require gentle shaking before use.
Avoid injecting through your clothes, or
where there are visible blood vessels. Make
sure your hands and the injection site are
clean beforehand - commonly the stomach,
thighs and also buttocks.
Sites showing signs of lipohypertrophy
(lumpy skin due to swelling of fatty tissue),
oedema, inflammation or infection should
be avoided until the problem is resolved.
Space successive injections at least 1cm
from each other to preserve your skin and
help reduce lipohypertrophy.
Check your needle attachment is secure (not
too tight) so you can fully press down the
dose button on your pen. Penetrate your
skin quickly and inject slowly (counting up
to 10) into the subcutaneous layer at room
temperature, with your muscles relaxed
following your healthcare professional’s
advice. Insulin accidentally injected into
muscle tissue will not be absorbed properly.
It may be painful and cause high or low
blood sugars.
If the pen needle is taken out too fast, insulin
may leak out affecting the dose delivered. It
is not unusual for insulin to drip from the
pen needle after removal from your skin. If
bleeding occurs, press gently but do not rub
to avoid bruising.
Carefully replace outer protective cap (if
self-injecting only).
Detach the pen needle and safely discard
immediately in a ‘sharps’ container
according to your local medical waste
disposal rules.
Summary of Insulin Injection
Injection
- Getting your injection technique right can make a big difference to your daily blood glucose control.
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