Choose the injection site

1. Recommended sites are the abdomen, thigh, back of arms and buttocks.
2. Be sure to rotate between and within sites.
3. Ensure injections are always a finger width apart.1
4. Visually check and palpate for lipohypertrophy*. Do not inject into these sites—insulin will not work correctly if it is injected into these areas.
5. Cleanse the skin.

*Lipohypertrophy describes rubbery lumps of fat located near injection sites.

Prepare the pen needle

1. Remove the pen cap and wipe the rubber seal on your pen with an alcohol swab. Pull the peel tab off the pen needle.
2. Holding the outer cover, screw the pen needle straight onto the pen.
3. Remove the outer cover.
4. Check that the pen needle is attached correctly and prime the pen according to the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
5. Select the insulin dose.

Administer the injection 

1. No pinch-up technique* needed. Inject at a 90° angle to the skin.
2. Insert the needle straight into the skin in one continuous motion until the white sleeve touches the skin. Maintain constant pressure against the skin (do not change hands).
3. Push the thumb button down to administer the dose; leave the needle in the skin for up to 10 seconds after the thumb button is fully depressed. Refer to pen instructions for specific hold times.

*Children from 2 to 6 years old, extremely lean adults or patients with loose skin may need to use a pinch-up technique.

Correctly dispose of sharps 

1. Lift the pen needle away from the skin. A red band shows that the safety shield is locked. 
2. Hold the white sleeve of the pen needle and twist it off. The pen connection end of the needle is now protected with an orange shield.
3. Dispose of it in a sharps container. The BD AutoShield DuoTM safety pen needle is designed for single use only.