Insulin is a hormone capable of lowering sugar levels in the blood. This hormone allows glucose, a type of sugar, to be converted to energy and used by the cells of the body. Diabetes sufferers use insulin injections to manage their health condition. It is important to follow dosing recommendations determined by a health care provider. Children and adults alike may fear the pain of daily injections but a number of methods are effective in reducing this discomfort. Prepared injection pens, prescription strength topical anesthetics and home remedies can improve the pain associated with insulin shots.
Step 1
Select the site to be injected. It is necessary to choose a different site each day to prevent skin abnormalities like scarring and unnecessary sensitivity.
Step 2
Place an ice pack or bag of ice directly on the site of the skin for 10 to 20 seconds before administering the insulin injection, suggests DiabetesSelfManagement.com.
Step 3
Apply a topical numbing solution in place of an ice pack if desired. This method can be used when approved by a health care provider. Most solutions must be applied 20 minutes prior to administering the injection. This type of pain management option may be most useful for children due to the amount of preparation time it requires. Various types of topical solutions exist but only those approved by a health care provider should be used.
Step 4
Apply pressure to the injection site with the palm of the hand as soon as the needle is withdrawn. This can work for some individuals in reducing the sting of the injection.
Tips and Warnings
- Discuss safe pain management options with a health care provider. Most home numbing options are considered safe for all individuals. Over-the-counter or prescription pain management options may not be recommended for all individuals. When injecting a child, work quickly and offer plenty of distraction. The injection shouldn't be a long drawn out process as this only increases the anxiety surrounding the process. Use books, talk, toys or direct the child's attention to the TV to help take the focus off the prick of the needle. Discuss small-sized needles and pens with a health care provider. These tools may be especially helpful for children due to the small dose of insulin required. The smaller the needle the less intense the pain may be. Drugs.com suggests allowing insulin to become room temperature about 30 minutes prior to injection, removing air bubbles from the syringe by tapping it before injecting and attempting to relax the muscles at the injection site before administration. These steps can reduce pain. When using alcohol to cleanse the area it is best to allow it to dry completely to minimize burning. Keep the needle straight during injection and during withdrawal to avoid unnecessary discomfort.
Things You'll Need
- Ice pack or bag of ice
- Topical numbing solution
