Some diabetics (particularly patients suffering from type 1 diabetes) need regular insulin injections to replace the insulin that their pancreas is not producing. For many patients, measuring out insulin into syringes several times per day can be difficult. To make taking insulin easier for persons with diabetes, insulin pens have been designed to give a consistent and accurate injection of insulin with minimal effort. One maker of insulin pens is the company Novo Nordisk.
Step 1
Pull off the cap of the Novolin insulin pen and then unscrew it.
Step 2
Take an insulin cartridge and insert it into the cartridge holder, colored cap first. Screw the pen back together.
Step 3
Take a Novolin disposable needle, remove the tab, and screw the needle into the front of the pen.
Step 4
Pull off both needle caps (the outer and the inner caps). Keep the outer cap for later use.
Step 5
Prime the needle by selecting the appropriate dose (four units if it's a new cartridge, one unit if it's a cartridge already in use) by pulling out the dose button and then turning it so the correct number shows in the dose window.
Step 6
Hold the needle with the tip pointing upwards, tap a few times to bring any air bubbles to the surface, and then push in the dose button. If no drop of liquid insulin appears on the tip, pull the dose button out and push it back in until a small drop of liquid appears at the tip of the needle.
Step 7
Pull out the dose button and turn it until the dose window shows the correct dosage (in units) of insulin for you.
Step 8
Press the needle perpendicularly firmly against your skin and then push the dose button until you hear (or feel) a click. Hold for six seconds, release the button, and then withdraw the pen.
Step 9
Place the outer cap on the needle and then unscrew the needle and place the used needle in the provided "sharps" container.
