Insulin
There are four basic types of insulin. Rapid actins insulin, short acting, medium acting and long acting. There may be several names for
each types of  insulin You may have to take only one insulin or a combination of several types to best manage your diabetes.
Look at the chart below for the names and details about several popular types of insulin.

Storage of Insulin

You may keep the bottle of insulin you are now using at room temperature for up to one month.

When you open a new bottle of insulin write the date on the bottle.

Store extra bottles of insulin in the refrigerator.

do not keep insulin in very hot or very cold places.

Drawing up Insulin

Gather equipment and supplies
Wash your hands and your work surface
Roll the insulin bottle between your hands
Wipe the top of the insulin bottle with an alcohol swab
Pull plunger down to the # of units required. To fill syringe with adequate amount of air.
Put needle through the top of the bottle and inject air into the bottle by pushing down on the plunger.
Turn the bottle upside down with the needle still in the bottle.
Pull the plunger back to required # of units
Remove the needle without touching the plunger.

Mixing Insulin
Gather equipment and supplies.
Wash your hands and your work surface.
Roll both bottles of insulin between your hands.
Wipe both bottle tops with an alcohol swab.
Put the needle through the top of the Rapid-Acting
or Short-Acting insulin bottle.
(Humalog, Novolog, or Regular insulin).
Draw-up Humalog, Novolog, or Regular insulin
units.
Remove filled syringe from the Humalog Novolog, or
Regular insulin bottle.
Insert filled syringe into the NPH/Lente bottle.
Draw-up the NPH,Lente insulin. PuIl back to
total units ( Humalog, Novolog or Regular +NPH/Lente)

Injecting Insulin
. Clean skin site with alcohol swab.
. Pick up syringe in one hand.
. Use your other hand to pinch up the skin site.
. Push the needle through the skin
(use a dart like motion).
. Press down on the plunger.
. Pull the needle out of the skin.
. Press the alcohol swab over the injection site.
If you are having difficulty drawing-up or injecting insulin,
your nurse can help you try special equipment such as
magnifiers or injection devices that may make it easier for
you to take insulin on your own.

Injection Sites
Pick one of these areas to inject your insulin. You may want to change to another site every couple of weeks.
The abdomen is the best choice because insulin is absorbed steadily from this site
Space each injection at least one inch apart. Think of each box as a different site for injection.
You may use other sites. Remember that insulin absorption may vary from site to site.