how to give insulin injection?

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one of my patient always complain whenever i gave insulin shots to her. she always said it is hurting her. I tried everything even my other nurses showed me how to give her shots. however it is still not working. I don't know what i am doing wrong. Please help me. she is a big woman. suppose not to hurt when i gave on her tummy but it is hurting her even more though there are more fat compare to her arms. She is a big woman. when i gave on her arms, i pull some of her fats and then shots, but still it is hurting her. am i giving on her muscle?????? PLEASE HELP ME HOW TO GIVE INSULIN SHOTS? I REALLY NEED HELP!!!!!

Specializes in peds-trach/vent.

perhaps you should get someone, such as a nurse friend, and have them demonstrate to you and you to them, proper site and technique for administering an insulin injection. i just think it would be easier face to face. it is hard to explain something like that in words on the computer. maybe there is a video demonstrated on youtube. and if you are doing the right way, then maybe, she is more sensitive that others to injections:)

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HI frankie, i did tht too helped frm my next shift nurse! but still she is complaining! she said i am the only one hurting her. idk what i am doing wrong!

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I have read and reread this post. All of it. I am not certain this is even a nurse posting this. Did you learn how and where to give injections in school?

Some people just have very low tolerance for any pain at all. Is this patient teachable? Maybe she can learn to give her own shots.

As an insulin-dependent diabetic I can attest that some areas are more sensitive than others no matter what you do.

Why not read your material again.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

What's really painful to me is your poor spelling, grammar, and use of the word "tummy". I get the feeling we're being punked.

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thx cape to reply!

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If no one else is complaining I wouldn't worry about it too much. There are some patient's where pretty much anything you do seems to hurts them!

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Specializes in nursing education.
state is coming soon. what if she will complain to state? what am i goona answer? do u know how to feel difference between muscle and fat?

Insulin needles are short, so abd. shots are (unless the pt is cachectic) just naturally going to end up in fat. If you are giving in the arm, it needs to go in the back of the arm, not near the delt or bicep. Look at yourself in the mirror, hold your arm up and flap your arm, that fatty part in the back that shakes like a turkey wattle is where you want to give it. Practice pinching your own fat and muscle on different parts of your body till you can really feel the difference. Muscle is denser, firmer. Fat is squooshy.

On another note, are these analog insulins, especially Lantus? The chemical additive that makes Lantus (and probably levemir/detemir too) loooong acting is a different pH than your body. It is acidic, with a pH of 4, and some people find it gives a burning sensation, not that the needle hurts but the insulin itself.

If she complains to state- lots of people complain to state. They can tell the difference between a real complaint and "the needle hurts when I get a shot."

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
HI frankie, i did tht too helped frm my next shift nurse! but still she is complaining! she said i am the only one hurting her. idk what i am doing wrong!

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*big grin*

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My favorite was the one about state coming.

They'll probably call the police is what they'll probably do.

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Specializes in LTC.

Yes. Is she complaining about the needle hurting or maybe where you injected the insulin having a burning sensation after injection.

Sometimes it hurts when I give an injection.. sometimes it doesn't. I do a stabbing motion in the back of the arm with the patients mind off the injection.

Tell them "Ok I'm going to give you some insulin.. " wait for them to say ok .. then right after that.. shoot. Less than a second.

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~Sigh~

Okay, assuming this post is for real....

Are you allowing sufficient time for the alcohol to dry before injecting? Alcohol can sting.

Are you inserting the needle with a quick jabbing motion?

When you withdraw the needle, are you withdrawing it at the same angle in which you inserted it?

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