Step 1. Roll the insulin bottles (vials) gently between your hands. Roll the cloudy insulin bottle until all the white powder has dissolved.
Rolling the bottle warms the insulin if you have been keeping the bottle in the refrigerator.
The order in which you mix the clear (short or rapid-acting) and cloudy (long-acting) insulin is important.
Do not shake an insulin bottle.
Step 2. Wipe the rubber lid of both insulin bottles with an alcohol wipe or a cotton ball dipped in alcohol. Let the alcohol dry.
Note: If you are using a bottle for the first time, remove the protective cover from the rubber lid before cleaning.
Step 3. Remove the plastic cap that covers the needle on your insulin syringe.
Important: Do not touch the needle.
Step 4. Pull the plunger back on your insulin syringe and draw air into the syringe equal to the number of units of cloudy insulin to be given.
Step 5. Push the needle of the syringe into the rubber lid of the cloudy insulin bottle.
Step 6. Push the plunger of the syringe to force the air into the bottle.
This equalizes the pressure in the bottle when you later remove the dose of insulin.
Step 7. Remove the needle from the bottle.
Step 8. Pull the plunger of the syringe back and draw air into the syringe equal to the number of units of clear insulin to be given.
Step 9. Push the needle of the syringe into the rubber lid of the clear insulin bottle.
Step 10. Push the plunger to force the air into the bottle. Leave the needle in place.
Note: You will draw the clear insulin into the syringe first. It is important to follow this order.
Step 11. Turn the bottle and syringe upside down. Position the tip of the needle so that it is below the surface of insulin in the bottle.
Step 12. Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe with slightly more than the correct number of units of clear insulin to be given.
Step 13. Tap the barrel of the syringe so that trapped air bubbles move into the needle area. Push the air bubbles back into the bottle.
Important: Make sure that you have the correct number of units of insulin in your syringe.
Step 14. Remove the needle from the clear insulin bottle.
Step 15. Insert the needle into the rubber lid of the cloudy insulin bottle.
Important: Do not push the plunger because this would force clear insulin into your cloudy insulin bottle. If clear insulin is mixed in the bottle of cloudy, it will alter the action of your other doses from that bottle.
Step 16. Turn the bottle and syringe upside down. Position the tip of the needle so that it is below the surface of insulin in the bottle.
Step 17. Slowly pull back the plunger of the syringe to fill the syringe with the correct number of units of cloudy insulin to be given. This will prevent air bubbles entering the syringe.
Step 18. Remove the needle from the bottle.
You should now have the total number of units for the clear and cloudy insulin in your syringe. For example, if you need 10 units of clear and 15 units of cloudy, you should have 25 units in your syringe.
Now you are ready to give the shot.
Current as of: July 28, 2021
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & David C.W. Lau MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Rhonda O'Brien MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2022 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Follow Us
Disclaimer
Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Group Universal Life (GUL) insurance plans are insured by CGLIC. Life (other than GUL), accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and disability plans are insured or administered by Life Insurance Company of North America, except in NY, where insured plans are offered by Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York (New York, NY). All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.
Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details