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An insulin syringe has three parts: a needle, a barrel, and a plunger.
The needle is short and thin and covered with a fine layer of silicone to allow it to pass through the skin easily and reduce pain. A cap covers and protects the needle before it is used.
The barrel is the long, thin chamber that holds the insulin. The barrel is marked with lines to measure the number of insulin units.
The plunger is a long, thin rod that fits snugly inside the barrel of the syringe. It easily slides up and down to either draw the insulin into the barrel or push the insulin out of the barrel through the needle. The plunger has a rubber seal at the lower end to prevent leakage. The rubber seal is matched with the line on the barrel to measure the correct amount of insulin.
Insulin syringes are made in several sizes.
Syringe size and units
Syringe size
Number of units the syringe holds
1/4 mL or 0.25 mL
25
1/3 mL or 0.33 mL
30
1/2 mL or 0.50 mL
50
1 mL
100
Use the smallest syringe size you can for the dose of insulin you need. The measuring lines on the barrel of small syringes are farther apart and easier to see. When you choose the size of syringe, consider the number of units you need to give and how well you can see the markings on the barrel.
A 0.25 mL or 0.33 mL syringe usually is best for children (who often need very small doses of insulin) and for people with poor eyesight.
A 1 mL syringe may be best for an adult who needs to take a large amount of insulin.
Current as of: April 13, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Rhonda O'Brien MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator & David C.W. Lau MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology
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.
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