In diabetes management, both type 1 and 2 diabetes patients face a common challenge—how to effectively control blood sugar levels. Besides dietary adjustments and moderate exercise, insulin injections have become an important means for many patients to control blood sugar. In this process, the choice of insulin pen needles and the technique of their use are particularly important. Especially in recent years, retractable insulin pen needles have gradually gained favor among many patients due to their unique design and convenience.

Advantages of Retractable Insulin Pen Needles

Traditional insulin pen needles often have a fixed length, whereas retractable insulin pen needles can be flexibly adjusted according to the patient's skin thickness and injection needs. This design not only reduces injection pain caused by overly long needles but also effectively avoids the risk of muscle injection, ensuring that insulin is accurately delivered into the subcutaneous fat layer, thereby improving treatment efficacy.

Steps for Proper Use of Retractable Insulin Pen Needles

1. Inspection and Preparation: Before injecting insulin, ensure that your hands are clean and check the expiration dates of the insulin pen and the retractable pen needle. For refrigerated insulin, take it out in advance to let it warm to room temperature to reduce injection pain.

2. Installing the Needle: Install the retractable pen needle onto the insulin pen and adjust the needle length as needed. Make sure the needle is securely connected to the pen body without any looseness.

3. Setting the Dose: Set the insulin pen to the correct dose as advised by your healthcare provider. During the setting process, make sure to check the accuracy of the dose window display.

4. Choosing the Injection Site: Select appropriate injection sites such as the abdomen, arms, thighs, or buttocks. Rotating injection sites helps reduce the risk of lipohypertrophy and ensures consistent insulin absorption.

5. Injection Operation: After cleaning the injection site with an alcohol swab, insert the needle into the skin at a 90-degree angle. Press the injection button and hold for a while to complete the injection. Before removing the needle, recheck the dose window to ensure the injection is complete.

6. Handling and Storage: Place the used needle in a sharps container and store the insulin pen properly. Avoid reusing pen needles to reduce pain and the risk of infection.

The Necessity of Single Use Retractable Insulin Pen Needles

Compared to single-use pen needles, reusing pen needles increases the risk of pain, lipohypertrophy, and incorrect dosing. Therefore, for your safety and treatment efficacy, it is recommended to use a new retractable insulin pen needle for each injection.

In conclusion, retractable insulin pen needles play a significant role in blood sugar control for diabetes patients. By properly using this new type of pen needle, patients can not only reduce injection pain and discomfort but also effectively improve treatment outcomes and quality of life.