What are Insulin Syringes?

An insulin syringe is a syringe with a small needle designed specifically for self-administration of insulin in diabetic patients. The insulin syringe is the most common method of insulin delivery in the USA for millions of people who have diabetes. Syringes are inexpensive, and most insurance companies cover them. Furthermore, they allow you to mix different insulin types when required.

What are they used for?

People with diabetes, a condition characterized by an inability to produce or properly use insulin, often require regular insulin injections to manage their blood glucose levels. The insulin or diabetic syringe injects the medication into the fatty tissue that lies just beneath the skin. These fat cells allow the insulin to be absorbed slowly and constantly for a longer-lasting effect. Having the right insulin delivery device helps manage blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes complications.

At HPFY, we understand the importance of insulin-injecting devices for diabetics and bring you high-quality insulin syringes of various lengths and capacities at economical prices. Scroll through our catalog, and you will surely find the insulin syringe that is best for your needs and will help you comply with your insulin regimen.

Benefits of Diabetic Syringes and Needles

Cost-effective and widely available
Safe and easy to administer
Allows mixing different insulin types
Insulin needles are less painful to inject
Less insulin wastage as only the required amount is drawn into the syringe

What does a Diabetic Insulin Syringe consist of?

An insulin syringe consists of a needle, a barrel, and a plunger.

Insulin Needle: The needle is short and thin and is covered by a layer of silicone that allows it to pass through the skin easily without causing much pain. The cap covers and protects the needle before it is used.
Barrel: The barrel is a thin, long, cylindrical chamber that holds the insulin. The barrel is marked with lines to measure the number of insulin units.
Plunger: The plunger, or piston, is the syringe component that moves back and forth easily inside the barrel. It is used to draw the insulin into the barrel or deliver the insulin out of the syringe through the needle into the patient’s body.

Insulin Syringe Sizes

Diabetic syringes come in various sizes to deliver different doses of insulin:

0.3 mL Syringes: Used for insulin doses under 30 units of insulin and feature markings at 1-unit intervals.
0.5 mL Syringes: Used for the administration of 30 to 50 units of insulin and are marked at 1-unit intervals.
1.0 mL Syringes: Used for doses of 50 -100 units of insulin and are numbered at 2-units per interval.

The number of lines in a diabetic syringe is measured in milliliters (mL).

Insulin Needle Gauge Size Chart

Needle Length	Barrel Size	Needle Gauge
3/16 inch (5 mm)	0.3 mL	28
5/16 inch (8 mm)	0.5 mL	29 , 30
1/2 inch (12.7 mm)	1.0 mL	31

Needle length: The length determines how deeply the needle penetrates. The diabetic needles are usually not long as they only need to go into the fatty layer and not the muscle. Shorter needles are safer and preferred often. The length typically ranges from 5 mm to 12.7 mm.
Barrel size: Barrel size determines how much insulin a syringe can hold. Barrel size is chosen based on the patient's insulin dosage. Most insulin syringes come in 100-unit barrels, commonly referred to as U-100. The term U-100 means the concentration of insulin present in every 1 mL.
Needle gauge: Needle gauge refers to its thickness. The higher the gauge, the thinner the needle. Thinner insulin needles may be more comfortable to inject, while thicker needles may administer insulin quickly. The needle gauge typically ranges from 28 to 31.

Diabetic Needles - Injection Sites

A person with insulin-dependent diabetes needs to inject insulin into the layer of fat directly beneath the skin, known as subcutaneous tissue, with an insulin syringe and needle. Various sites support insulin injection, including:

Abdomen
Upper arm
Thighs
Lower back, hips, or buttocks

Insulin is absorbed at different speeds in different locations. Insulin is absorbed more quickly in the abdomen, and this part of the body is also easy to reach. The injection spots should be rotated to prevent lipodystrophy, where fat breaks down or builds up under the skin, causing lumps that interfere with insulin absorption.

How to draw insulin into the Syringe Needle?

Clean hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Gather your supplies like insulin vials, syringes, needles, alcohol pads, and containers for syringe and needle disposal.
Hold the insulin syringe upright (with the needle pointing up). Open the cap from the needle and pull the plunger down until it reaches the line of your dosage volume.
Push the needle through the stopper on the vial and press the plunger down to the end so that the air in the syringe goes into the bottle. The air replaces the amount of insulin you will withdraw.
To remove the bubbles building up in the syringe, tap gently so that the bubbles would rise to the top. Push the plunger back in to release the bubbles back into the medicine vial.
Pull the plunger down again until you reach the correct dose.
Remove the needle from the vial and ensure it does not touch anything until injected.

How to administer the Insulin Syringe?

Pinching the Skin for Insulin Injection

Choose the injection spot: Choose a spot different from the previous site to prevent inflammation or fat tissue breakdown. After choosing the injection site, cleanse it with an alcohol-based wipe.
Pinch the target skin: After cleaning the injection site, pinch the skin and fatty tissue with the thumb and the first finger to create a raised portion between them. Pinching is done to avoid injecting insulin into the muscle. With smaller needles, the pinching process may not be needed.
Insert the syringe needle: Insert the insulin needle at a 90° angle into the center of the pinched skin with one quick motion. Now release your pinch.
Inject the insulin: Inject the contents of the syringe by slowly pushing down the plunger. Leave the insulin needle in the skin for 5 seconds.
Remove the needle: Pull the needle straight out and put gentle pressure over the injection site for 5-10 seconds to prevent any insulin from leaking out. Do not rub.
Dispose of the insulin syringe: After injecting the insulin, place the syringe in a safe place or a sharps container. Dispose of them as per the local department of sanitation standards.

Important tips for using Diabetic Needles

Talk to your medical provider to help you determine the right syringes and needles. The doctor can also help you practice injecting until you feel confident doing it yourself.
It is vital to choose the correct size of insulin syringe to give yourself the full dose of insulin in one shot and avoid errors.
For pain-free injection, you can numb the area by putting a cold pack or an ice cube for a couple of minutes before injection. Additionally, avoid injecting into the body hair roots.
Administer insulin at room temperature.
If you use an alcohol pad to clean your injection site, make sure it is completely dry before injecting.
Never share your syringes with others.
Check the skin around the injection site for any unusual redness or signs of infection at regular intervals.
Always eliminate the used needles properly. Do not dump the needles in the regular trash.

Diabetic Needles Buying Guide

Comfort: Some insulin injecting syringes require less plunger force to allow large insulin doses to flow easily. This makes injection smoother and more comfortable. Make sure that the numbers on the barrel are clear and easy to read to get an accurate dosage every time.
Specifications: Product specification matters when choosing a product. Before buying the insulin syringe, make sure that the product fulfills your requirements. Insulin syringe specifications such as needle gauge, barrel size, and needle length are taken into consideration. We have already mentioned these factors above. If you are still finding it difficult to understand, it is always good to ask your medical provider’s opinion to guide you on what suits you.
Quality: The manner diabetic syringes are designed and built and the material used determine the quality.
Brand: Brands like BD and Medline will offer effectiveness and value for your money. Opt for diabetic syringes that are safe to use and recommended by health providers.
Packaging: Buying an insulin syringe value pack proves to be economical and also saves you time. The package often comes with 100 units.

Where to buy Insulin Syringes online?

Health Products For You carries diabetic syringes with needles from the top manufacturers at affordable prices. You can opt for the auto-order program to get hassle-free delivery of diabetic supplies including BD Insulin Syringes, and more on time at your door. Shop now!