Taking insulin injections can be overwhelming at first. However, people say that the anticipation of giving an injection is usually worse than the actual injection itself. Staying calm and relaxed while learning how to prepare and give an injection can help.
This section guides you through some relaxation strategies and then demonstrates how to prepare and inject using an insulin pen.
Staying calm and relaxed while giving an injection can help to reduce the pain you may experience. When you expect something to hurt, it usually hurts more than it normally would. So, staying as calm as possible is important.
To the right are some helpful relaxation tools to use when you start feeling overwhelmed or nervous. Click on the buttons below to try a short relaxation activity.
To start, wear headphones or turn up your computer volume. When you are sitting in a comfortable position with your feet on the floor you can press play to begin. You can also download or print the audio transcript for yourself.
Deep breathing is a great way to stimulate the relaxation response in your body. Your heart rate decreases and your muscles relax, making you feel less stressed or nervous.
You can focus on your senses to clear your mind of other thoughts and be fully aware of the present moment. Being fully present can reduce any nervous feelings you may have.
Progressive muscle relaxation is a great way to reduce your physical tension, making you feel less stressed or nervous.
Keep practicing with the recordings until you can do the exercises on your own. You can benefit from doing these relaxation techniques anywhere and anytime.
The more you practice this relaxation exercise, the easier it will become to calm yourself down when you are upset.
Learning how to prepare and inject insulin can seem overwhelming at first. But after you've had some practice, it should seem much more manageable.
To your right is a video showing how insulin pens work. It's normal to feel a little uncomfortable as you watch the video. If you start feeling overwhelmed or nervous, you can try using one of the relaxation strategies on the previous screen.
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Learning about insulin and how to prepare and inject it can be overwhelming. Once you have some practice preparing the pen and injecting yourself, it should feel more manageable.
If you have any questions or would like more information regarding insulin pens, please contact your diabetes care provider. For tips on talking with your doctor, check out Work Together and make your next appointment more productive.
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The most common side effect of insulin is low blood sugar. Some people may experience symptoms such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, and blurred vision, while some experience no symptoms at all. That’s why it’s important to check your blood sugar often.
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