Ease your fear of (insulin) shots
Even if you aren’t usually afraid of shots, you might be nervous about taking insulin for the first time. Try these tips to ease your mind.
If your doctor has prescribed insulin, it won’t be long before you don’t think twice about your injections. But getting started can be difficult, even for those who are usually very comfortable getting a shot.
Fact: Insulin is a good thing.
Taking insulin will help keep your blood sugar at the right level, so you’ll feel better overall. If your doctor says you need to use insulin, that’s because your body doesn’t make enough on its own.
Tip: Be your own cheerleader.
Find a saying or phrase to help talk yourself through it. I can do this. This is easy. Peace. Serenity. Om. Whatever works for you. You can distract yourself by putting on some headphones and a favorite song, or tune into a sitcom.
Fact: Insulin pens and syringes use teeny, tiny needles.
You’re probably used to the needles used for vaccines (like the flu shot), but the needles in insulin syringes and pens are much thinner and very short. A popular length is the 8-millimeter size. Talk to your doctor about the choices available to you.
Tip: Always use a new needle.
Never reuse an insulin needle. It’s not only a bad health practice, but it’s also more likely to hurt because the tip will be dull and, if you clean it with alcohol, you’ll remove the coating that helped it slide in easily the first time.
Fact: You won’t use the same injection spot twice in a row.
It’s important to switch to a new spot on your body each time you take insulin. This is called site rotation. You can either inject in a whole different body part or you can move to a different spot that’s an inch or more away from the last one.
Tip: Let the insulin warm up before taking it.
Injecting insulin that’s cold (right out of the fridge) is more of a pain, literally. Allow it to come to room temperature first, following the package directions that came with your prescription.
Fact: Lots of people do this every day, a few times a day.
Taking insulin is just like anything else—it gets easier with practice. If you wear contact lenses, think about how hard it was to get them past your blinking eyelids for the first few days. Remind yourself that taking insulin will soon become second nature.
Tip: Ask for help and support.
A certified diabetes educator can show you the ropes, if you want some face-to-face direction. You can also ask other people who take insulin for tips. Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone can be a comfort.
