Diabetes is of two types. Type I is also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM, or juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus. People with this type of diabetes mellitus make little or no insulin in their body, and need regular insulin injections to manage the problem. Patients with IDDM have to take insulin shots or injections. Most such patients have to learn to inject themselves with insulin, which is a simple procedure. Following are the steps involved in preparing and giving an insulin shot:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

2. Mix the insulin in the ampoule gently by rotating the bottle between your palms or by inverting it slowly from end to end.

3. Take off the cap and clean the top with sterilised cotton/gauze swab soaked in spirit.

4. Remove the cover from the needle and pull the plunger back till the marking corresponding to your insulin dose. The syringe should be filled with air and NOT the insulin at this time.

5. Push the needle into the insulin bottle and release the air inside without taking in any ofthe insulin.

6. Choose the site for the shot carefully. The sites can be discussed with the doctor beforehand.

7. Clean the skin at the site of injection with an alcohol swab.

8. Invert the insulin ampoule and insert the tip of the needle into the insulin. Now pull the plunger back till the marking of your dose to suck in the required amount of insulin. Take care to avoid sucking in any air bubbles. If you can see air bubbles inside the syringe, discard the dose and repeat the procedure.

9. If any extra amount of insulin is sucked in, carefully discard the extra amount outside the bottle. Do NOT inject the insulin back into the bottle.

10. Pinch up an area ofthe skin and insert the needle at a right angle fully into the skin.

11. Release the plunger and push it all the way down to inject the insulin into your body. Release the pinched skin.

12. Pull the needle out and pat the area with the swab. Do not rub the site of injection.

13. Dispose off the needle after use.

Though the procedure seems fairly easy and becomes a routine after some practice, it should always be practised first in front ofthe doctor.