Frequently-asked questions

Why do I need to monitor my blood sugar?
It is absolutely essential for insulin therapy. Depending on the therapy, you will have to measure your blood sugar level from two to four times each day. We recommend that you keep a record of your weekly blood sugar profile and make one night-time measurement at about 2.00 a.m. every one to two weeks, particularly in the initial stages.

How often should I measure my blood sugar level?
The frequency of measurement depends on the diabetes therapy. If you are a Type 2 diabetic and are being treated with oral medication and/or insulin, or if you are injecting insulin twice a day as part of conventional diabetes therapy, you should speak to your doctor about the details of your blood sugar monitoring.

If you are injecting insulin as part of an intensive therapy or if you carry an insulin pump, you should check your blood sugar level at least 4 times a day:

• after getting up/before breakfast
  
• before lunch
  
• before eating your evening meal
  
• before going to sleep

In addition, you should measure your blood sugar level at about 2.00 a.m. every 2 to 4 weeks to determine if any undetected night-time hypos occur.
During the initial stages it is advisable to measure your “postprandial” blood sugar value about 1 to 2 hours after a meal in order to establish the correct peak insulin type as well as to determine the necessary interval between injections and meals and the correct insulin dose. However, these values measured after meals cannot be used on their own to check peak insulin.
Blood sugar levels must also be checked at short intervals in exceptional circumstances, such as suspected hypos or ketoacidosis, during illness involving fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, as well as dramatic changes in your daily rhythm (e.g. shift work, going on holiday to a different time zone).

How can I measure my blood sugar level correctly?

• Before taking a blood sample, wash your hands with soap and warm water.
  
• Dry your hands well.
  
• Disinfecting your hands with alcohol is not necessary under normal conditions.
  
• Don’t squeeze blood out of the injection point. It is better to use a meter that only needs a small volume of blood.
  

Where should I inject insulin using a pen?

• Always inject insulin subcutaneously (in the fatty tissue that lies over the muscle). The insulin is best absorbed from here and has a longer effect.
  
• Always inject insulin subcutaneously (in the fatty tissue that lies over the muscle). The insulin is best absorbed from here and has a longer effect.
  
• If you inject too frequently in the same site, hard lumps or knots develop and the insulin will no longer be absorbed properly.
  
• Short-acting types of insulin should be injected in the abdominal area (at least 3 cm away from the navel).
  
• Injecting long-acting insulin into the upper thigh (but at least the width of your hand above the knee) slows down the duration of action compared to injecting it into the abdominal area.
  
• Avoid injecting into the upper arm and the calves because of the risk of hitting muscle.
  

How can I inject insulin correctly using a pen?

• When injecting it is advisable to make a fold of skin. Experience has shown that it is easier to inject into the subcutaneous fatty tissue this way. Without a skin fold, people often inject too deeply and hit the muscle tissue.
  
• When making a skin fold, you can inject at an angle (45 degrees) as well as vertically (90 degrees), choosing a needle length that matches the thickness of the skin. Please discuss the details of this with your diabetes team.
  
• If you do not want to pinch a fold of skin, do not insert the needle vertically but rather at an angle of about 45 degrees. The needle should be short or medium length at the most (6 to 8 mm or 10 mm).
  
• If you inject at an angle, the angle should be at least 45 degrees. If you inject at an angle that is less than this, the insulin will only reach the dermis. A weal or bruising may possibly form at the injection site.
  Count up to 20 after inserting and injecting the insulin before removing the needle.
  

How can I determine the appropriate needle length?
Choosing the correct pen needle is primarily a matter of deciding on the appropriate length of the cannula. The thickness of your skin (or your body mass index) and the correct injection technique (angled or vertical injection) are important factors to take into account. The body mass index (BMI) is a measure of your weight with respect to your height.

BMI: Body Mass Index = weight in kg / (height in metres)²

Do you have any further questions? Ypsomed will be happy to answer them!
Contact us.