What are diabetic needles and syringes?

Diabetic needles and syringes allow you to administer injectable liquid insulin to yourself. If your doctor has prescribed insulin injections, a nurse or other healthcare professional will explain how to use diabetic needles and syringes properly.

Diabetic needles come in various sizes and lengths. As the gauge or thickness of the needle increases the length decreases so that a needle with a higher gauge will be thinner. Gauge 31 is the thinnest insulin needle currently available. In general, thinner and shorter needles cause less pain during injection.

The length of needle depends on your body shape and type. The most commonly used needle is a half-inch long, but children usually use a 3/16-inch needle. If you are overweight you may require a longer needle so that it can penetrate far enough under the skin to administer the correct amount of insulin.
 
Syringes also come in different sizes to accommodate specific doses of insulin. The most common dosage of insulin is 100 units per milliliters of fluid (or, U-100) and is injected using a U-100 syringe. Regardless of size, the syringe will have a plunger that allows you to draw and inject the medication.

If your diabetic needles and syringes can be reused, always sanitize them before using them again. Don’t reuse a disposable needle or share needles because of the risk of infection.