An insulin pen is a device for giving insulin shots. It looks like a pen. Inside the pen is a needle and a cartridge filled with insulin.

Proper hand hygiene and equipment preparation are crucial for safe injection techniques. Here's a step-by-step guide to continue with the demonstration:

1. Wash your hands: Begin by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This step helps minimize the risk of introducing harmful bacteria or contaminants during the injection process.

2. Gather the equipment: Ensure you have all the necessary supplies, including a pre-filled insulin pen, an AutoShield Duo Needle, alcohol swabs, and a sharps container.

3. Inspect the insulin pen: Remove the cap from the insulin pen. Take a moment to examine the insulin inside. It should be clear and colorless, without any particles or clumps. If you notice any abnormalities or changes in the insulin's appearance, do not use it and consult a healthcare professional.

4. Prepare the needle: Take the AutoShield Duo Needle and remove the protective cap. Be cautious not to touch the needle tip to prevent contamination.

5. Clean the injection site: Choose an appropriate injection site, such as the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Swipe an alcohol swab over the chosen area in a circular motion, starting from the center and moving outward. Allow the skin to dry completely before proceeding.

6. Prime the insulin pen (if required): Some insulin pens may require priming to remove air bubbles and ensure proper dosage delivery. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions to determine if priming is necessary and how to perform it.

7. Attach the needle: Hold the insulin pen firmly and screw the AutoShield Duo Needle onto the pen's exposed tip until it is securely attached. Make sure it is tightly fastened to prevent leakage during injection.

8. Set the dosage: Dial the prescribed insulin dosage on the pen's dose selector. Double-check the dosage to ensure accuracy.

9. Remove air bubbles (if necessary): Hold the insulin pen upright and tap it gently to make any air bubbles rise to the top. Slowly push the dose selector until a tiny droplet of insulin appears at the needle tip. This step helps remove air bubbles from the cartridge.

10. Perform the injection: Position the needle perpendicular to the skin at the chosen injection site. Insert the needle smoothly into the skin with a quick motion. Depress the dose selector fully to deliver the insulin dose. Maintain the needle in place for a few seconds to ensure complete delivery.

11. Withdraw the needle: With a swift motion, remove the needle from the skin. Be cautious to avoid accidental needlesticks or injury.

12. Properly dispose of the needle: Immediately place the used needle into a sharps container for safe disposal. Do not recap the needle or discard it in regular waste bins.

Remember, this is a general guide, and it's crucial to follow the instructions provided by healthcare professionals or the manufacturer for the specific insulin pen and AutoShield Duo Needle you are using. Safety, accuracy, and proper disposal are key aspects of performing a safe injection technique.

The guidelines you mentioned regarding the use of insulin pens are generally good practices to ensure proper medication administration and patient safety. Let's go through them one by one:

1. Expiration date: Checking the expiration date on the pen is crucial to ensure that the insulin is still within its usable period. Expired insulin may lose its effectiveness and could potentially be harmful if used.

2. Patient identification: It's important to check the label affixed to the pen to ensure that the correct identification of the patient is on the pen. This helps prevent medication errors and ensures that the right patient receives the appropriate insulin.

3. One pen per patient: Using a single pen for one patient only helps prevent cross-contamination and reduces the risk of transmitting infections or other complications.

4. Insulin pen without patient identifier or expiry date: If the pen lacks a patient identifier or does not have an expiration date, it is best not to use it. Proper identification and checking the expiration date are necessary for safe medication administration.

5. Cloudy insulin (e.g., NPH or mixed insulin): Cloudy insulins require proper mixing before use. Reversing the pen 10 times and rolling it in your hands 10 times helps ensure uniform mixing. Afterward, you should visually inspect the insulin to confirm that it appears uniformly cloudy, as it should be. This step helps ensure consistent dosage delivery.

Remember, while these guidelines are generally recommended, it's always important to follow the instructions and advice provided by healthcare professionals, as they can provide specific guidance tailored to individual patient needs.

  Often seeing a Endocrinologist or  local family physician  in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition. Smart Food Now and exercise is also optominal for overall health.resenter: 

The next step is to clean the hub of the insulin pen with an alcohol swab. Once the insulin pen is ready, you want to attach the needle. First remove the paper tab, from the needle, hold the pen horizontally and turn the needle clockwise. Stop when you feel resistance and remove the outer cover from the needle. It is important to then check that the needle is correctly attached and to prime the needle. To do this, turn the insulin dose dial to 2 units, point the pen up and push on the plunger. You should see a droplet or spray, if not repeat the previous step.For a new insulin pen, 6 to 8 units may be required before seeing a droplet or spray.

Once the pen and needle are ready, one must select the required insulin dose by turning the dose dial to the prescribed dose. Follow your hospital policy and procedures by double checking the prescribed dose with another nurse, unless otherwise advised by your local authority.

When you are ready to make the injection, choose the site for the injection. The abdomen provides the best absorption, the largest site and the least chance for an intra muscular injection. Always inject in an area free of bumps, bruising, scar, stretch marks etc. Clean the skin with an alcohol swab and let dry. Hold the pen with the dose figures in front of you and inject 90 degrees without making a skin fold.

The “Pinch Method” can be used in very young children or patients with very low body fat to reduce the risk of an intra muscular injection. When injecting push in and penetrate the skin, but do not press too hard which could cause pain or increase the risk of an intramuscular injection. Press the plunger and make sure that the dose is all administered and that the dial returns to zero. A click will be heard once the dose has been administered. Then wait 10 seconds and remove the needle from the skin. A second click will be heard which means that the safety mechanism has been activated. If the dose has not been administered completely, put a new needle on and repeat the process beforehand. Do not be concerned if there is some liquid on the skin, after the injection, as this is most likely from the initial priming of the needle.

It seems like you're describing a process related to the use of a needle for injections. While I can provide some general information, please note that specific instructions may vary depending on the type of injection device or medical procedure involved. It's always important to follow the instructions provided by your healthcare professional or the manufacturer of the injection device. Here's a general overview:

1. After completing the injection, a red indicator strip appearing at the end of the needle is a visual confirmation that the needle has been used.

2. To remove the needle from the pen, you typically need to unscrew it counterclockwise. As you unscrew, you may hear a third click indicating that the needle is being disengaged.

3. Once the needle is unscrewed, you may notice an orange device that protects the internal needle. This orange device is designed to eliminate the risk of accidental needlesticks or injuries.

4. It's crucial to handle used needles safely. Place the used needle in a biohazard/sharps container specifically provided for this purpose. These containers are designed to safely contain and dispose of used needles, preventing any potential hazards.

Remember, it's important to consult with your healthcare professional or carefully read the instructions provided with the injection device to ensure you follow the appropriate procedure for your specific situation.

Before proceeding, in real time, with a patient, I would encourage you to use demo materials to practice the steps that I have just walked you through. This will give you the confidence to perform safe injection technique with a pre filled insulin pen and the AutoShield Duo Needle.