Pushing air into bottle

[Starlight]

I was watching the link given in another thread- http://www.bddiabetes.com/us/demos/injecting.asp and in the process of putting air into the bottle, they do it by placing the bottle on the table and injecting in the air. All this time i've been flipping the bottle over and injecting air this way. Surely what i've been doing is incorrect :eek: They also use alcohol swabs for everything. I dont! I dont even wait five seconds after injecting, nor do i pay attention to removing air bubbles! So, is pushing the air upside down wrong?
[i really have to change my method of injecting insulin..]

[Del]

I live in Germany and perhaps things are done slightly differently here, but is using a "normal" shot still widespread out there in the world at large? :topic:

Sorry, not addressing your questions. I don't know how easy/difficult it would be but seems to me as if a pen could be an option for you. It's what they gave me from day 1 and it's pretty simple- none of that stuff you describe.

[Starlight]

I cant use pen since im with mixed humalog and protophane. Pens only can administer pure insulin, it would be good if they somehow made one with 2 compartments for each insulin.

[valc3]

I saw the same link and thought I was doing it wrong too. I saw my Dr today and asked him, he said holding the bottle upright and injecting air is okay.

Val

[duck]

I saw the same link and thought I was doing it wrong too. I saw my Dr today and asked him, he said holding the bottle upright and injecting air is okay.

Val

The only "drawback" is if somehow you aerated the insulin so bad that you drew bubbles back into your syringe. In my MDI days, I injected air very slowly to avoid making to many bubbles and had no issues.

[camjen1]

The only reason for injecting air is to make it easier for you to fill your syringe. Just as long as your getting your accurate dose than you should be fine.

[Tyna]

The only reason for injecting air is to make it easier for you to fill your syringe. Just as long as your getting your accurate dose than you should be fine.

Hi Everyone,

Just started using syringes with Lantus, been injecting air because I've been told to do it. Out of curiosity, what happens if I don't inject air? And is it necessary to inject the same amount of units of air as you intend to take out?

Thanks,
Tyna

[Mark C]

Hi Everyone,

Just started using syringes with Lantus, been injecting air because I've been told to do it. Out of curiosity, what happens if I don't inject air? And is it necessary to inject the same amount of units of air as you intend to take out?

Thanks,
Tyna

If you draw only liquid from the vial, without adding air to the space, you will pull a vacuum in there. Then you may draw unwanted bacteria and fungi into the vial by the seal holes if the vacuum is deep enough. (It will be constantly "sucking", or attempting to, by nature's attempt to equalize the pressure.)

Also, the vacuum may be deep enough that you will get fine bubbles from the low pressure "boiling" of the liquid when you draw your dose. (Liquids "boil" at far lower temperatures in a vacuum.) You my also have a hard time drawing your actual dose too.

I slowly push the air in relying upon the air pump to "mix" the insulin up in the bottle.

[Tyna]

Thanks Mark!

[Starlight]

ahh thanks guys! I thought i was doing it all wrong! :o