Choice of needle length and injection technique

Choice of needle length: always keep in mind, that the correct needle length is crucial for a successful therapy: the insulin is injected into the subcutaneous fatty tissue – and to achieve a good insulin dose effect it is essential to inject the insulin into the fatty tissue and not the muscle.

Correct injection technique depending on the needle length: for a 4 mm and 5 mm needle length, you should usually make sure to inject at an angle of 90 degrees without a skin fold – whereas for children and slim adults it is recommended to form skin folds. Choosing short needles for injection reduces the risk of inadvertently injecting into the muscle. For a 6 mm and 8 mm pen needle length, make sure to inject at an angle of 90 degrees with a skin fold, or 45 degrees without a skin fold. When forming the skin fold, use your thumb and index finger, and keep the skin fold loose and relaxed.