Gestational Diabetes: Giving Yourself Insulin Shots

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Introduction

If you have gestational diabetes and you have not been able to keep your blood sugar levels within a safe range by changing the way you eat and by exercising, you will need insulin shots.

Key points

• Taking insulin can help prevent high blood sugar. High blood sugar can lead to problems for you and your baby.
• Insulin is given as a shot into the fatty tissue just under the skin. In pregnant women, insulin usually is given in the upper arm or thigh.
• At first, you may feel nervous about giving yourself insulin shots. But, after a little while, it will become a routine part of your day. It is not hard to learn how to do, and any sting you might feel will not last long. More than 500,000 people in the United States do this every day. You can, too.
• It is also important to:
  • Have the right dose of insulin, especially if you are giving two types of insulin in the same syringe.
  • Practice how to give your shot.
  • Store the insulin properly so that each dose will work well.

 What does it mean to prepare and give an insulin shot?

 Why give insulin?

 How to prepare and give an insulin shot

 Where to go from here

More information about the different types of diabetes can be found in these topics:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
• Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications
• Gestational Diabetes

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Last updated:	December 04, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Lois Jovanovic, MD - Endocrinology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC