Roll vial between palms

Mix insulin gently

Second Revision, Saturday, 17 January 2009; 05:53

Mix the insulin in the vial

Take the vial between your palms, and roll gently and slowly, about twenty times (one-way rolls). This takes about one minute, or just a little longer.

I believe Intervet, makers of Caninsulin and Vetsulin, say to hold the vial upright, as is shown in the picture. I use Novolin NPH insulin, which has no such instructions, so I hold the vial with my fingers pointing vertically down, so that the rolling mixes from side-to-side along the long axis of the vial. Maybe it's a superstition of mine, but I think that's a more efficient way to mix the contents of the vial, especially such a long thin one, than would be holding the vial upright.

When you have finished rolling the vial, set it down upright on the table, counter, desk, whatever surface you're working from.

Insulin molecules are sensitive!

My vet tells me that insulin molecules are easily subject to breakdown if you shake the vial, or drop it. That is one reason we mix it slowly, rolling it, and another is to prevent air bubbles from being drawn into the syringe when we fill it.

The next step is to prepare the syringe, and fill it with the required dose.

Back to top

The Great Outside