How to Make Injections Less Painful

Regular injections and finger pricks, whether for insulin checks or routine treatments, often cause discomfort. Surveys indicate that pain and anxiety related to injections and finger pricks are primary reasons for delayed or missed doses and tests. Learn how to make injections less painful so that you can better adhere to your routine.

Making injections less painful is a fairly straightforward process. Simple techniques—such as using a thinner needle, allowing medication to reach room temperature, applying vibration therapy, and relaxing the target muscle—can reduce discomfort. For more details, refer to our Injection Pain Relief guide. Layering these approaches creates a more comfortable experience.

With these basics in mind, you can further improve comfort. Combining these strategies with consistent site rotation and correct injection angles further supports your routine, ensures your injections and finger pricks are as painless as possible.

1. Choose the Right Lancet Needle Gauge

Picking the thinnest needle that still collects an adequate blood sample is one of the fastest ways to soften every finger stick. Diabetic lancets range from 28 to 33-gauge; the higher the gauge, the thinner the needle. A fine 31 or 33-gauge lancet paired with gentle pressure can feel almost painless. For more sizing details, see our Lancet Size Guide.

Storage and Sterility

Store your lancets and needles in a cool, dry location away from heat sources and direct sunlight, such as a bedside drawer or medication box. Avoid areas with high humidity like bathrooms and kitchens, to prevent corrosion and maintain needle sharpness.

Keep each lancet or needle sealed until use. Proper storage helps preserve sterility and ensures a more comfortable experience for both finger pricks and injections. Once your supplies are ready, preparing the site properly also plays a crucial role in minimizing discomfort.

2. Warm the Injection Site

Cold skin contracts surface blood vessels and tightens pain receptors, making every puncture—including finger pricks and injections—feel sharper.

Allow your medication—whether insulin, B12, or a GLP-1—to rest at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.

Then, apply a warm compress to the site for approximately 30 seconds. The mild heat boosts circulation, softens the tissue, and allows the needle to glide in smoothly. GoodRx confirms that room-temperature injections are less painful and less likely to cause bumps.

3. Relax Muscles Before the Shot: How to Make Injections Less Painful

Tense muscles increase resistance and nerve firing, sending a sharper signal to the brain. Before pressing the plunger: shake out the target arm or leg, roll the shoulder once or twice, and take a slow exhale as the muscle relaxes.

This quick reset allows the needle to glide in with less resistance. To explore the science behind reducing needle pain, see our article on The Gate Control Theory of Pain. If you still feel nervous, this guide on the fear of injections includes mindset techniques that help shift anticipation into a calming focus.

4. Using Vibration Therapy to Eliminate Pain

High-frequency vibrations stimulate touch fibers that reach the spinal cord before pain signals, helping to eliminate the pinch of a needle or lancet. Digivibe delivers precisely calibrated micro-pulses that distract pain nerves and helps ease anxiety and physical pain during use.

For clinical data and user guidance, see how How Digivibe Works or read more on The Scientific Evidence. Digivibe is an FDA-registered option you can rely on if you are interested in making injections less painful.

5. Master Angle and Speed for Less Painful Injections

Insert intramuscular needles at 90 degrees and subcutaneous needles at 45 degrees unless your prescriber advises otherwise.

A quick, decisive motion stings less than a slow push. If injections still feel uncomfortable, see our Painful Injections Guide for step-by-step troubleshooting. If you are still unsure about the proper technique, review our guide on How to Reduce Injection Pain before your next dose.

For lasting comfort, regularly changing your injection sites is just as essential as perfecting your technique.

7. Rotate Sites Consistently

Repeating injections in the same spot creates scar tissue called Lipohypertrophy, making each injection harder and more painful. Keeping a rotation chart and moving at least one inch from your last site helps to resolve this issue. Preventing scar tissue helps minimize the long-term side effects of injections.

7. Mindful Breathing and Distraction: How to Make Injections Less Painful

Slow, rhythmic breathing calms the sympathetic nervous system and lowers perceived pain.

Inhale through the nose for four counts, hold for two, then exhale for six as you insert the needle.

Pair that cadence with light distraction techniques—such as scrolling through calming photos, squeezing a stress ball, or streaming upbeat music—and the brain will shift its focus away from the injection.

A 2023 meta-analysis found paced breathing cut injection-related pain scores by nearly 30%, making this evidence-based tactic an easy add-on to any routine. For more mindset tips, read our guide for patients who are afraid of needles and learn additional tools for staying relaxed.

Final Thoughts

Combine proper injection techniques, and Digivibe, and you will master how to make injections less painful in any setting. For extra emotional support, see our guide on How to Conquer Needle Fear and and explore our article on Needle Phobia.

Try Digivibe Today

If you are seeking a more comfortable injection experience, consider Digivibe. This cordless, FDA-registered device pairs well with most pens and syringes, uses a long-lasting AA battery, and delivers gentle micro-pulses to help reduce injection pain.