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Injecting insulin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 19555
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If you draw blood when removing the needle, I presume you've not done it right? Being new to all this, and not having been shown what to do, I have a tendency sometimes I think, to put the needle in too far, and when I withdraw it, a small globule of blood appears. Then a bruise will form. But what also seems to happen, though it has only just occurred to me so I haven't done a correlation, is that the difference in before insulin and after is very small and the fasting one the next day is higher than usual. Could this be because of the blood and pushing the needle in too far. In my naivety I think that I have to push it in to make sure all the insulin goes in!
 
Hi. All of us who inject occasionally get a little bleeder , we just nick a capillary. I apply a little pressure with acfinger or thumb on mine . Tbh I’ve not noticed any difference in my BGs when this happens..

What needles and what length are you using as sometimes it’s the quality (poor) of the needle thats the cause.
Their was one brand I was prescribed that caused me awful bruises and lots of little bleeders.
 
Are you using a pen? You should push the needle in up to the top but not then push further. The needle only needs to go in its full length not be pushed in even further once fully inserted.

Occasionally you’ll catch a tiny blood vessel and that can cause a little blood. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but you can reduce the risk by avoiding any obvious ones you can see.

Also, push the needle in swiftly and smoothly. If you pierce the surface of your skin and then hesitate before continuing, that can cause bleeding too.
 
You should find this video helpful,
 
Here are the sites you can use
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some great tips here, occasionally we will get bleeders but this shouldn't happen every time you inject. If the videos above don't help I would speak with your team to show you injection techniques.
 
I frequently get a small bleed. I assume you are using 4mm needles and push them in to the end of the needle but not futher?
 
I also get bleeders and bruisers. I think some people may be more prone to them than others and there are certainly areas of my body which are worse for it than others.... my thighs bleed quite frequently but my buttocks rarely do. Stomach is somewhere in between but seems to bruise more. Just all part of the tapestry of diabetes but well worth reviewing your injection technique against the video posted to see if you can pick up any tips.
 
I very rarely get a bleeder (touch wood) but when I do I think some of the insulin comes straight back out again and this effects my BG. I suppose it depends how much insulin you are injecting and how big the blob of blood is. Injecting into blood can cause rapid BG reduction. I'm very surprised you weren't shown. I had to demo to my DNS that I knew what I was doing when I changed to pens. Been doing injections for 57 years and still don't get it right every time 🙂
 
With regards to having insulin "come straight back out" do you hold the needle in after injecting?
I was taught to hold it in place for the count of 10 before removing to ensure it all goes in.
 
I do count and as I say rarely happens but I get the feeling when I get a bleed the blood is diluted with the insulin.
@Ditzyoldme do you know you are meant to hold the pen in place for 10 seconds (or more) having pushed the top. Probable explained in the videos.
 
Thanks to everyone who has replied. I saw the video, that's how I got started, and read a leaflet the nurse gave me. I would have preferred a practical demo and testing I was going to do it right. It's not every time I get a bleed, but I did think that there was some correlation,maybe, between that and the figures not being very different before and after. As for the size of the needle... not a clue!
 
Oh, the nurse did tell me to hold for a count of five, but sometimes it's stinging and I just want to get it out.
 
Are you injecting with a pen injection device? If so you have a box of needles, firstly what Brand does it say on the box? And in smaller writing on that box it will also say somewhere - could be the top, front, back or either side (not the bottom) - in smaller writing usually but not 'minute' something like 31g and 4mm. What does your box actually say?
 
trophywench said:
Are you injecting with a pen injection device? If so you have a box of needles, firstly what Brand does it say on the box? And in smaller writing on that box it will also say somewhere - could be the top, front, back or either side (not the bottom) - in smaller writing usually but not 'minute' something like 31g and 4mm. What does your box actually say?
Click to expand...
Just what you said, 31gauge/4mm - it's actually on the label the chemist sticks on, with my name, all same size so easy to read.
 
Out of interest who makes them. Some people react to the lubricant on the needle. Could be what is causing the stinging.
I was told 10 seconds or longer if it leaks. 10 seconds works for me most of the time. I can see a clock for timing. I can count very fast 🙂
 
Yes it should be 10 seconds at least, you need to hold the plunger down during this time too.

I find some areas I use are more prone to stinging than others
 
The needles are the optimal size so they shouldn't be a prob.

On some bits of me, like my tum and especially my midriff bulge, I always found it FAR easier and felt it less, to stretch the bit of skin before I stuck the needle into it. Not massively - like you would need to on any really soft bit of skin (eg under the top of your arm nearing the armpit or the inner thigh) if you were removing a really well-stuck plaster off and it was hurting to unstick it - I'm right handed, so remove inner needle guard with left hand, left thumb and forefinger either side of 'bullseye' approx 1.5 inches apart and GENTLY stretch skin between them apart, then jab one-handed.
 
What happens if.... I try not to stick the needle in too far but in doing so, it slipped out and I have no idea, what amount went in, but definitely not the whole lot.
 
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