Needle size for adults

[Dean Holt]

Hello all (newbie alert), just a quicky really.....

I have been using 10mm/29G needles for quite a while and work perfect for me. Yes, I know that they may seem quite big but the needles I was forced to use (fine point 8mm/32G) were useless as far as i'm concerned. They bend and worse of all, the broke and snapped. So I got my GP to prescribe the bigger size.

Anyway, I had my night time insulin changed to the Tresiba of which I was told nothing about by the diabetic nurse other than a patronising lesson in how to do it. (I've had type 2 for 29 years). So I have this new insulin which seems to take about 10 hours to work but that isn't actually the problem here. The nurse prescribed me the miniscule 4mm needles. Now when I told the medicine lady at my GP surgery she immediately said that those needles (the 4mm)) are for babies and adolescences.

I tried to argue the point (wi the nurse) at the time that the 4mm don't seem to do much and/or the absorption rate is greatly diminished but she insisted that I use them. So now when I inject at night, I get that blister type thing under my skin and sure enough, high bloods in the morning

So my question is...for a very slim 52 year old, what needle tips should I be using. OR is this something that depends on person-to-person.

One other point and this is purely a personal observation but has diabetic care in the NHS got worse. I ask this as my consultant says a lot but does very little. EG...two, yes two referals to urology were never made, letter to diabetic nurse NEVER reached her and that letter was for the change of insulin. It was only when I happened to of seen it at my GP surgery (on screen) that my GP printed off the letter and I had to take it to the hospital to give it to the nurse. Even then she wouldn't do anything until I got an appointment....which...you guessed it...was never sent.

Admittedly, my control isn't great and i#m beginning to think they are just not interested in me and my condition.

Rant over

Any advice would be great or just a chat would be cool.

Thanx in advance

Dean

Type 1 diagnosed 1989
quite high bloods = 94
Musician
long hair
quite fun once
but mostly depressed
sick of it and burnt out

 

[Kaylz]

Hey cant give you much advice as I am only 6 months in but I can however chat the hind legs off a donkey haha, as for needles I use 4mm ones and they seem to work well for me x

 

[Robin]

I changed from 8mm to 4mm a while ago, because I get less bruising with shorter ones. The only time I ever get that little blister is if I haven't fully inserted it all the way to the hilt, as it were.

 

[Steff]

Hi Dean welcome.
Id say its very personal in each individuals case, I went from 6 to 4mm and never been happier with those.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.
Are you Type 1 or 2 as you mention both, in your introduction.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Dean Welcome. I am sorry to sat that The medicine lady is wrong about them being just for babies and youngster, they are for adults too.
I'm wondering if it the brand you've been prescribed rather than the size that is causing your problems with blister thingy
I've tried some awful ones since I went on insulin, So far the best ones for me are B Braun omnican fine 4mm
I can't help with Tresiba , I know other here use it though, hopefully they'll be along soon.

 

[Dean Holt]

Welcome.
Are you Type 1 or 2 as you mention both, in your introduction.

whoops, yes type 1

 

[Dean Holt]

Hey cant give you much advice as I am only 6 months in but I can however chat the hind legs off a donkey haha, as for needles I use 4mm ones and they seem to work well for me x

lol, yeah talk chat rabbit talk chat blah blah. Yeah, I have been known to go on a bit myself. Looking at the replies, it does seem the norm to be using 4mm needles. I guess people get into a ritual (such as myself) and simply get used to what I know. Still not fully convinced though. We'll see ! 🙂

I can still remember my first 6 months, my entire life was thrown upside down and to be honest I have never really coped that well with it. Not awful but a little out-of-control. My HBa is 86 as of march so its a little bit errrr....mmmm....high. My biggest problem has always been eating every bloody couple of hours and I simply can't do that, never have done even as a kid etc but try telling HCP/GP/nurse that AND the fact that I have a fast metabolism and they scrug their shoulders. Whivh is international sign of 'I don't know'.....anyway, thanx for the reply...

Good luck and all the best Kaylz.

Dean

 

[Dean Holt]

I changed from 8mm to 4mm a while ago, because I get less bruising with shorter ones. The only time I ever get that little blister is if I haven't fully inserted it all the way to the hilt, as it were.

Its looking like i'm just moaning actually and having my ritual disturbed. Its probably cos i'm not used to it having read the replies. Thanx for replying Robin

 

[Dean Holt]

Hi Dean welcome.
Id say its very personal in each individuals case, I went from 6 to 4mm and never been happier with those.

Thanx Steff, yeah, i'm sort of seeing that now. It could be having my own ritual disrupted and simply getting funny about it. Thanx

Hi Dean Welcome. I am sorry to sat that The medicine lady is wrong about them being just for babies and youngster, they are for adults too.
I'm wondering if it the brand you've been prescribed rather than the size that is causing your problems with blister thingy
I've tried some awful ones since I went on insulin, So far the best ones for me are B Braun omnican fine 4mm
I can't help with Tresiba , I know other here use it though, hopefully they'll be along soon.

I was using the B+D needle tips then got told the prescription board had said that we have to use the Fine Point needles but I found that they either simply bended or they simply broke. They came across as a cheapo option

 

[zx10pilot]

My biggest problem has always been eating every bloody couple of hours and I simply can't do that, never have done

Hi Dean
Rant away mate. As a relative newbie I can't help you too much but...
Can I ask if you are carb counting and on a Basal / Bolus regime, or are you on fixed insulin doses?
If you are carb counting then you don't need to eat every couple of hours (I certainly don't).
But when I do inject I use 4mm 33G needles. I guess you really wouldn't like them!
Welcome to the site by the way.
regards
zx

 

[Robin]

Its looking like i'm just moaning actually and having my ritual disturbed. Its probably cos i'm not used to it having read the replies. Thanx for replying Robin

It doesn't come across as moaning at all, actually, we all need a rant occasionally, (and to check up on what other people are getting in the way of care) if we aren't getting the support we need and deserve from our health care. I'm lucky, I still get the BD microfine prescribed, which hardly bruise at all, but plenty of people on here have been swapped to cheaper, blunter alternatives.

 

[Ljc]

Thanx Steff, yeah, i'm sort of seeing that now. It could be having my own ritual disrupted and simply getting funny about it. Thanx


I was using the B+D needle tips then got told the prescription board had said that we have to use the Fine Point needles but I found that they either simply bended or they simply broke. They came across as a cheapo option

Whoever s insisting you use that brand p(I wasn't keen on them either) obviously doesn't understand you need to protect your injection sites, I mean they have to last you a long time.
It may be time to take the gloves off, in the nicest possible way of course.

On here you'll see many examples of good and bad care for all types of D

 

[Dean Holt]

Hi Dean
Rant away mate. As a relative newbie I can't help you too much but...
Can I ask if you are carb counting and on a Basal / Bolus regime, or are you on fixed insulin doses?
If you are carb counting then you don't need to eat every couple of hours (I certainly don't).
But when I do inject I use 4mm 33G needles. I guess you really wouldn't like them!
Welcome to the site by the way.
regards
zx

I used to carb count but sort of started self medicating. I don't like that term 'self medicating' but I do fluctuate between a couple of units depending on my blood levels....yes, fixed dose but I do vary it slightly. Wow, they really are thin pins you use. For my 3 daily jabs I use the 10mm 2(G...almost like using a piece of hose ;-)
Thanx for the reply mate. Its so good to get a good spread of replies with a little variation. Love it. Cheers

 

[Ljc]

I agree it doesn't come over as though your moaning at all. This is a good place to have a rant.

 

[Dean Holt]

It doesn't come across as moaning at all, actually, we all need a rant occasionally, (and to check up on what other people are getting in the way of care) if we aren't getting the support we need and deserve from our health care. I'm lucky, I still get the BD microfine prescribed, which hardly bruise at all, but plenty of people on here have been swapped to cheaper, blunter alternatives.

I was TOLD I could no longer get the B+D microfine pins. Used them for years with zero probs but the finepoint needles I really feel are cheap 'n' nasty. As mentioned, I begged the docs to give me a fatter needle and got them. They don't bend and they certainly don't break BUT I have had to go thicker and longer.

 

[Dean Holt]

Whoever s insisting you use that brand p(I wasn't keen on them either) obviously doesn't understand you need to protect your injection sites, I mean they have to last you a long time.
It may be time to take the gloves off, in the nicest possible way of course.

On here you'll see many examples of good and bad care for all types of D

Oh yeah, I know about the care part. I really does seem to of...got worse. It feels like my Doc sees me as a hypochondriac (which I am not) and treats me as such and my consultant is filtering out baddly controled diabetics to cost cut. Sorry for anyone that sees that as BS but it is exactly how I feel and worse, how it looks. I mentioned in my original post that TWO referrals to the urology department were simply never made. Try contacting his secretary and we all know the answer to that....or rather...no answer at all and no way of getting any resolve other than, as you say....gloves off. I don't want to do that as i'm not an assertive person and will walk away having been bullshitted out the door. Depression...forget that. My Gp AND consultant do not want to know and (in a way) bullshit me out the door. Heres a great bit of advice from my GP regarding my lack and falling muscle mass 'eat more green veg' yeah true but at the same time laughable. This is the same guy that said 'Hypo's can't hurt you'. See where i'm going with this.

 

[Ljc]

I see what you are having to put up with and it's not right your being treated like that.

 

[Kaylz]

I know what you mean before being admitted to hospital I was getting up going to work having maybe half a roll at lunch time if that and then a small meal when I got home at around 7, they then wanted me to start eating 3 meals a day so was a huge change and I struggled with breakfast to start with as it always made me feel sick since I was a teenager, I'm loving it now though, sorry to hear that you have been struggling, I've read through your comments and see you are on set units, I was only on set units for a month then started carb counting and it really has changed everything for the better and I really don't know where I'd be if I wasn't carb counting, I also think I'd be in a much darker place if it wasn't for the great help, support and advice from all the guys on this forum they really have been fab to me 🙂 x

 

[Ljc]

Omg he thinks hypo's can't hurt us.😱