bleeding at injection sites

[Joybells]

Does anyone else often bleed at insulin injection sites? Does it mean that some of the insulin leaks out?

 

[rebrascora]

I used to bleed quite often, particularly in my thighs but occasionally my stomach too. I use my buttocks now for basal so if I do bleed, I don't tend to see it but I usually wipe my hand across the site after injecting and don't notice anything.
It is important to hold the injector pen in situ for a good few seconds with the button depressed before removing the needly to ensure the full dose goes in and if you do that and it does bleed when you remove the needle the changes are most of what comes will be blood, so unless you have a really bad bleed then it is unlikely to affect the dose and even if it does bleed badly and some insulin leach out with the blood, you have no means of knowing how much, so the best you can do is monitor your levels well for the rest of the day and if you have quick acting insulin, make corrections as necessary or if not perhaps adjust the carb content of your next meal to help bring levels down.

 

[Joybells]

That's very helpful, thank you. I do hold the pen in position for 10 seconds, and it is rarely a bad bleed, so perhaps I worry too much. I will take your advice.

 

[Ljc]

What brand of needles are you prescribed, they changed my brand and I bruised and bled often with them , I soon got them changed back, so it might be your needles.
Also what length are they.

 

[Joybells]

The needles are Carepoint, 5mm. Would smaller needles help perhaps?

 

[Ljc]

The needles are Carepoint, 5mm. Would smaller needles help perhaps?

@Joybells . I didn’t like them at all. Had Lots of bleeding and bruises.

4mm is all you need as the insulin is not meant to go deep into the fat layer .
I use BD Micro fine they are pretty good, we all get the occasional bleeder but it shouldn’t be often.

Edited to change needles to BD Micro fine

 

[JJay]

@Joybells . I didn’t like them at all. Had Lots of bleeding and bruises.

4mm is all you need as the insulin is not meant to go deep into the fat layer .
I use BD (think they are fine point but not sure) they are pretty good, we all get the occasional bleeder but it shouldn’t be often.

Interesting. My GlucoRX FinePoint needles were without warning changed to CarePoint about a year ago, presumably on cost grounds. I'd never been very happy withe FinePoint, experiencing a lot of bruising/bleeding and bent needles, but the surgery wouldn't entertain anything more expensive. I was ready to do battle but after the first box I came to the conclusion that the CarePoint were actually much better!

 

[Joybells]

Thanks for your comments. I will ask to change to 4mm needles when/if I ever manage to see my diabetes nurse again! Joy

 

[Ljc]

Interesting. My GlucoRX FinePoint needles were without warning changed to CarePoint about a year ago, presumably on cost grounds. I'd never been very happy withe FinePoint, experiencing a lot of bruising/bleeding and bent needles, but the surgery wouldn't entertain anything more expensive. I was ready to do battle but after the first box I came to the conclusion that the CarePoint were actually much better!

Apologies I have just checked and mine are BD micro fine not BD fine point , I have edited my post .

 

[JJay]

Apologies I have just checked and mine are BD micro fine not BD fine point , I have edited my post .

No worries! I too had BD microfine in the dim and distant past but GP/CCG refused to fund them any more. The cost difference was pretty significant though.

 

[rebrascora]

I have had BD viva since diagnosis. No idea what the difference is but my next box will be Gluco Rx CarePoint Ultra. Will be interesting to see if I notice any difference

 

[Ljc]

I have had BD viva since diagnosis. No idea what the difference is but my next box will be Gluco Rx CarePoint Ultra. Will be interesting to see if I notice any difference

It’s the cost and imo the quality .
I hope you get on ok with them , if you don’t then change them back.
I showed my Dn the bruising, she soon changed them back

 

[Ljc]

Thanks for your comments. I will ask to change to 4mm needles when/if I ever manage to see my diabetes nurse again! Joy

See if you can get a telephone appointment with the nurse

 

[rebrascora]

I have had bruising with the BD viva not infrequently so it is just something i have got used to and assumed was normal. My new Carepoint ultra may be an improvement. I will update in a week or two when I start using them.