Fear

[Teresa Harris]

My elderly mother is Type 1 and suffers from quite severe dementia. She has now developed a terror of blood tests and injections because her skin is so thin and it hurts. It is becoming a big problem for the staff at the nursing home where she now is and I am very worried that soon she will refuse all blood tests and injections which she needs to stay alive.
I myself have been insulin dependent for 52 years and even I have run out of ideas for this problem.
Please can anyone suggest anything??

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum Teresa Harris.
A difficult problem for everyone involved. As all of us with type 1 diabetes know, finger prick tests nearly always hurt more than insulin injections. Assuming that nursing home staff are already doing everything possible to reduce pain - particularly alternating fingers, avoiding index finger and thumb, avoiding finger tip pads - then perhaps it is worth considering reducing frequency of blood tests? Or, at least worth discussing with your mother's medical team(s), GP and nurse in charge at nursing home.

 

[Sprogladite]

Have you considered using the Freestyle Libre? This would enable you to keep an eye on levels without as much painful testing.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear of the difficulties your mother is experiencing. For injections, you might consider 'emla' cream (I think that's the name) which numbs the skin. There is also a distraction device 'buzzy for shots' which confuses the nerve endings into not transmitting pain signals.

Alternatively there is a product made by Medtronic called 'iPort' which you insert into the skin once every 3 days and then can inject 'through' painlessly. It's a little like an infusion set for a pump, but can be used by people on injections. Of course the device itself does have to be inserted, but far less often than 'normal' injections. I have to say though, that I've always found infusion set insertion to be more painful than a regular jab, so it would be good to get a sample or two to try before committing to purchase.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Could she go on a pump? Or would she remove/interfere with it? My friends nan had a similar problem and her carers now only inject into her buttock area. Bless her, she must be very frightened and confused have the staff tried distraction techniques such as a favourite book, song, photos etc. I used to distract a lady with her favourite book of cats or play with her doll with her whilst another member of staff did the finger prick, it seemed to work well.