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Going on Insulin any tips

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porll69 said:
49 years ago(!!) we were issued with 8 needles which had to last 2 weeks, 2 injections a day. They were like darning needles (except darning needles were sharper). My father used to take 1 or 2 of them into work to try and get them sharpened......that never ever worked as they used to come back exactly the same.
Click to expand...

WINCE .

Now we have tiny 4mm ones 🙂
 
Sorry didn’t mean infection but this problem.

Scar tissue, or hardened areas, may also develop at the sites. This can happen to anyone who takes insulin, whether it's delivered through a syringe or insulin pump. It happens due to the action of insulin on the fat cells because insulin can cause fat cells to increase in size.
 
Totalwar said:
Sorry didn’t mean infection but this problem.

Scar tissue, or hardened areas, may also develop at the sites. This can happen to anyone who takes insulin, whether it's delivered through a syringe or insulin pump. It happens due to the action of insulin on the fat cells because insulin can cause fat cells to increase in size.
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Ah I see, Lipohypertrophy.
To try and prevent this from happening we rotate our injection sites, fortunately we have a few rather large areas to choose from and inject at 90 degrees .

I have been injecting since 2016 and apart from the occasional bruise have no other problems .
We have folks on here who have been injecting insulin for decades who have not developed Lipohypertrophy.

The nurse should check our injection sites annually.
I check mine far more often.

@Totalwar. its perfectly natural to be worried about going on insulin especially as some medics/nurses use , you will be put on insulin as a threat , yes this does happen.

For people with T1 , insulin therapy is vital, they wouldn’t be here without it.

People with LADA ,(it’s like a slow onset T1) often end up on insulin.

Many of us with T2 , eventually need insulin, sometimes because we have LADA rather than T2 .

Non diabetics manufacture and can use their own home brew (Insulin is a natural hormone)

I really hope this helps
 
Totalwar said:
Sorry didn’t mean infection but this problem.

Scar tissue, or hardened areas, may also develop at the sites. This can happen to anyone who takes insulin, whether it's delivered through a syringe or insulin pump. It happens due to the action of insulin on the fat cells because insulin can cause fat cells to increase in size.
Click to expand...
The key word in your comment is "can".
It happens if you don't rotate your injection sites. But if you change the place where you inject, this can be avoided
I have been injecting (and pumping) an average of 6 times a day for nearly 16 years with a 4mm needle and have no scar tissue.
You seem to be looking at reasons why injecting insulin is bad. People with Type 1 do this all their life and most experience no ill effects from the the injections.
Insulin can give you freedom and help you manage your diabetes better.
 
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Ljc said:
inject at 90 degrees .
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Ah! Haven’t come across that before! How does that help? I’ve been having a few problems with lumps & bumps in my stomach area after injecting 8 years now & have had to use my thighs & upper arms more! Could the needle be bent at that angle: I have bent the odd needle now & then on the way out; would bending the needle block it?
 
Lanny said:
Ah! Haven’t come across that before! How does that help? I’ve been having a few problems with lumps & bumps in my stomach area after injecting 8 years now & have had to use my thighs & upper arms more! Could the needle be bent at that angle: I have bent the odd needle now & then on the way out; would bending the needle block it?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be bending the needle to any angle. I think what LJC meant is that the needle is at a right angle to where ever she injects and not the needle is bent to 90 degrees 🙂
 
That did make me giggle .
 
Thanks everyone settled my mind a bit.I have to wait until the end of October to see the nurse about what insulin I be going on.Hopefully can go on slow acting insulin.I know about they scary you so you control your diabetes better.They been telling for a few years about going on insulin. but Alway came up with a new tablet and now just came off Hormone injections but didn’t work out.
 
Sorry to hear you are starting insulin. I started on insulin 3 weeks ago after 15 years on tablets. The best advice my GP gave me was to get a continuous blood glucose monitor for a month or longer. I would have to self fund. I ended up going for the Dexcom G6 as I could get it next day. The Libre freestyle is cheaper. My GP explained that I could see the real time effects of different foods on the blood glucose. I have found this really useful seeing the effects of exercise on blood glucose levels. It also gave me the ability to test blood glucose when ever I wanted with out finger pricking. It has also warned me of a low blood glucose level with plenty of time to act. I do not think the libre freestyle can do this. It is worth noting that these meters are a few minutes behind the blood glucose as they monitor body fluids, not the blood. You do need to check this type of meter against a finger prick test, when starting with a new sensor on the Dexcom I have found calibration is necessary. Also either get the book or app carbs & calorie counter, it gives you the grammes of carbs in foods the app allows you to build up meals. Get your GP to refer you to see a diabetic specialist nurse for a hot appointment as the nhs calls it. This means that you should be seen very quickly. Their knowledge is very detailed, my biggest fear was adjusting insulin doses, the nurse explained how to calulate the dose based on carb content. I am now adjusting insulin dose as required, I have been able to monitor the effects with the dexcom. The dexcom has also been realy useful for showing the effect of exercise on blood glucose. Always keep something to boost your glucose with I under estimated the effects of exercise on blood glucose I always had 2 tubes of Lift with me which I have used, I regularly do 3 - 5 mile walks with the dog. My GP also recommended 2 books Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner & Take Control of Type 1 Diabetes by David Cavan. I have not finished them yet but would recommend them. Also have a good look round this forum questions you have my well have been answered.
 
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