Minimising bruising from injections

[Sarah1983]

Does anyone have any tips for minimising bruising after injecting insulin? You only have to look at me wrong and I bruise so after several weeks of multiple injections per day I'm beginning to look like I've been beaten lol. It's mostly my stomach, my thighs don't seem too bad although I've had a couple of really nasty ones there. But they hurt and bled so I assume I got unlucky and hit somewhere I shouldn't.

Is there anything I can do or am I just going to have to resign myself to having a permanent belt of many colours?

Thanks all 🙂

 

[Redkite]

What needle length are you using? They could be too long for you.

 

[Copepod]

If you're unlucky and hit a capillary, you'll get a bruise. Potentially, holding an ice cube over site before and after injecting might constrict (make smaller) capillary, but it's still pretty much chance, assuming you're already useing short needles (or not injecting long ones right up to hilt) and changing each time.

 

[Sarah1983]

They're 8mm. Will have to have a word with the docs and see whether I can get smaller ones. I think showing them my bruises may help sway them If (and it's a big if 🙄 ) the pharmacy is allowed to stock them. They already can't get me half the stuff I was prescribed so have had to change things.

 

[Sarah1983]

If you're unlucky and hit a capillary, you'll get a bruise. Potentially, holding an ice cube over site before and after injecting might constrict (make smaller) capillary, but it's still pretty much chance, assuming you're already useing short needles (or not injecting long ones right up to hilt) and changing each time.

I think that's what's happened with my legs a couple of times. But I'm not sure even I'm unlucky enough to hit a capillary with every single injection into my stomach.

 

[Copepod]

Worth trying injecting without pushing needle right the way in, all 8mm. Plus, good technique is to jab in needle as fast and confidently as possible, then inject insulin as slowly as possible.

 

[PattiEvans]

They're 8mm. Will have to have a word with the docs and see whether I can get smaller ones. I think showing them my bruises may help sway them If (and it's a big if 🙄 ) the pharmacy is allowed to stock them. They already can't get me half the stuff I was prescribed so have had to change things.

I use 4mm. Why would the pharmacy not be able to stock them? Can you not change pharmacies?

 

[Maryanne29]

Small needles

4mm needles should help you and they are plenty long enough to deliver the insulin.

 

[Sarah1983]

I use 4mm. Why would the pharmacy not be able to stock them? Can you not change pharmacies?

I'm not sure I can change pharmacies, we're in Germany with the British forces and the med centre and pharmacy are the forces ones. There are German pharmacies obviously but don't think I'd be able to get my prescriptions there.

Pharmacy is pretty limited as to what they can hold in stock and apparently is going to get even more limited from what I've been told. They don't even have my insulin on the system apparently, it has to be ordered specially.