needle size

[jay-jules]

hi guys
was just wondering how you know if the needles you use are right for you, when i was diagnosed in december i was given 8mm needles by the hospital and seemed fine for a while but recently since loosing weight and going to the gym more im finding when injecting it can be a little sore and my belly can feel a little sensitive at times after injecting. i move my injection sites each time and have always injected the same way, (never at an angle),
i am starting to think i might be better off with a 6mm needle but am worried as to why the hospital put me on a longer needle initially

 

[sofaraway]

I use the 8mm needles, and occasionally have used the 5mm when I have had to borrow needles.

might be that the 8mm are too long for you now that you have lost weight. it's a pretty individual thing some people find different lengths more comfortable, as long as you get good absorbtion it shouldn't make too much difference switching.

Ask your GP to prescribe a box of smaller needles to try out and see if they are more comfortable. Or your DSN might have a few that you could try out.

 

[Copepod]

Jay Jules - there's a simple solution, which you may well have worked out for yourself already, but I'll mention it anyway, until you can ask your diabetes team about shorter needles: there is no need to insert needle right up the the hilt.

 

[Einstein]

I use 6mm needles as I sometimes have trouble pinching enough skin (there is enough to pinch, only my left hand doesn't always assist), 8mm were too much like hard work trying to keep to the right depth.

To be honest I find pens are a pain from a control and bruising perspective, I much prefer syringes, you're not injecting a tiny needle with a huge lever behind it, rather something much smaller and controllable. However, Levemir isn't available for any delivery other than pens. So it's generally easier to stick with pens.

Insulin infusion sets are another option, they are a special cannula which you insert just under your skin in your abdomen and for four or five days you do all your injections through there. Really cuts down on bruising and gives you a little time to recover from lumps etc.

I think I made mention in a recent post about a smaller pen that used to be made by the people who make nova rapid, it was a few years ago and was about the size of a mobile phone, with digital display indicating the last / current dosage and the time since the last injection, the plunger only travelled on distance (not variable as to how much insulin you took) and it fitted neatly in the palm of your hand for injecting and could fit in your pocket or bag at other times.

The really neat bit was, they joined forces with one of the meter manufacturers and optionally you could replace the cover with one that had a meter built in - really handy as it took hardly any extra space up.

Take up of the product was slow and they had some issues of reliability with them, mine worked fine for a good few years, I really miss them, in my opinion they were a true innovation in pen design.

I'd certainly go that route if someone developed a similar product, very little attention really gets paid to the insulin delivery device, sure from the days of glass syringes, sterilising everything and sharpening your own needles to todays insulin syringes and modern pens we've progressed, but I feel we seem to have stopped and aren't progressing much further.

I don't see inhaled insulins being for the majority, especially as the big players have been there and pulled out. If they can't justify the development and inertia for market penetration, who can?

 

[bev]

Hmm...
No wonder Alex was uncomfortable using the 8mm ones! We were given them in hospital and he was complaining so much that they changed them to 5mm as he is very skinny! Bev

 

[katie]

Hmm...
No wonder Alex was uncomfortable using the 8mm ones! We were given them in hospital and he was complaining so much that they changed them to 5mm as he is very skinny! Bev

aww poor alex! yeah in hospital i remember the needles looking really long (which scared me to death because i thought id be using them for the rest of my life). I think they must just use a standard size in hospital!

 

[Copepod]

Whatever the length of pen needle, there's no need to insert right up to the hilt. They are the same diameter, unlike the orange (sub cutaneous) / blue and green (intramuscular or intravenous) series of needles that are attached to syringes.

 

[StuartB]

I know this will hurt! I have always used 12.7 m needles. Latest advice is now 4 m needles. GP team won’t prescribe larger needles, due to best advice! If I am in a restaurant, I don’t want to go into toilet to inject, as small needle won’t go through clothes, and I may contaminate my body with fibres from my clothing. Obviously 42 years of being Type 1 doesn’t count for much. Thirty years ago, I was nearly arrested because I injected in a public place - a cafe. I don’t want to inject before a meal in a toilet, I want to be doing it wherever it is convenient..... so longer needles should be a choice to suite individuals lifestyle!

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum @StuartB. This is an old thread, but your comments are welcome.
Would you like to introduce yourself in Newbies section?

 

[trophywench]

Don't you ever have a gap in your clothing between top and trousers or between buttons on a shirt to jab through? I do and my husband plus any other men and ladies I know usually do! If you just don't make a fuss about it no body else even notices - but I can only speak for everywhere in the world I've ever been, of course!

 

[SB2015]

I went from 8mm (why do hospitals always start with those?), 6mm, 5 mum and finally 4 mm. so much better and fewer bruises.

Like TW said I always found a suitable gap through which to inject. If I knew I was going to be out and about for food, I just dressed to make sure there was an accessible gap when needed, and if necessary I just went through my tights into my leg. No one seemed to notice.

I only use pens now as emergency, but was recently given GlocRX which bruised everytime. My prescription was changed back to BD Microfine.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I have always been an 8mm person. I still have back-up syringes at that length.

On principle I would never inject in a bathroom. I wouldn’t inject through clothing either - there have always been gaps available. Additionally I generally chose a seat at the table that was out of sight of most diners in case anyone had a profound needle anxiety. As far as I’m aware no one has ever noticed a thing, unless I deliberately drew attention to people of the table.

 

[trophywench]

Half the time Pete used to ask me if I'd done it, Yep - before I started eating mate, you probably didn't notice cos you were too busy demolishing your meal! LOL

 

[Cookiemonster2017]

I think mine are 4mm, but I can inject through jeans etc

 

[PhoebeC]

Yeah I’ve always been told no issue though clothing, of always rather on bare skin though.
Is this a real issue, the fibres?

Can’t predict those random bleeds, too many stained items of clothing!
I’m on 4mm but only recently. I find these work for me, i don’t gave much fatty bits.

 

[Sprogladite]

When I did DAFNE at the end of October, the advice on needles was no bigger than 4mm and absolutely not through clothing. Also fresh one for each injection as there's some sort of lubricant on the needle that makes it less traumatic/easier for your skin to heal which gets used up after one jab.

Might add that I use 6mm needles and am TERRIBLE about changing them lol. I will get round to changing it. Eventually 😳