Hi I have been type 2 diabetic for about 15 years have tried various tablets which have not suited me have been on gliclazide for about the last 10 years the surgery nurse felt this wasn’t working well enough so I have now started Semglee insulin pen once a day as well I’m finding some days I end up with rather a large bruise what am I doing wrong I inject in my stomach and change sides daily
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- Thread starter Sarky
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Welcome to the forum @Sarky
Sorry to hear you are getting bruising from some of your injections
Parhaps it might be worth getting an injection technique refresher at your surgery?
What length of needles have you been offered?
Have you tried an alternative site? I always found thighs with a little pinch-up worked well for my long-acting insulin (though I was on rather longer needles that are widely used these days)
Sorry to hear you are getting bruising from some of your injections
Parhaps it might be worth getting an injection technique refresher at your surgery?What length of needles have you been offered?
Have you tried an alternative site? I always found thighs with a little pinch-up worked well for my long-acting insulin (though I was on rather longer needles that are widely used these days)
TheClockworkDodo
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What are the needles you've been given? It's possible the pharmacy have given you cheap ones which are less good quality than the ones usually used by diabetics needing to inject regularly.
Or it may just be that you'd be better off injecting in the side of your thigh, as Mike suggests - legs tend to bruise less easily, so long as you inject into a fleshy bit and avoid veins and muscles.
Or it may just be that you'd be better off injecting in the side of your thigh, as Mike suggests - legs tend to bruise less easily, so long as you inject into a fleshy bit and avoid veins and muscles.
rebrascora
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I bruise occasionally. It is caused by nicking a small capillary and it isn't a big deal. If it is every time then it may be that your needles are a bit longer than they need to be. Most of us use 4mm 32guage needles. Or perhaps you are pressing too hard and the hilt of the needle is bruising the tissue rather than the needle itself.
I find that the tops of my thighs bruise less but the main middle part seems to have a lot of capillaries and injections in them bruise quite frequently and the site will usually bleed when I withdraw the needle. I usually inject my basal insulin into my buttocks. I don't think they bruise but then I wouldn't know if they did since I can't see them.
Anyway, I guess what we are saying is check the needles. 4mm is standard length but they sometimes dispense 6mm so ask to try 4 if that is the case and experiment with different sites if your tummy is prone to bruising. Outside of upper arms, thighs, buttocks and tummy are all recognized sites for injecting.
I find that the tops of my thighs bruise less but the main middle part seems to have a lot of capillaries and injections in them bruise quite frequently and the site will usually bleed when I withdraw the needle. I usually inject my basal insulin into my buttocks. I don't think they bruise but then I wouldn't know if they did since I can't see them.
Anyway, I guess what we are saying is check the needles. 4mm is standard length but they sometimes dispense 6mm so ask to try 4 if that is the case and experiment with different sites if your tummy is prone to bruising. Outside of upper arms, thighs, buttocks and tummy are all recognized sites for injecting.
Thank you for reply the needles are 4mm I am at the surgery tomorrow for blood check so I will ask for a refresher I have only been on the insulin for 3 months so still learningWelcome to the forum @Sarky
Sorry to hear you are getting bruising from some of your injections
What length of needles have you been offered?
Have you tried an alternative site? I always found thighs with a little pinch-up worked well for my long-acting insulin (though I was on rather longer needles that are widely used these days)
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