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[AbiParkin]

Hi, I was diagnosed with type one diabetes five weeks ago after being taken into hospital with ketones of 6.73, and have been struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis ever since.

I’ve had a severe phobia of needles ever since I can remember and have been struggling with the injections (especially when giving higher doses) as I’m get sensitivity and bruising, I can’t do them in my arms, or top section of my stomach. I’ve also been reluctant to inject into my thighs as I’m a runner and go to the gym and worry about this being uncomfortable.

I’m struggling with the idea of this being forever and wonder if anyone else can offer advice on how to get past this, and dealing with needle phobias? I also want to get back into long distance running, but unsure how to do this without having a hypo.

Thanks
Abi

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @AbiParkin

We have a few members, new and old, who have experience of needle phobia, some of whom have been able to make great progress in coming to terms with their own diabetes diagnosis, and their management.

Have you been offered shielded needles (autoshield?).

There is also a device called an iPort which allows you deliver administer a cannula-like device so that you can then dose insilin through for 3 days.

Alan @Northerner was a marathon-runner and experienced distance runner both before and after his diagnosis, and always recommended the Diabetes Athelete’s Handbook I think?

Do consider calling the Diabetes UK helpline (Mon-Fri 9-6) next week, to chat things through with them, and see of you can get any suggestions for support for your needle phobia.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I’ve also been reluctant to inject into my thighs as I’m a runner and go to the gym and worry about this being uncomfortable.

The needles are really thin and only 4mm long, so I think you'd find there's no discomfort. (That doesn't help with your needle phobia, but physically I doubt there'd be any problem with using your thighs.)

 

[helli]

As someone who exercises regularly, I was advised not to use my thighs if I intend to run, cycle, etc as it will affect the absorption rate.
I found they were fine for an evening jab but not for lunch or breakfast.
Likewise, as a climber, I have never used my arms.
I have little fat above my waist so use below waist most of the time.
Yes, I am conscious of the risk of scar tissue build up so keep a close eye on absorption speed and change sites regularly. I have had no problems so far after 18 years.

Regarding running, I would suggest starting with shorter runs and going with someone else. Take hypo treatment with you at all times. You may need to reduce the bolus if your pre-run meal/snack or adding weak juice to your water bottle. We are all different so it will take some trial and error to find out what works for you.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

As someone who exercises regularly, I was advised not to use my thighs if I intend to run, cycle, etc as it will affect the absorption rate.

Ah, that's a good point.

 

[Rob Oldfield]

Hi Abi,

Fully agree with the advice you've already had but just to add that I don't think there are any physical activities that will be definitely off-limit to you. It is just a case, as @helli said, of being careful and ensuring you have control of the situation.

For both the phobia and running, it might be that an insulin pump would be preferable (if you can get one prescribed for you). Those work in inserting a cannula every few days instead of the frequent individual injections, and also give you greater control of basal rates compared to injections.

What sort of distances are you wanting to run?

 

[Inka]

Welcome @AbiParkin It’s still such early days for you. I found it took months to come to terms with my diagnosis. It’s a huge change. I have a needle phobia too. My preferred injection site is my thighs but as said above you need to be careful if you run. Having said that, I personally have found no effect from that but I just do moderate exercise so my experience might not be relevant. Do you ‘pinch up’ before you inject? That can help, especially in the stomach.

With the needle phobia, I have to ‘think past’ the injection, almost like a meditation. I get everything sorted (dose, etc), pause then kind of do the injection on automatic while thinking beyond it by talking to myself in my head about what I’m about to eat, or, in the case of basal, what my next job is. It takes practice. It hasn’t made the phobia go away but I can usually think past it.

I have a pump but I find inserting the cannulas harder than injections sometimes, depending on type. So it’s not an easy answer. Do whatever you need to do to get through each injection mentally and remember to breathe calmly and slowly. Make sure you have a good pen and good needles at the right length. It does get easier over time. I still struggle with injections from health care professionals but I’ve built up a trust of myself doing them and a method of coping.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @AbiParkin
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but pleased that you have found the forum.

There is a lot to get used to at the start and it is early days for you. Things will take a bit of planning and organising, especially around exercise, and it will take a little time to get your insulin doses adjusted to suit you, so try to be patient. Once things settle there is nothing off limits, but most things require a bit of experimentation. Whatever you try have your hypo treatment with you and you can just stop and treat if necessary.

Any questions that arise, just ask. There is loads of experience to tap into on here and nothing is considered silly.

 

[trophywench]

It's very weird - I've never had needle phobia. Back in the day, they admitted you to hospital for diagnosis and on morning 3 nice nurse came with my jab and said she thought it was about time I started to DIY. Ah, bugger I thought, but OK said I, and did as asked. From the other side of the curtain between the beds Brenda next door said 'Ugh, I'd die if I had to do that!' and I replied, 'Maybe, but there again - I'd die if I didn't - and that thought does tend to concentrate the mind a bit!' - and laughed.

That thought might depress some folk but as we realise in time, missing one insulin jab is most unlikely to finish anyone off - so best not to waste my own time bothering to dwell on it and just get on with doing it with the least fuss as possible - so I have and still do. They've invented all sorts of things since 1972 to help folk who have this difficulty - so make full use of whatever's available - and just get on with your life.

The reason insulin needles are now 4mm long is that the medics discovered - having done years of research that whether you are a tiny baby, an elderly obese person, a skinny ribs or a youthful professional athlete - 4mm is exactly the length needed in every case (well, 99.99% of the time) to get the tip of it into the gap below the dermis into the interstitial layer, without fail.

 

[Leadinglights]

It's very weird - I've never had needle phobia. Back in the day, they admitted you to hospital for diagnosis and on morning 3 nice nurse came with my jab and said she thought it was about time I started to DIY. Ah, bugger I thought, but OK said I, and did as asked. From the other side of the curtain between the beds Brenda next door said 'Ugh, I'd die if I had to do that!' and I replied, 'Maybe, but there again - I'd die if I didn't - and that thought does tend to concentrate the mind a bit!' - and laughed.

That thought might depress some folk but as we realise in time, missing one insulin jab is most unlikely to finish anyone off - so best not to waste my own time bothering to dwell on it and just get on with doing it with the least fuss as possible - so I have and still do. They've invented all sorts of things since 1972 to help folk who have this difficulty - so make full use of whatever's available - and just get on with your life.

The reason insulin needles are now 4mm long is that the medics discovered - having done years of research that whether you are a tiny baby, an elderly obese person, a skinny ribs or a youthful professional athlete - 4mm is exactly the length needed in every case (well, 99.99% of the time) to get the tip of it into the gap below the dermis into the interstitial layer, without fail.

Not like the needle on the clexane syringe which is 10mm long, a bit daunting but had to be done when I had my knee surgery.

 

[trophywench]

Is that the anti coag stuff you have to self inject for a week or 2 post op? They are big needles, but there again the ones for the original glass insulin syringes were huge, and that was that.

 

[Leadinglights]

Is that the anti coag stuff you have to self inject for a week or 2 post op? They are big needles, but there again the ones for the original glass insulin syringes were huge, and that was that.

Yes that's the one. I have had my notes from hospital on CD, 146 pages, some hand scrawled, some tick charts and some typed up stuff but what a volume of paperwork.
But among it all was my referral to the DESMOND program and a letter from the GP asking for a Gynae referral for a vault smear back in 2012, I never knew anything about that.

 

[Northerner]

Hi, I was diagnosed with type one diabetes five weeks ago after being taken into hospital with ketones of 6.73, and have been struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis ever since.

I’ve had a severe phobia of needles ever since I can remember and have been struggling with the injections (especially when giving higher doses) as I’m get sensitivity and bruising, I can’t do them in my arms, or top section of my stomach. I’ve also been reluctant to inject into my thighs as I’m a runner and go to the gym and worry about this being uncomfortable.

I’m struggling with the idea of this being forever and wonder if anyone else can offer advice on how to get past this, and dealing with needle phobias? I also want to get back into long distance running, but unsure how to do this without having a hypo.

Thanks
Abi

Hi Abi, welcome 🙂 As @everydayupsanddowns mentioned, I was a marathon runner for many years prior to my diagnosis aged 49 - in fact I was due to run the Stockholm Marathon the week I got diagnosed, so that was all a bit of a shock 😱 Like you, I was keen to get back into my running as soon as possible. I found the 'Diabetic Athlete's Handbook' (amazon link) to be very helpful at explaining the mechanisms involved when you are using insulin and exercising 🙂 The key thing to bear in mind is to take things slowly to begin with, monitoring your blood sugar levels closely - if you have a Freestyle Libre, this really simplifies that task, if you haven't got one, then please do enquire about them at your clinic 🙂 They didn't exist when I was diagnosed so I had to rely on finger prick tests. reaction to increased exercise can vary from person to person, so it's important for find out what works for you, so making records of what you ate, and when, prior to exercise, what unsulin doses and how long prior to the exercise, and details about the exercise. It can take a few weeks as you learn from experience, but once you know what you are doing it becomes a lot more predictable. Always have some fast-acting sugar available - I use jelly babies, some people use glucose tablets ot juice. Actually, the glucose gels that runners use are pretty good, but can work out expensive.

I'm afraid I can't help with the neddle phobia as I have been fortunate not to suffer from it. I tend to inject at the top of my buttocks/hips, as there is plenty of real estate there and easy to vary your injection sites. I only ever injected in my thigh once and it really hurt - I think because I have very little fat there due to a lifetime of running 🙂 Exercise can make you more sensitive to insulin, so you may find you need to reduce your doses prior to exercise and possibly afterwards as the increased sensitivity can last up to 24 hours afterwards. So, start slowly, learn and build up over time - I started with short 20-30 minute runs. I was able to get back into things and run the Great South Run 5 months after my diagnosis and have run many GSRs and half-marathons since diagnosis. It can be a lot to take in, and daunting at first, but you will get there! 🙂 Let me know if you have any further questions and I'll help if I can 🙂

 

[counsellorneil]

Hi Abi, welcome 🙂 As @everydayupsanddowns mentioned, I was a marathon runner for many years prior to my diagnosis aged 49 - in fact I was due to run the Stockholm Marathon the week I got diagnosed, so that was all a bit of a shock 😱 Like you, I was keen to get back into my running as soon as possible. I found the 'Diabetic Athlete's Handbook' (amazon link) to be very helpful at explaining the mechanisms involved when you are using insulin and exercising 🙂 The key thing to bear in mind is to take things slowly to begin with, monitoring your blood sugar levels closely - if you have a Freestyle Libre, this really simplifies that task, if you haven't got one, then please do enquire about them at your clinic 🙂 They didn't exist when I was diagnosed so I had to rely on finger prick tests. reaction to increased exercise can vary from person to person, so it's important for find out what works for you, so making records of what you ate, and when, prior to exercise, what unsulin doses and how long prior to the exercise, and details about the exercise. It can take a few weeks as you learn from experience, but once you know what you are doing it becomes a lot more predictable. Always have some fast-acting sugar available - I use jelly babies, some people use glucose tablets ot juice. Actually, the glucose gels that runners use are pretty good, but can work out expensive.

I'm afraid I can't help with the neddle phobia as I have been fortunate not to suffer from it. I tend to inject at the top of my buttocks/hips, as there is plenty of real estate there and easy to vary your injection sites. I only ever injected in my thigh once and it really hurt - I think because I have very little fat there due to a lifetime of running 🙂 Exercise can make you more sensitive to insulin, so you may find you need to reduce your doses prior to exercise and possibly afterwards as the increased sensitivity can last up to 24 hours afterwards. So, start slowly, learn and build up over time - I started with short 20-30 minute runs. I was able to get back into things and run the Great South Run 5 months after my diagnosis and have run many GSRs and half-marathons since diagnosis. It can be a lot to take in, and daunting at first, but you will get there! 🙂 Let me know if you have any further questions and I'll help if I can 🙂

Hi Northerner, appreciate you sharing your running experiences since diagnosis. I've had diabetes for over 40 years. Started running last year and managed to run a half marathon this past May. Completed it okay, but found after the race my blood sugar was in the 12s, whereas when starting it was around 6. Now I recognise I did eat a few jelly babies on the way round but had expected the running would counter anything eaten. And it was only about 7 in total, so not a huge amount. When running a 10k I can do so without eating anything. My glucose can be 6 starting, rise to 10/11 mid-run (shown by the FreeStyle Libre app once I'm home), then by the time I get home, it's back down to 6/7. I'm wondering if there is any way to stop this mid-rise during the 10k run? Taking insulin mid-way would only end up with me being too low towards the end of the run, tried that . I'm also planning a marathon next year, plus I'd really like to do a 50k ultra. Do you take insulin with you on your longer runs? I'm guessing that's what I'll have to do, though it does seem a bit of a faff to have to stop and inject mid-run? I can test with the app whilst running, but I think injecting may not work. Perhaps stop long enough to do so, at the various water and food stations? Curious about your experiences. Many thanks.