• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Reaction to Levemir?

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Following your thoughts on the needles I decided to try one from a different box - still BD - but a new batch. This morning my BG was 5.3 - the best it's been for weeks. I've injected with another needle from the new batch into my leg this morning, watch this space but so far no lump and I've had to eat something as levels were dropping. Maybe I've had a bad batch of needles?

Oh I do hope that's the case Karen, it will be such a relief! 🙂 Fingers crossed for you 🙂
 
Oh I do hope that's the case Karen, it will be such a relief! 🙂 Fingers crossed for you 🙂

Thanks Northy, I feel so much better already, had really been dreading a change of insulin. Going away in about 3 weeks and now I feel I can look forward to it, I really hope I'm not jumping the gun but everything points to the needles being at fault. Will tell dr tomorrow, he may get others with the same problem.😱
 
Take the old box back to the pharmacy too - they should let the mfrs know!

I had several very nasty and totally unexplained Hypos years ago due to an iffy batch of insulin that looked OK all the time until the day after another Hypo - when it suddenly appeared chrystalline, which is the tell-tale sign of a clear insulin being 'off'.

That Hypo was at Ironbridge Gorge museum - on the back of husband's motorbike - so was a Blues & Twos jobby when I refused to respond to any of the numerous hypo remdies in my bag, bloody hilarious in retrospect.

Ambulance lady 'Can you tell me your name?'
Jenny 'Well of course I do know my name, but I can't be bothered to tell you what it is'

Thank you, Telford A&E LOL - by the time I got there I was more compus mentis and imagine my embarrassment hearing her relate my answer, so I pretended I was still out of it !! Anyway next day, the pharmacist in Boots rang Eli Lilly pronto and called me round the counter to talk to em - and they issued a recall notice on that batch.

So you should get them to report it, if this early success proves the point.
 
Am a flippin hypochondriac every time I inject now! Keep looking at the site.........will let you all know how it goes. I so want it to be the needles. Recent jab site looks a bit bruised but then my leg has taken a battering recently.........watch this space - and yes I will let the chemist know if it proves to be the case. Thanks everyone.x
 
Take the old box back to the pharmacy too - they should let the mfrs know!

I had several very nasty and totally unexplained Hypos years ago due to an iffy batch of insulin that looked OK all the time until the day after another Hypo - when it suddenly appeared chrystalline, which is the tell-tale sign of a clear insulin being 'off'.

That Hypo was at Ironbridge Gorge museum - on the back of husband's motorbike - so was a Blues & Twos jobby when I refused to respond to any of the numerous hypo remdies in my bag, bloody hilarious in retrospect.

Ambulance lady 'Can you tell me your name?'
Jenny 'Well of course I do know my name, but I can't be bothered to tell you what it is'

Thank you, Telford A&E LOL - by the time I got there I was more compus mentis and imagine my embarrassment hearing her relate my answer, so I pretended I was still out of it !! Anyway next day, the pharmacist in Boots rang Eli Lilly pronto and called me round the counter to talk to em - and they issued a recall notice on that batch.

So you should get them to report it, if this early success proves the point.

Aww that's not a good hypo is it?! I had one where I told the ambulance man that he "looked funny" after he'd brought me round from being unconcious. His mate laughed and said "there's nowt wrong with her eyesight"
 
Seen doc today - he agrees that it's something of a mystery but does sound as if the needles were to blame. I drew a circle round jab site today and nothing has appeared so I'm hoping the problem is laid to rest.

Went into Lloyds for script and they wanted to do a review of medications so I told her about the needle saga - she's going to contact the manufacturer and report it in case it is a bad batch............well hopefully that's the end of this thread!! Here's hoping!
 
Funny peculiar or funny Haha, though? LOL Naaah, well you have to laugh about it after otherwise you might cry.

Hope that is the end of this thread!
 
The next Chapter

Well after a couple of days using the new batch of needles I am now finding that a lump - less red, not itchy, but still hard and unpleasant - forms after 24 hours of the jab. Any thoughts?

I had a phone call from BD this morning regarding the problem and she was very concerned and pleasant. She is sending me a sharps box to return the offending batch for testing to either prove or disprove the theory and will let me know the results although it will probably take several weeks.

She is also sending me samples of their new 4mm needles (I currently use 5mm) to see if this helps.

On an earlier post TrophyWench suggested some of you lovely people send me a selection of different makes of needle to try........I am now thinking this might be a good idea, can anyone help? I will pay any postage costs.

I just tried to get hold of a DSN to ask for samples of different brands but to no avail - neither of them answered! The switchboard op tried to put me through to an answerphone to leave a message but that didn't work either!

So it's down to us folks!

Thanks for all your help already.xx
 
PM me your name and address Flutterby, I'll get some Novofine in the post for you tomorrow. Will just be an anonymous looking but fat envelope, OK?

They are 6mm though.
 
I would send you some of mine, but I only have the same as trophywench - 6mm novofine. Hope you get some others to try!
 
am a bit late to this thread! this may sound counterintuative (?sp) but i had to use 13mm needles to inject lantus as i had problems with red painful patches, not as bad as yours sound though, it appeared that injecting a bit deeper stopped the reaction or the reaction was deep enough for me not to notice! i'm well covered so no worries about injecting too deep for me!! if you want can prob dig some out and post??
 
PM me your name and address Flutterby, I'll get some Novofine in the post for you tomorrow. Will just be an anonymous looking but fat envelope, OK?

They are 6mm though.

Have pm'd you - thank you. I know they are a fraction longer but shouldn't make much difference. Just want to try everything before I give up on the Levemir. Will let you know what happens. Love Karen.x

PS If you enclose your address I will make sure you get the postage back.x
 
Last edited:
am a bit late to this thread! this may sound counterintuative (?sp) but i had to use 13mm needles to inject lantus as i had problems with red painful patches, not as bad as yours sound though, it appeared that injecting a bit deeper stopped the reaction or the reaction was deep enough for me not to notice! i'm well covered so no worries about injecting too deep for me!! if you want can prob dig some out and post??

thanks Elliebug - not late to it at all it is an ongoing saga unfortunately!

I appreciate your offer but think they would be too long for me, I got changed from 8mm about 12 months ago due to losing weight. I will get back to you if any one suggests otherwise. Weird how it worked for you though, 13mm makes me quake after using 5mm!! Thanks again. karen.x
 
thats fine, i had to shut my eyes when i used them!!! hope you find a solution 🙂
 
Had a phone call from BD yesterday wanting to know what the problem is so explained. She said she'd send me replacements, sample 4mm needles and a sharps box to return them. Asked me how many needles I would be returning, i said half a box ie 50.

Look at what they sent me today, bit worried how I'm going to fit them in the sharps box! Lol

IMG_2990.jpg
 
Haha! I could fit a year's worth in there! You'd think they would send one of those little 'travel' sized ones that hold about 100! :D
 
yep, I was a bit taken aback when a huge cardboard box was delivered this morning - they obviously like to make an impact!
 
Still having problems regardless of what needles I use. Not as bad as with the first batch of needles but never the less it's too bad to carry on with long term. I'm having one last ditch attempt by going back to my 8mm needles tonight just in case this solves the problem. I know it probably wont but it was mentioned earlier in the thread by Ellie bug that longer needles did the trick - I just want to feel I've tried everything. Otherwise I'm going to battle on until after my hol in 3 weeks and then see about changing insulin. Don't want to upset the applecart further and spoil my hol. Thank you everyone who has helped, if anyone has any other suggestions - I'm here and listening! love Karen.
 
Hi Karen I'm really sorry that you're still having problems. If you change insulins I hope that it all works out smoothly. Have a brilliant holiday you deserve it Love Amanda x
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top