Terrified of Needles

[Pink Light]

Just thinking about needles makes me feel panicky. I now have to start pricking my finger, injecting twice a day. I am just looking for support and encouragement for that. I feel like an idiot and ashamed of myself.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

A fear of needles and sticking them in yourself or even seeing someone else using them is very common, so please don't feel foolish or ashamed. I would say it is probably a very natural fear because it is designed to prevent us from hurting ourselves. There are lots of members here who have had to overcome this issue, so you are amongst people who can empathize here.

Are you already injecting and finger pricking or are you about to start. Just wondering if reassuring you about how tiny the needles are might help a bit? Obviously if you are injecting already then this won't help.

Can you break it down into what it is that you fear most. Is it the needle puncturing the skin, is it a concern about pain or bleeding. Would it help to inject through some lightweight clothing so that you don't see the needle going in. This is not an ideal situation but can help to overcome initial difficulties. Obviously not possible for finger pricking as you need a drop of blood to test. If you can explain the particular part of the process which causes you the most anxiety then others may be able to advise how they overcame that aspect. In reality it does get easier with experience and constant exposure but that doesn't really help you here and now does it other than to say hang in there, it will eventually get easier.
I think @helli or possible @Inka may have struggled with this so hopefully they can offer their experience of overcoming it.

I assume you have been given insulin rather than some other injectable diabetes treatment since they are asking you to also test your BG levels, but do correct me if I am wrong? Perhaps I should just ask, the name of the medication you will be injecting?

 

[rayray119]

Just thinking about needles makes me feel panicky. I now have to start pricking my finger, injecting twice a day. I am just looking for support and encouragement for that. I feel like an idiot and ashamed of myself.

That's nothing to shamed of. I had a massive fear of needles before being diagnosed I would get really worked before going vacines and getting blood tests so when they told me in the hospital I have to be injecting myself multiple times of day I was scared but found after a little while the fear of needles went away(I guess as I was doing so much) and even no longer get scared about vaccines or blood tests

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Absolutely no reason to be so hard on yourself @Pink Light

We don’t choose to have fears and phobias - and when all our brain’s (very important) fight-or-flight responses are firing on all cylinders, the feelings and impulses can feel quite overwhelming.

There are special ‘autoshield‘ needles which are designed to make things easier for people with needle phobia.

As for fingerpricks, I would recommend the Accu-Chek ‘multiclix’ which has a drum of 6 lancets which are completely hidden. Also it has the benefit of being very adjustable so it’s almost pain free to use. And you can change lancets as often (or as rarely 😱 ) as you need with just a flick of a switch 🙂

 

[Martin62]

I too was a complete needle phobic before diagnosis, and can still remember trying to do my first injection with trembling hands.
But as others have said, the more I did it the less fear I had, and now don't give it a second thought.
I still look the other way when having a blood test or inoculation, but no longer dread them.
Martin

 

[SB2015]

I use the Accu Chek fastclix finger pricier. As @everydayupsanddowns says it is very adjustable, and easy to wind on to the next lancet which is all hidden away. It is well worth talking to your Practice nurse and explaining your fear, which is nothing to be ashamed of at all.

For the injections the needles are so fine that they go in very easily. There are also different lengths of needles available so it is good to get the shortest ones that work for you.

 

[gll]

Honestly, most here will understand fear of needles to a degree and have had to get over the hurdle at some point.

At first I had to convince myself to do injections by reminding myself how terrible I feel without them and the few seconds it takes to do it is better than the other 23 hours and 59 mins and 50 seconds in the day of feeling horrid. (was on once a day insulin then).
The more I did it, the easier it becomes and now its just my new normal. I rarely hesitate anymore and honestly, feeling better is worth any downside of the doing.

Fingerpricks I still have a split second hesitation.
I have a softclix (accuchek) at home which I find easier than the fastclix that is in my handbag with my spare meter. Mainly because it isn't a plunger to activate it, you prime it and then click a small button to release the lancet. There is no half way pressing and backing out. Commit and done.
Getting the right depth setting is key to minimising the sting. I often do a fingerstabs and don't feel it at all.

Sending some hugs, we get it and please come and talk about it some more or let us know how you are getting on x

 

[Inka]

Just thinking about needles makes me feel panicky. I now have to start pricking my finger, injecting twice a day. I am just looking for support and encouragement for that. I feel like an idiot and ashamed of myself.

Don’t be ashamed. I have a needle phobia and have been injecting almost 30 years. It is hard but it does gradually get easier to deal with. Having the right equipment helps - a good pricker with good lancets set at the right depth, and good quality needles of the right length. Injection technique helps too.

I deal with it by trying to ‘think past’ the injection. I get calm and start thinking about what I’m about to eat or do. I don’t focus on the injection. It takes practice and I still have my moments, but you should find it becomes a little easier. You’re in control of the injection, remember, which is better than someone else doing it in my opinion.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I have a phobia of needles too, and they could see at the hospital when I was diagnosed that I was never going to be able to inject myself if I could see the needle going in, so they gave me covered needles right from the start. Mine are called Novofine Autocover (I also tried the Autoshield ones @everydayupsanddowns mentions but I didn't like those as much). The needle has a plastic cover so you don't see it, and it feels less like giving yourself an injection and more like just pushing the top of a pen against yourself. The needles lock after use so they remain safely covered and there's no need to see them at all.

I also find it helps to pinch up the area where I'm going to inject so it's like I'm injecting something I'm holding rather than jabbing straight into myself.

I've had diabetes for 11 years and 9 months, and at a very conservative estimate I've now given myself well over 17,000 injections. I don't think twice about it now, and in fact I'd happily give myself an extra injection or so in preference to going without something I wanted to eat!

I've never had any problems with the finger pricking as you don't see the lancet going in at all, so unless you are also blood phobic it's a lot easier to do than the injection. Getting the right depth is important, as @gll says, and also pricking the right bit of your finger (the side, not too close to the nail, but never the pad), and rotating both sides of all your fingers - that way you don't end up with one or two fingers getting sore.

 

[tony1990]

New diabetic here a month or so ago blood sugars are fine you don't see needle I'm same terrified of needles I'm coping really well as for insulin ask your gp if they can get you some bd autosheild needles there amazing you can't see needle go in its made diabeaties less daunting I'll attach a picture of label I use I hope this helps don't be ashamed I hate the fact I have it because complications that can get in long run but I'm embracing journey changing the bad habits for healthier ones etc it's been a kick up the bum I've never had to change diet etc