What size needles???

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EmmaLou

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I use 6mm in my stomach and have no problems with this.

I used to use 6mm in my legs but my DSN changed them to 8mm as i was getting painful lumps straight after which last for about 3 days and she seemed to think maybe the insulin wasnt going far enough in and was just going under the skin and not into the subcutaneous layer. No difference with the 8mm which i find difficult to use so i was given a pen mate which automatically inserts the needle after you pressed a button which is fantastic but again still no difference with the lumps.

So today ive been to see the DSN again and she has given me some 5mm needles to try and see if they work. Although i know they are not going to make any difference as the 6mm ones didnt.

She always suggests to inject somewhere else but i find it really difficult and virtually impossible to inject in my bum. I mean yes my mum or boyfriend could do it but if i lived on my own there would only be me to do it! So today she suggest arms, again would need help with that!

Is is just me who get lumps on my legs and is it just something i am going to have to live with?

Thanks 🙂
 
No Emmalou, it's not just you - I can't inject in my legs without lumps and bruises! I use 6mm -tried 5mm but no difference (not a huge surprise!). I inject at the top of my hips, as far to the back as I can manage. It's a bit of a twist, but I've got used to it - does give me some muscle pain in my shoulder sometimes because of the twisting. As you say, arms are no good unless they are very fleshy, as it's impossible to pinch up and inject with only two arms!😱🙂 I live alone, so can't get someone to do it for me, nor would I want to...well, Kate Bush maybe...🙂
 
Northerner said:
it's impossible to pinch up and inject with only two arms!QUOTE]

I've always been told that there's no need to pinch up with the 6mm needles, I never have done or had the need to.

I inject in my arms with no problems, although quite soon after diagnosis when I was painfully thin i just to get big bruises.

I've also never had any issue with the injecting in my bum thing, although i've heard a lot of people say that they do, maybe i've got particularly flexible fingers or something!:D
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I mean i can reach my bum to do it. Its just that wen u do go to do it with a needle in ur hand it just sorta goes all wrong. Im not scared of the needles ive been doing it 4 nearly 12 months now it just doesnt seem to want to go in the bum and also it stings alot in that area i find!
 
I think wot i just said could be interpreted in another way! oops lol
 
Hiya,

When Nathan was first dx he was on size 6mm...that was changed after he was getting lumps in his legs and the insulin doses did'nt seem to be working as they should...even when I injected his bum for him...has Nath could'nt manage. He then went on to size 8mm..and has had no problems with that size..in fact much better for him. He injects stomach for N/R and legs for Lantus. Reluctant to use the tops of his arms..because when he tried once he bled quite a bit and had a bruise for days..

Heidi
🙂
 
I use 5mm needles and inject in to my stomach for my fast acting and thighs for my basal . I have used my arms but it is quite difficult to do .
 
I use 3mm needles and as I said in my newbie post that my muscle in my bum has wasted away due to injecting. I have only had diabetes 2 and half years so wht on earth am I going to look like hen I get older.
I used to inject in my legs but also got lumps and bruises.
My day insulin is injected into my stomach and my night time one now in my legs but I put half in one leg and half in the other and it doesn't give me lumps.

As for my 'cheekd' I thinng i will need constructive surgery, but again its like getting blood out of a stone with my gp.
 
i use 5mm and inject in arms legs buttocks legs and stomach. i rotate between sites never using one for more than a week at a time and the rest in between gives it ample time to heal ready for use the next time
 
I use 5mm needles and inject in my arms, legs and bum.

I find my arms really easy, my arms are slim but what i do is if im at home, I sit on my stairs and lean my arm onto my legs and put it out straight then my flesh sort of expands if you know wot i mean lol and just do it like that, simple 🙂
I never used to do it in my arms because they have always been so slim and was scared incase it was going to hurt alot but I find it easier than my legs or bum and i never ever get lumps in my arms. doing it in the arm is soo much easier wen ur out aswell as u dont need to pull down ur trousers or anythin lol just roll up your sleeve hehe.

when ever i get lumps in my legs or bum, its usually my lantus injection that cause it... dont know why and it stings more aswell but hey you just gotta be brave and get on with it lol Im sort of used to the wee pains that i occasionally get when i inject but I hate when sometimes i stik the needle in and i get aq really sharp pain and you just want to scream !!! lol horrible feelin !!!

anyway thats me lol byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
 
litto-miss-loz said:
I use 5mm needles and inject in my arms, legs and bum.

I find my arms really easy, my arms are slim but what i do is if im at home, I sit on my stairs and lean my arm onto my legs and put it out straight then my flesh sort of expands if you know wot i mean lol and just do it like that, simple 🙂
I never used to do it in my arms because they have always been so slim and was scared incase it was going to hurt alot but I find it easier than my legs or bum and i never ever get lumps in my arms. doing it in the arm is soo much easier wen ur out aswell as u dont need to pull down ur trousers or anythin lol just roll up your sleeve hehe.

when ever i get lumps in my legs or bum, its usually my lantus injection that cause it... dont know why and it stings more aswell but hey you just gotta be brave and get on with it lol Im sort of used to the wee pains that i occasionally get when i inject but I hate when sometimes i stik the needle in and i get aq really sharp pain and you just want to scream !!! lol horrible feelin !!!

anyway thats me lol byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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Loz, it's a shame we can't have videos of injecting techniques, but thanks for explaining it - I might try my arms again as you suggest!🙂
 
I like the idea about injecting into the arms.

What happens if you live in a bungalow and have no stairs?:confused: Is it something you can get on the NHS, we all know how they like to help us out.😉
 
Just a quick question - can you inject into muscle or do you have to do it into fatty tissue?
 
I said yesterday that I used 3mm needles. Duh, I actually use 8mm. You see I know nothing about my diabetes or even the equipment I use. My finger pricker thing (is there a technical name for it?) looks like it came out of the ark. I think I might buy a new one.
 
Lorraine said:
I like the idea about injecting into the arms.

What happens if you live in a bungalow and have no stairs?:confused: Is it something you can get on the NHS, we all know how they like to help us out.😉
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Lmao good point about the stairs lol 😛
you could sit on a chair then put your feet on another chair and lean forward??? GENIUS ! lol kiddin on 😛
 
Northerner said:
Loz, it's a shame we can't have videos of injecting techniques, but thanks for explaining it - I might try my arms again as you suggest!🙂
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I know :(

let me know how u get on :D
 
Lorraine said:
I said yesterday that I used 3mm needles. Duh, I actually use 8mm. You see I know nothing about my diabetes or even the equipment I use. My finger pricker thing (is there a technical name for it?) looks like it came out of the ark. I think I might buy a new one.
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Hi Lorraine, if you look up the meter manufacturers a lot of them give away free meters and these often include a free finger-pricker (technical term - lancet!🙂)
 
Northerner said:
Hi Lorraine, if you look up the meter manufacturers a lot of them give away free meters and these often include a free finger-pricker (technical term - lancet!🙂)
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Thank you Northerner. I have seen a rather fetching pink monitor that I might buy and that comes with a lancet (oh get me sounding like I know what I'm talking about) lmao, er well the half of it i still have left anyway!:(
 
Lorraine said:
Thank you Northerner. I have seen a rather fetching pink monitor that I might buy and that comes with a lancet (oh get me sounding like I know what I'm talking about) lmao, er well the half of it i still have left anyway!:(
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You should be able to get one for free off either the makers or your diabetic clinic - certainly as a type 1, as they want you to use their strips! What do you use currently?
 
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