Injection sites bruising/bleeding

Rose22

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Hello,
I’ve been on MDI insulin since March this year, late onset type 1. Most of the time it’s pretty painless and just get on with it without too much thought...but the last few days I’ve been really bruising and bleeding from where I’ve injected?! Help! Anyone else have this or know why? I’ve got yellow bruises about the size of a 50p coin, on my tummy, sides, top of bottom. My thighs don’t seem to bruise too much but breakfast one today did bleed! One yesterday on my abdomen really hurt and sort of bulged out, like a swelling, a hard lump that I could really feel, the went down and now bruised. Am I injecting wrong?
Thanks for any advice!
 
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porl69

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Do you change needles every time you inject??
 
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sleepster

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I think my blood is thinner when it's that time of the month, I get nosebleeds, bleeding gums, finger keeps bleeding after a blood test, things like that, I haven't noticed bruising but I probably get more than usual. Not to be too personal but if it's that time of the month for you...
 
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KK123

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Do you change needles every time you inject??

I so agree with this. On a recent course they showed how blunt the end of a needle was when used for just ONE injection. I had been using mine 5/6 times before that (I know!!!) and although I rarely bruise I was only reminded to change it when it hurt. Completely the wrong thing to do and now I change it every time. The Course people said don't worry about cost (if you do) as a whole box costs pennies. x
 

porl69

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@KK123 I know the picture you are on about. It isn't actually true BUT the needle does goes blunt pretty quickly.
 

Rose22

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I had bruising when I was injecting and bought it up with my DSN who is usually very helpful. On this occasion her response was "some people are just more susceptible to bruising". For me, the bruises didn't hurt, weren't in a place that I exposed often so I just saw them as a bonus - I could see where I have recently injected and avoid that next time.
As for bleeders, these are when you just happen to inject into a blood vessel.

I have read that cold insulin, straight from the fridge may be more likely to cause bruising. If you have been trying to keep your insulin cool in the hot weather, I don't know if that could be making it worse?

As for how to inject, I started describing how I do it but then realised my explanation was rubbish. There are some good videos on YouTube which show the technique miles better than I can explain.
One thing that may be worth considering is whether to pinch or not. I was taught to do so but understand the advice has now changed as needles are shorter (how long are your needles?). However, being slim, I found I still need to pinch. So, if you don't pinch, try it and if you do, try not.
Ah thankyou that makes sense, yep I must be hitting blood vessel more by chance lately then. Nope I’ve not bothered trying to keep my insulin cool, oops! I do use a 4mm needle, and I was taught not to pinch, just to come down and push into the skin, but not hard from afar or anything. Maybe pinching an inch first may help! Thanks for advice x
 
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Rose22

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Do you change needles every time you inject??
I do yes, every time as I unscrew the needle right after using, so the pen is empty on the end again. Otherwise I’d loose track of how often/long it been there I reckon! You wondering in case blunt? That would make sense wouldn’t it for the lumps and bruises.
 

porl69

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I was always told to pinch on injecting.....mind you I am 49 years in and had to use mahoosive needles when I started
 
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Rose22

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I so agree with this. On a recent course they showed how blunt the end of a needle was when used for just ONE injection. I had been using mine 5/6 times before that (I know!!!) and although I rarely bruise I was only reminded to change it when it hurt. Completely the wrong thing to do and now I change it every time. The Course people said don't worry about cost (if you do) as a whole box costs pennies. x
Oh no I’ve not re used, but I guess I am a relative newbie, 6 months injecting insulin, so not long enough to just get fed up with it all! Wowzers I won’t after reading how blunt they get! Mine are on prescription thankfully so I’m not having to worry about making them last/cost etc.
 
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Rose22

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I think my blood is thinner when it's that time of the month, I get nosebleeds, bleeding gums, finger keeps bleeding after a blood test, things like that, I haven't noticed bruising but I probably get more than usual. Not to be too personal but if it's that time of the month for you...
Oh guess my hormones may be playing a part, nearing time of the month end week, so pain thresh hold usually goes way down etc may be why reacting and feeling it, bruising more? Interesting! I know it influences my blood sugars for a week, urgh so annoying see double numbers no matter what I do then back to happy level again.
 

Rose22

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I was always told to pinch on injecting.....mind you I am 49 years in and had to use mahoosive needles when I started
Ohhhh thank heavens for advancement in medical science! I may have passed out at the sight of your original needles then heheh! What a warrior you are! My grandmother was Type 1 and I remember her with a little bottle of insulin and long needle. Had no idea before that she was diabetic!
 

JMoli

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Hi, I have lots of bruises on my tummy this week suddenly! Mainly yellow but a big dark one too! I’ve been having a fairly hormonal week so maybe conincides x
 
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Rose22

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Hi, I have lots of bruises on my tummy this week suddenly! Mainly yellow but a big dark one too! I’ve been having a fairly hormonal week so maybe conincides x
That sounds like me at the mo! Really big yellow ones on my tummy and sides and top bottom where inject levemir. Hmm maybe it’s hormones + heat + hitting vessels + diabetes just being a pain in the bum sometimes
Sorry to hear you’ve got them too! Although nice to know it’s fairly common, and like @In Response said can be handy to see where we’ve injected previously! Always like a positive out of it hehe.
 
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JMoli

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That sounds like me at the mo! Really big yellow ones on my tummy and sides and top bottom where inject levemir. Hmm maybe it’s hormones + heat + hitting vessels + diabetes just being a pain in the bum sometimes
Sorry to hear you’ve got them too! Although nice to know it’s fairly common, and like @In Response said can be handy to see where we’ve injected previously! Always like a positive out of it hehe.

Haha that’s true!
 

KK123

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@KK123 I know the picture you are on about. It isn't actually true BUT the needle does goes blunt pretty quickly.

It definitely made me think twice about reusing them so I guess they got their message across. Lol. x
 
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porl69

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It definitely made me think twice about reusing them so I guess they got their message across. Lol. x
Same here. When I was on MDI I used to change the needle when I changed the pens....until I saw the pic :)
 
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DCUKMod

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Hi @Rose22 - If you are experiencing lots of regular bruising, that you weren't having before, it is definitely worth mentioning it to your team. Whilst it seems like it can be quite commonplace for some people, bruising can also be a sign things aren't quite right for the person's general health too.

I'm not posting that to be alarmist, but just to encourage you to have it checked out by someone actually looking at the bruises.

There may be something that can be done to minimise the bruising, and you might be in absolutely perfect health, but in my world bruising that has just started and is otherwise unexplained shouldn't be ignored.

For these other "things", it could be something as simple as being a bit low on a vitamin, but the options run to more serious things too.
 

porl69

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Just a thought....what brand of needles are you using?
 

Rose22

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Hi @Rose22 - If you are experiencing lots of regular bruising, that you weren't having before, it is definitely worth mentioning it to your team. Whilst it seems like it can be quite commonplace for some people, bruising can also be a sign things aren't quite right for the person's general health too.

I'm not posting that to be alarmist, but just to encourage you to have it checked out by someone actually looking at the bruises.

There may be something that can be done to minimise the bruising, and you might be in absolutely perfect health, but in my world bruising that has just started and is otherwise unexplained shouldn't be ignored.

For these other "things", it could be something as simple as being a bit low on a vitamin, but the options run to more serious things too.
Oh I hadn’t thought of that thankyou for the information, I usually feel when something’s amiss, was low in vit d (after being put on metformin couple years ago) and my legs where aching and so drained. I thought was going to be anaemia, as had that severely after my son was born, oh joy! GP tends to fob me off to be honest, as I went in saying my blood sugars are high (which she was set against as I’d been testing) I went through several medications, many of which gave me bad side effects, and some I refused to take, with an increasing blood sugar level and rising hba1c and my GP telling me that I’m type 2 and can refer but probably won’t be seen...anti gad and islet positive, told I’m late onset type one by consultant and still my GP refused to acknowledge it. Three letters on the system saying it and me showing her the letter, I had to call up and ask medical record to be updated to show type 1. She said I was a difficult type 2. So I think we don’t se eye to eye really. The bruising is only where I have injected, not anywhere else. They are yellow and turn purple black. I don’t remember bruising at the start nearly 6 months ago? I will tell the specialist diabetes nurse, she is really great.
 
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