Limited strength to inject

[EllieM]

I am looking after my diabetic care. The last time I asked for help I got a reply over two years later. I have a clinical background so its not too hard for me.

If you are on insulin then someone must have prescribed it in the first place. Your GP??? I'd point out to them that your physical limitations mean that you are finding blood tests difficult and ask what you have to do to get a libre?

 

[ANGEBABES]

Thank you for the details EllieM. I do see my physios for treatment for my muscle problems. They are looking into different options for me as well. But like with diabetes I am on my own with no medical support. I will be travelling to see them next week so I hope that they can find something that will help. I will check out the link you sent to me very soon. I do hope there is something there.
In response, I have asked about Libre or CGM and the short answer was no. No reason, no thought, no nothing. The diabetic nurses have never seen me so I guess its a standard reply in this area.

That’s not very helpful at all from the diabetic nurses. This is obviously causing you a serious issue and needs sorted urgently for you as one day you may not be able to push the top of pen down at all and then you get no insulin. Certainly my longacting insulin comes in disposable pens and I used to struggle having to press down on it so hard, I have bilateral Dupytrens contracture so it will be progressive. One day I lightly touched the tip of the disposable pen and the insulin went in so easily. God knows why I’d been pressing it so hard previously. This would be ideal for you if Lantus supplied the same style of pens as you only touch them very lightly indeed.

An insulin pump linked to a sensor which checks your sugar I think would be the very easiest solution for you and can’t understand why they said no to you. You cannot be the first diabetic with MD, surely there’s a perfect solution out there for you. I feel for you and hope you get a remedy asap. Def speak to your GP as that’s what they’re there for. At least they can ring one of the Endocrinologists to ask their advice, as I say you can’t be the only diabetic with MD. It beggars belief that the help, that is genuinely needed, never gets to those who deserve it. You shouldn’t be left to research it yourself.

 

[Antje77]

One day I lightly touched the tip of the disposable pen and the insulin went in so easily. God knows why I’d been pressing it so hard previously. This would be ideal for you if Lantus supplied the same style of pens as you only touch them very lightly indeed.

If the disposable NovoNordisk pens work better for you, @embayweather , it might be worth seeing if you can change to a different insulin like Tresiba. It comes in those disposable pens with a spring. Not sure about the Lantus pens anymore, it's too long ago.

I had another thought.
Would it be easier for you to inject two-handed? So one for holding the pen and one to press down on it with your palm, using the weight of your hand?
With the modern 4mm needles there is no need to pinch for most, which would leave you both your hands availabe.