Injection rooms?

[the_anticarb]

Am I the only one who has no problem injecting straight through the fabric of my skirt/trousers into my thighs? I can and do do this very subtly whilst out and about, have even done it whilst in the supermarket (fancied some goodies, was shopping when hungry ) and no one has ever batted an eyelid, to be honest. It doesn't seem to affect the sharpness of the needle, I can still use the needle a good few times before I change it, I just change it when it begins to feel a little less sharp.

If I had to drop my trousers before I injected each time, I'd find that a major hassle.

 

[TheSparkyPony]

Am I the only one who has no problem injecting straight through the fabric of my skirt/trousers into my thighs? I can and do do this very subtly whilst out and about, have even done it whilst in the supermarket (fancied some goodies, was shopping when hungry ) and no one has ever batted an eyelid, to be honest. It doesn't seem to affect the sharpness of the needle, I can still use the needle a good few times before I change it, I just change it when it begins to feel a little less sharp.

If I had to drop my trousers before I injected each time, I'd find that a major hassle.

I dunno seeing as I live and die in skinny jeans, I wouldn't like to put a needle through that!

I'd be very put off in terms of sterility of the needle etc etc, though I did used to do it through my fabric trousers in school!

 

[cugila]

SparkyP......
You are dead right about the sterility of the needle.......not to mention the damage and contamination of the needle tip.

All of us who have to inject probably know exactly what we SHOULD do....do we all stick to it....No !
Even I will admit to a couple of times jabbing through a T shirt when out, not that I would advocate it, especially to any newly diagnosed who have to inject.

We have had quite a few discussions about the subject on here and the methods people use are many and varied. However, it should be remembered that:

1. A needle is only meant for a single injection.

2. Do not inject through clothing or material.......it does damage the needle and also can have traces of whatever you have stuck it through. To look at it you might think it is fine but if you have ever seen a photo (macro) of the tip of a needle before and after being used through clothing, I doubt you would really consider it a wise thing to do. Damage and contamination.

3. Injecting in the loo is not the right thing to do. Be discreet and don't make a 'song and dance' about the procedure and most people never even know what you are up to.

That's what should happen.........however, what the individual chooses to do....their choice. Personally I always adhere to the points listed.....wherever possible.

 

[TheSparkyPony]

Well said Cugila :mrgreen:

 

[HLW]

Why on earth would anyone reuse a needle, for anything? It would never have occurred to me to do that - it's just something that should never be done without re sterilising the needle, whoever is using the needle and whatever they are using it for.

 

[the_anticarb]

Why on earth would anyone reuse a needle, for anything? It would never have occurred to me to do that - it's just something that should never be done without re sterilising the needle, whoever is using the needle and whatever they are using it for.

when you are injecting 8 times per day (basically every time I eat plus two basal injections) and want to do it in as hassle free a way as possible, then it doesn't make sense (to me) to put a fresh needle on every time. I'd be using about one box per week and constantly having to fiddle about changing the needle rather than just injecting as quickly as I can.

Put it this way, I've been doing it this way for over ten years now and never had an infection or problems with the injection site, or anything like that, the day I do I will go back to doing it the 'orthodox' way but I'd rather be able to inject with as least fuss and hassle as possible to be honest. It's taken me a long time to actually take responsibilty for my illness in the first place so anythign that gets in the way of me taking that injection needs to be dealt with - otherwise there's a danger I'll go back to skipping injections/ not bothering/ being lazy and that's far more dangerous to me than a needle that's not completely sterile.

 

[cugila]

Why on earth would anyone reuse a needle, for anything? It would never have occurred to me to do that - it's just something that should never be done without re sterilising the needle, whoever is using the needle and whatever they are using it for.

HLW.
I agree. If you were in a Hospital and the Nurse came along, gave you a jab then left the injection pen or syringe and needle lying around even if in a container then came back and gave you several more jabs with the same needle most people would object strongly to this practice. I cannot really see why anybody would want to do anything different unless absolutely forced to do so by circumstances. I use a new needle every single time. Just me.

The needles are on prescription and should be readily available so most definitely there is no real reason to not use a new one every time as recommended by the Medical Community.

The Royal College of Nursing has this advice quoted below for those who are tasked with educating Insulin Users and others who have to inject. It is about injecting through clothing but you can see that practice is not recommended although they know some users do so..........they know the reason why, but it is entirely a matter for them I suppose. Infections have happened which have been down to such use but they are few. As one who injects I prefer to be safe rather than sorry ! Experienced users obviously may differ in their view.....still doesn't make it right or proper to advise any Newbies who may be viewing the posts here, that is why we always tell people what is recommended.....not what people do in practice........

Injecting through clothing - people sometimes feel they need to do this, for example while travelling or in social situations, but it should be discouraged. Injecting through the clothes affects the lubrication of the needle and makes it difficult to pinch up and/or check for bleeding.

 

[the_anticarb]

BTW I'm not advising or advocating anyone to inject thru clothing, this is just what works for me but each to their own, someone was asking why anyone would do this, so I gave my answer.

 

[Dollyrocker]

I don;t have aproblem injecting in the loos at work though they are large shower room/disabled loo toilets and I see the cleaners going in there twice a day. I've been doing this for 15 yerars and not had an infection in an injection site ever! I do inject in my tummy at my desk if there's nobody about, a colleague asked to watch yesterday and I was happy to do it in front of him but I'd normally be very discreet.

I also re-use needles, probably up to 10 times before I remember to change them, again, I've had no adverse effects from doing that. Lancets I change about once every 4 months

I would inject through tights, maybe leggings but nothing thicker than that, again, no complications or untowards effects from doing that either.

I appreciate that some people have had adverse effects from repeating my 'bad habits' each to their own but I do think there's a certain amount of scaremongering about when and where you

 

[cugila]

DollyR.
Seems to be the last part of your post is missing so your point about scaremongering is a little unclear ?

As a Monitor it is part of the tasks we do here to inform and educate our Members, particularly New Members. Now sometimes people get the 'wrong end of the stick' and think we are targeting them in something we post. It happens and isn't really something we can do much about as text is not a very good medium for conveying meanings........

We are not scaremongering if that is what you think ? We are just re-inforcing the correct way to do things for the benefit of any Member who needs to know the correct way. It is part of what we do and will continue to do. All we ask is that people please don't take things personally.........

The AC and I are both happy with all the posts so far and she understands exactly why and what we do.

 

[TheSparkyPony]

when you are injecting 8 times per day (basically every time I eat plus two basal injections) and want to do it in as hassle free a way as possible, then it doesn't make sense (to me) to put a fresh needle on every time. I'd be using about one box per week and constantly having to fiddle about changing the needle rather than just injecting as quickly as I can.

Now see I inject the same amount of times as you (more or less!) but I'm fanatic about changing the needle each time! When I was younger I never used to bother, I only changed the needle when I had a new pen! :shock:
I think I'm trying to induce some good Karma into my diabetes for all the bad things I've done to it :lol:

Although we 'oldies' are set in our ways, I just think it's important to stress to the newly diagnosed people on here that is isn't the correct protocol and that in order to be safe with injections is to ensure a fresh, sterile needle is used each time. x

 

[Dollyrocker]

DollyR.
Seems to be the last part of your post is missing so your point about scaremongering is a little unclear ?

As a Monitor it is part of the tasks we do here to inform and educate our Members, particularly New Members. Now sometimes people get the 'wrong end of the stick' and think we are targeting them in something we post. It happens and isn't really something we can do much about as text is not a very good medium for conveying meanings........

We are not scaremongering if that is what you think ? We are just re-inforcing the correct way to do things for the benefit of any Member who needs to know the correct way. It is part of what we do and will continue to do. All we ask is that people please don't take things personally.........

The AC and I are both happy with all the posts so far and she understands exactly why and what we do.

The missing words were 'should jab'

Jeez Louise, I wasn't accusing this forum of scaremongering, I was referring to diabetes 'specialists'/information in general

I did not at any point refer to the advice/information given here, I have no idea why you would assume I was referring to the forum, all I was saying is that in 15 years my 'bad habits' and I did refer to them as that, have done ME no harm.

I appreciate the work you monitors do but I must say, I'm getting a little tired of being jumped all over every time I voice an opinion

 

[cugila]

I appreciate the work you monitors do but I must say, I'm getting a little tired of being jumped all over every time I voice an opinion

Nobody here 'jumps all over anybody'.

Both Sue and I are Monitors here and we post information and advice on this Forum. Sometimes we collaborate on the posts, quite often in fact to make sure what information we give is accurate.
We have done for some time now. The information is usually factual and concise as well, so as not to confuse any of our new Members. That is the way we post here. How we will continue to post here.

Most members don't have any problem with that even if it does not tally with their way of thinking. Some, a few, take exception to our posts.......we cannot do anything about that other than to urge Members to not take things personally, all we are doing is helping fellow Diabetic's. Nothing more.

If you do not wish to read what we post please ignore anything with Orange in the post........we of course have no choice but to read every post on the Forum.

 

[Patch]

I dunno - there are SOME pretty clever points in those posts with Orange in them...

 

[cugila]

I dunno - there are SOME pretty clever points in those posts with Orange in them...

Thanks for the support Patch.....it is much appreciated here.

We do love your new sig BTW........A clever man was Lloyd Alexander. One of my favourites was this:

"Thinking is a bit uncomfortable, but you'll get used to it. A matter of time and practice."

In life..........very apt we think.......

Ken and Sue.

 

[Dollyrocker]

Wow, thanks for deleting my post without so much as a PM

I'm getting pretty sick of this now

 

[cugila]

Wow, thanks for deleting my post without so much as a PM

I'm getting pretty sick of this now

Dolly.
Nobody, repeat nobody has deleted your post. We have no idea what you are on about. If you wish to speak to me about this please pm me.

 

[HLW]

10 or 15 years isn't a long time, I hope to live at least 30 more years (though that's unlikely looking at my recent hba1c but hey.). That's why there is all this advice re needles, the risk of serious infection is tiny, but throughout your life you are injecting countless times, and you have a disease that can affect wound healing and how quickly infections clear up. Also reusing and injecting through clothes will blunt the needle, so therefore increasing the damage to the skin, over 70 years of injecting multiple times a day this must have some affect surely?

I disagree with the moderators about some things, sorry moderators, but not about the advice they give - it's not incorrect, and cannot possibly harm anyone, not even financial harm as needles are free!

 

[HLW]

Also - 10 years of being overweight has done me no harm, so does that mean being overweight is fine? No, it does not - long term it would harm me, the fact it hasn't yet is irrelevant.

 

[janabelle]

Hi Dollyrocker,
I do as u do. I've been type-1 coming up 22 yrs, and WAS told to re-use syringes by the hospital when I was diagnosed, and I have done so ever since. I use the same one per day for my 2-3 short-acting injections. I also have injected though light clothing and tights over the years with no problem, however I never re-use that needle. Of course things have changed and NO hospital would dare of suggesting such a thing now for risk of litigation, although I seriously doubt that I am in any more danger of carrying out this practise than I was 22 yrs ago. Similarly I have gone out without a finger pricker and had to resort to using a safety pin and once a syringe needle. I wouldn't recommend it, but I had no choice, and never came to any harm.
HLW nothing is free, certainly not test strips as many forum members have experienced. I remember the old BM144 strips and we used to cut them in half length-ways, we were definately much "greener" in those days
Jus