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Blood and needle phobia making life difficult!

V

Viclet

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Been given the stuff to stick Myself With pins and test the red stuff today. Hba1c is 117. Reacted badly to metformin. Can't keep aloglyptin down. Keep puking stuff back so they want me to inject insulin. As I have a blood phobia and a needle phobia I'm now terrified. Plus if I have to work out how much insulin to use my maths is so terrible I'm terrified I'll get it wrong. Very wrong!
 
Hi @Viclet & welcome to the forum.

I can’t help regarding any tips on insulin etc as I’m diet only, but just wanted to say, take a breath, don’t panic! We have lots of great members who can share their experiences with you. Youv’e come to the right place
 
Hi @Viclet and welcome to the forums.

Have you spoken to your team about your phobias?. There are many T2 medications that can be tried before insulin. As for blood testing it might be that you can use a libre or dexcom sensor instead of fingerpricking (sensor sticks to your arm, no visible needles).

Your team should be used to dealing with people who have needle and blood phobias, it's not that uncommon, so please ask them for help.

As for injecting the right amount of insulin, plenty of diabetics are terrible at maths, again your team should help you.

Once more, welcome.
 
Hi @Viclet , welcome to the forum.

As for your needle phobia, the i-port might be very interesting to you.
You put it on your skin (or you ask someone to do it for you), and you can inject in the i-port instead of your skin for 3 days until you have to replace it.

i-Port Advance™ injection Port | Medtronic Diabetes

Less insertions, less worries. Discover the new i-Port Advance™ injection port, designed to make multiple daily injections more comfortable.
www.medtronic-diabetes.com

What insulin(s) have you been prescribed?
They won't throw you into the deep end with calculations, and you can always ask questions when in doubt!
 
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I have had to inject myself for 20 years due to arthritis. I hated it, but you will get used to it. You have to tell yourself that a few seconds will make you better.
Easy said, I know !
Have you got anyone that can double check your dose ?
 
Viclet said:
to inject insulin. As I have a blood phobia and a needle phobia I'm now terrified.
Click to expand...
your not alone in being needlephobic its very common 1 in 10 people suffer from that.
I'm also needle phobic and dread bloods being done (very high heart rate spike 150+, shaking with anxiety alongside passing out). Recently diagnosed month ago pretty much I've surprised myself by being able to do all the insulin injections (4x daily) I was given safety needles where you cant see the needle packing says: BD AutoSheild Duo. Finger pricking i couldnt bring myself to use the pen, so have been given safety lancets which managed to do most of the time, but not all the time. LibreSensor2+ can get on nhs if qualify might be worth asking your diabetic nurse/gp if its possible to have that prescribed for you, this would negate having to do the finger pricks so much, only if Low / High sugars to double check via finger pricks, those last 15 days. I can't bring myself to attach the sensor local dr's surgery have been great for that every fortnight I've an appt where the nurse will do for me and use the prescribed elma+diazapan to help settle me down.

You'll be surprised at needs must will get easier in time best wishes to the future.

A resource which was given in hospital from physcriatrist hopefully will assist. try search google for keepingwellnwl+needle-phobia theres some other information in there good luck
 
Just a quick hug and message that it is possible to come out of the other side of a needle phobia - I know I have. Mine came from several bad experiences as a small child. As an adult I decided to do something about it and did my own exposure therapy by becoming a blood donor (I know that it's not an option for you) These days even dental injections don't bother me. So hang on in there, you can do it. See if you can get some kind of therapy. I know that some people swear by CBT - although I have no experience or even hypnotherapy - if it works for stopping smoking why not for getting rid of a phobia
 
Hi and welcome
Your post has made me think a bit as im a type 1 of 50 years with no problems with needles.

is it just the sight of the needle?

Do you use a pen with seperate needles like me?

When screwing the needle in place on the pen it has 2 caps on it so you don't see the needle.
When removing the second cap to expose the needle itself you need not look at it.
You can prime the pen with 2 units of insulin but allow the drops to drop onto the back of you hand.

I often use my bum cheek but can't actually see the needle go in i just feel it as the pen pushes your cheek in a little.

My point (lol) is you barely even have to look at the little thing to achieve success.

Once you start doing it and realise this and the fact i inject 5 times a day and very rarely feel a thing you will wonder what the worry is or was.

Trust me i'm a diabetic!

I wish you all the luck in the world

Tony
 
Hi Tony. My parents used to inject me until I was 8. After that I was shamed by the local hospital staff to do it myself. Needles were larger in length and diameter at the time. Even today I cannot bear to look when anything invades my skin. Yet I injected myself for 46 years. I would suggest that @Viclet will eventually trust nobody else to inject them! I think your suggestion is very helpful.
 
Hi @Grant_Vicat
Thanks and i don't like mentioning back sides on here but they are the most perfect place to inject particularly for larger doses.
The 4mm needles are indeed a massive improvement on the harpoons we used 50 years ago and because of the clicks on the pen i can inject in the dark if need be.

All the best

Tony
 
grantg said:
4mm? was given BD AutoSheild Duo safety needles here says on box: 30g x 3/16" (0.3mm x5mm)
Click to expand...
Modern insulin pen needles come in 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm, which one you use is personal preference.
My Lantus stung less with 5mm than with 4 so I still use the 5mm needles even though I haven't used Lantus in years.
Otherwise I have used all those lengths (borrowing needles when I forgot them, mainly) and they all work fine for me, I have no particular preference.

I'm not sure if the AutoShield needles come in the same lengths as the usual needles.
 
Antje77 said:
I'm not sure if the AutoShield needles come in the same lengths as the usual needles.
My Lantus stung less with 5mm than with 4
Click to expand...

appears that they do. didn't realise there was varying lengths. maybe need correct length to get into the layer required surprised stung more for you with 5mm than 4mm thats interesting as i would of thought longer would give more irritation. think at the next diabetic nurse appt i'll ask for a couple of each length to see which would work best for me :>
 
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