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Change in needle gauge

F

Fionai

Newbie
Messages
3
Location
Edinburgh
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
My 18 year old son has T1D and successfully injects his insulin with the Omnican fine 4mm 31 gauge needles. Last year the Health Board recommended that 32 gauge is prescribed instead. The finer needles should be easier to use but he finds that these do not puncture his skin (abdomen) even with multiple attempts using the same technique as with his 31 gauge needles. He specifies needle gauge when requesting repeat prescription but occasionally gauge 32 is dispensed. Does anyone else have this problem and how do they overcome it?
 
Hello, welcome!
From my understanding the gauge is the thickness of the needle and your son prefers a finer needle. If it's the same brand of needles but different gauges, would speaking to the pharmacist be of any help to swap? or speaking to the GP to specify it clearly. But check his prescriptions, some times its the same box of needles but the gauge varies between boxes. If you can also contact his consultant or DSN to say the GP has been prescribing the wrong item, maybe they will write a letter to state it clearly - GPs based prescriptions of the consultant's letter. I never had a gauge problem, but a needle length problem where I've been given 8mm instead of 4 or 5mm needles. CCGs were trying to save money by giving me cheaper needles and the wrong length.
 
Thanks for your advice. Whilst occassionally the wrong gauge is dispensed/presribed, we can get it changed. The question is more about does anyone have any problems using the finer gauge needle?
 
Fionai said:
Thanks for your advice. Whilst occassionally the wrong gauge is dispensed/presribed, we can get it changed. The question is more about does anyone have any problems using the finer gauge needle?
Click to expand...
In terms of injection sites - I use BD microfine 4mm 32 gauge needles, I inject not so much in the abdomen but more midriff area., buttocks, upper drumstick areas. Is your son quite muscly in the abdomen? Could it be where he is injecting? my needles do penetrate the skin, it's sometimes painful because of tough skin or I've accidentally hit the muscle.
Apparently 32G is more finer than 31G - I have had a look on the boxes for my mine - 0.23mm x 4mm (32G) VS 0.25mm x 4mm (31G)
I have heard from other diabetics that sometimes it is a faulty needle - the needle is not lubricated enough so the gliding is sometimes difficult.
Has it affected his control in anyway?
 
I'll suggest he tries other sites. Average regarding muscle in the abdomen. The needles just don't puncture the skin which I doubted until he showed me. Regarding affecting his control no it's not been a problem as we have had the odd 31G needle available then a mad dash to the pharmacist when they have next opened. We never considered faulty needles although he has tried a few and only the odd one goes through his skin.
 
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