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Changed Pen Needles

kambansel

Member
Messages
8
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Arrogance, Selfishness
I recently changed insulin pen needle from 8mm to 4mm, after seeing consultant at my annual hospital checkup.

Most of my blood sugars are now much higher on average than when I was on the longer needles.

Is this just concidence? Does anyone have any advice or experience of this? Should I go back to the longer needles?!
 
I changed from 8mm to 4mm on the advice of my Endo and had the same problem,I changed back after 3 weeks and I was quickly back to normal,thank god!
 
My own BG control much improved after down sizing from 8mm to 5mm pen needles .
Plus much less painful too for myself .
With some persons a too short a needle can affect the insulin's ability to be as effective .
 
Much like Anna I use the smallest needle available (4mm) and don't have any problems, but much like Yingtong you should change back to the 8mm if your notice it effecting your bg levels, or you could try using the 6mm needle and see if that makes a difference.
 
My BMI is low, am tall and thin, hence why the change was advised. I think I will try a 6mm needle and see how that goes. It's always a pain in a*se trying to get the script from GP!
Thanks for responses
K
 
kambansel said:
My BMI is low, am tall and thin, hence why the change was advised. I think I will try a 6mm needle and see how that goes. It's always a pain in a*se trying to get the script from GP!
Thanks for responses
K
Click to expand...

There's also 5mm needles but unsure is 1mm would make any difference, try the 6mm and see how you get on.
 
I use different ones depending where I'm injecting - 8mm for my backside and middle part of my belly (I have a little more fat there) and 6mm for the outer part of my belly and thighs... Like you I'm slim with an in range BMI and this seems to work for me... See how you get on with the 6mm


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I have no bum - well any fat on it !
My arms and thighs legs are too tiny would hit pure muscle .
DSN said no option there for me at all .

Only place left for me is my tummy .
Use the 5mm or the 4mm needles here .
Keep rotating site areas each injection times .
 
Basal mainly goes in bum and legs and bolus in stomach and arms, was getting a few erratic readings with injecting lantus in my bum so have stuck to using my legs for the time being to give things a rest.
 
noblehead said:
Basal mainly goes in bum and legs and bolus in stomach and arms, was getting a few erratic readings with injecting lantus in my bum so have stuck to using my legs for the time being to give things a rest.
Click to expand...

Same

Morning basal = bum
All daytime bolus = tum (rotating from left side to right side weekly, and rotating around each side with each injection)
Nightime basal = thighs




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