Easiest way to intake insulin?

[KyleGreene70]

Please answer the poll on which is easiest, just diagnosed and trying to basically make a game plan. Thanks and detailed answers are also wanted!

 

[tim2000s]

@KyleGreene70 , what question do you want the answer to? All are easy. All involve sticking a needle into yourself with varying frequency. Syringes/Pens are essentially interchangeable injecting devices and therefore have little difference although, from a purely mechanical perspective, some may find one or the other easier. Pumps are a different paradigm and are more an insulin delivery system, but only require an "injection", i.e. a change of canula every few days.

If, on the other hand, you are asking which is easier to manage holistically, then it is a much more complicated answer. Syringes and Pens will be used in an injection based model, using either twice daily or multiple daily injections. A pump is a constant infusion and is therefore a different prospect. Both come with positives and negatives. At first diagnosis neither is straightforward.

Ultimately, I'd suggest that the pump would give you better control, but this is entirely down to you as the end user and how you take responsibility for your treatment.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Totally agree with Tim above...

The important thing is what you find easiest though with your lifestyle.
We all have different life's and dome are ok with injecting anywhere, some find injecting in public places awful. Some play sports, some don't. Etc.

I personally think you would find a pump easiest. However, that may be because I love my pump. Personally I am fit and active (50+ years) and would have so loved this pump when I was a late teenager).

As for places to inject, that again will be your choice. I am lean and mean and more muscle than fat so I find it easiest to do all needles in my cheeks of my bum. However, thats me....

The important thing in the early days of injections or pump is to learn about carbs in food and what foods make your bg levels go up.. Or what makes your levels drop...

What are you wanting to include within your game plan? What factors have you thought about?
For example, are you sporty and wanting to find a game plan to carry on doing your sports?
Or is your game plan to get you balanced in the short term or long term?

 

[iHs]

The easiest and more carefree way, is to use a pen with 4mm needles and inject the basal or larger twice daily jab, in the side area of backside and inject the bolus in the tummy if bg is high or use the arm if bg is more normal and just inject below t shirt sleeve. I very rarely ever used my tummy because of the marks but was happy with my arms and backside which was hassle free. I spent about 20yrs just using twice daily jabs and remembering to eat the 'little and often' way of controlling bg. I didnt do shift work in employment though.....I was lucky enough to get 9am to 5.30pm jobs with an hour for lunch so that I could nab a sandwich or McD burger and was ok with eating a snack.

Pumps are now much more common than they were 7 years ago but this is because the NICE criteria got changed to include different reasons for having one. Years ago, the only diabetics that got pumps were those who had developed complications but developing complications is not good so best avoid that route as its just not worth it.

In time, we all get used to using pens and although we all moan about insulin etc, it has to be remembered that in other parts of the world, insulin pens dont exist and people are using syringes instead and the choices of insulin available are very limited.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Like the others it all depends hence I haven't answered the poll. I use a pen and have no problems with it. I do Basal into the thigh or buttocks and Bolus into the stomach. I only inject the Basal once a day at night. I know it doesn't last 24 hours but I take account of that with the Bolus and usually only have 3 injections per day. I don't really need a pump so have no views on them. I have never used a syringe but a pen must surely be better when available.

 

[noblehead]

In order, it would be Pump, Pen and Syringe.

If your having trouble with injections Kyle see if there's anything helpful in the following, failing that come back ans ask for advise:

http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7257&CMP=GIP

 

[KyleGreene70]

@KyleGreene70 , what question do you want the answer to? All are easy. All involve sticking a needle into yourself with varying frequency. Syringes/Pens are essentially interchangeable injecting devices and therefore have little difference although, from a purely mechanical perspective, some may find one or the other easier. Pumps are a different paradigm and are more an insulin delivery system, but only require an "injection", i.e. a change of canula every few days.

If, on the other hand, you are asking which is easier to manage holistically, then it is a much more complicated answer. Syringes and Pens will be used in an injection based model, using either twice daily or multiple daily injections. A pump is a constant infusion and is therefore a different prospect. Both come with positives and negatives. At first diagnosis neither is straightforward.

Ultimately, I'd suggest that the pump would give you better control, but this is entirely down to you as the end user and how you take responsibility for your treatment.

Ok, thanks! Just seeing which would be the easiest to use while being active.