• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Have you any advice to overcome painful injections & weight gain?

F

Felixthemoggy1

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello all, need some help/advice please. I've been on insulin for 5 months now and my injections are starting to hurt, I change the site each time ( 4 injections a day, left/right thigh and left/right side on stomach) but it's getting more and more painful. I'm bruised all over and have gained nearly 2 stone in weight since being on insulin.
Have you any hints and tips for me please on
1. How to reduce pain when administering injections
2. How to avoid bruising
3. How to lose weight/avoid further weight gain (I have mobility & other pain issues so exercise isn't easy )

Thanks
 
Hiya :)

I gained a lot of weight when I started insulin upon diagnosis of type 1. I've gained a lot recently but in the past I had a lot of weight loss just by going on a low to moderate carb diet and 45 minutes walking 5 days a week. This was pre-lockdown. I think you can probably lose weight just by trying to reduce carbs and insulin doses.

Indoor walking exercises can be good as well as I also have chronic pain and not the best mobility. I try and do 10k steps a day but on bad days it's really, really hard. Even 5 minutes will help walking on the spot, very gentle, listen to your body.

In terms of injections, make sure your needle is always fresh (I am guilty of re-using) and sometimes this hurts. I also use the tiny 4mm needles as they barely feel like anything.

Best of luck
 
In terms of injections hurting, I would talk to your diabetes team (or DSN).
It is possible that you are reacting to the type of insulin you are using. Different insulins may not cause the pain.
 
Felixthemoggy1 said:
Hello all, need some help/advice please. I've been on insulin for 5 months now and my injections are starting to hurt, I change the site each time ( 4 injections a day, left/right thigh and left/right side on stomach) but it's getting more and more painful. I'm bruised all over and have gained nearly 2 stone in weight since being on insulin.
Have you any hints and tips for me please on
1. How to reduce pain when administering injections
2. How to avoid bruising
3. How to lose weight/avoid further weight gain (I have mobility & other pain issues so exercise isn't easy )

Thanks
Click to expand...
I agree with Catsymoo that you should ask for different needles, starting with 4mm ones . The only reservation I have is that you mention that you have put on two stones in weight, and the 4mm needle may be too short. But try them first. If need be, you can then go up to 5mm needles. What also makes a difference (at least for me) is that some makes of needles hurt more than others. Please ask you diabetes nurse for different makes and lengths to try.

The reason I am so aware of some makes of needles hurting more is that the GP surgery I am registered with is in a country village and they are allowed to have a dispensary within the surgery. That means that the GP surgery gets paid the NHS fee that normally is paid to pharmacies. For that reason they often change my prescription for a cheaper drug (greedy!). Only last year I had a word with them because the needles they changed me to hurt too much. Then they changed them back. But now they have, again, changed them for the cheaper ones.

You are supposed to feel the needle going in, but it should hurt only a tiny bit. Wrong needles hurt a lot. If you do not feel the needle, then that area has had too many injection and has become numb, and then insulin will not get absorbed properly.

You will get some bruising, but not from every injection. I understand that bruising happens if the needle hits a vein, but those are small bruises. But, if you manage to see the specialist diabetes nurse, ask her to check your technique for injecting.

Good luck.
 
Back
Top