How to stop red lumps after injecting?

[Levy]

Hi all, I'm on a roll today with questions. I noticed today that I have quite a few big red lumps on my legs from injecting my Levemir (twice a day, 16u and 12u).

I'm using 4 mm needles and pinch before injecting and plunge it straight down rather than at an angle (which I used to do when I was first diagnosed and used 8mm ones!). I used to use 5mm ones until a few weeks ago but my DSN changed it as my legs are quite lean/muscular. I rotate my sites every time, never use the same let twice in one day and use my bum as well (no lumps there, I just get them on my legs)

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Soapybubs87]

Hi all, I'm on a roll today with questions. I noticed today that I have quite a few big red lumps on my legs from injecting my Levemir (twice a day, 16u and 12u).

I'm using 4 mm needles and pinch before injecting and plunge it straight down rather than at an angle (which I used to do when I was first diagnosed and used 8mm ones!). I used to use 5mm ones until a few weeks ago but my DSN changed it as my legs are quite lean/muscular.

What am I doing wrong?

I have the same problem! Same insulin, same needle slightly higher doses!

 

[himtoo]

hi there
sorry if I am saying something that you both already know , but site rotation is critical to avoiding issues generally in the injectable areas , and could be possibly why you are getting the red lumps.

I have attached a photo of injection sites , and using the thighs as a template , imagine moving an inch up or down the leg until the available space is injected in 1 time then moving horizontally 1 inch and repeating the process -- you should get 24 - 28 injections per leg -- then move to the other leg and repeat.

based on 2 injections of tresiba per day that should mean you are only injecting in the approximate
same space about once every 4 weeks.

using bum can help create a longer time between each site being used too.

 

[Levy]

hi there
sorry if I am saying something that you both already know , but site rotation is critical to avoiding issues generally in the injectable areas , and could be possibly why you are getting the red lumps.

I have attached a photo of injection sites , and using the thighs as a template , imagine moving an inch up or down the leg until the available space is injected in 1 time then moving horizontally 1 inch and repeating the process -- you should get 24 - 28 injections per leg -- then move to the other leg and repeat.

based on 2 injections of tresiba per day that should mean you are only injecting in the approximate
same space about once every 4 weeks.

using bum can help create a longer time between each site being used too.


View attachment 24749

Sorry should have mentioned that in the original post. I rotate every time so that's not it.
I use my bum as well for long acting.

 

[becca59]

Why do you pinch? I was told not to!

 

[Levy]

Why do you pinch? I was told not to!

That's what I was taught

 

[bangkokdiabetic]

I Pinch Too its the way I was Shown.Been Injecting for 15yrs once infrequently twice a day no lumps over that period only use thighs. I am on Lantus occasionally it stings but not all the time and yes I Rotate sites maybe you should ask doc if you can try another medicine it might be an allergic reaction

 

[Levy]

I Pinch Too its the way I was Shown.Been Injecting for 15yrs once infrequently twice a day no lumps over that period only use thighs. I am on Lantus occasionally it stings but not all the time and yes I Rotate sites maybe you should ask doc if you can try another medicine it might be an allergic reaction

Thanks, will definitely bring it up at my next appointment!

 

[himtoo]

Again-- could be wrong here -- but a long time ago when needles were a bit longer the advice was to "pinch" and inject at 45 degrees to get into the sub-cutaneous fat layer.

these days with 4mm needles there is no need as 4mm will hit that sub-cu layer

 

[Soapybubs87]

Why do you pinch? I was told not to!

I dont pinch either as i was told not to originall i was told to but was then told not to! Haha so god knows which

 

[Soapybubs87]

Again-- could be wrong here -- but a long time ago when needles were a bit longer the advice was to "pinch" and inject at 45 degrees to get into the sub-cutaneous fat layer.

these days with 4mm needles there is no need as 4mm will hit that sub-cu layer

Thats when i was told to stop pinching when i went on to 4mm

 

[Levy]

Thats when i was told to stop pinching when i went on to 4mm

I'll give it a go without the pinching then, thanks! I wasn't told anything when I got switched