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Insulin Burning...

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claridge

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Hi,

I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 2 weeks ago so am just getting used to Injecting myself. The first week was not too bad but now when l inject the Insulin stings and burns. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I mentioned this to my nurse who said as long as there was no redness then it wasnt an adverse reaction. Another lady l met said that it may be my body getting used to the Insulin but it is really quite sore.

Thank you,
Jo
 
Hi

when you inject, which insulin is it causing most of your problems, your background (slow acting) or the quick acting insulin?

If you been keeping your pens in the fridge, then it could be that the insulin is cold causing the stinging, once the cartridge is in the pen you can keep it at room temp for a month...

Another reasons could be that you are injecting in the same place and need to move the injection site further, or that you aren't getting the insulin into your fat layer underneath the skin, but hitting th muscel instead!

The needle might be the problem...

Are you using a fresh needle?
Do you know the lenght of needle as they do come in different lengths, that suit different sized people..

Hope this helps and give you'v some ideas
 
Hi,

I use Novorapid and Lantus and they both seem to be causing burning- l have just changed cartridges and the burning was occuring before as well as now.. although not sure if it has got worse though. I use fresh needles each time. Its a small needle- 0.25 x 5mm.
I have only been injecing my thighs at the top as that is where there is the most fat- lm quite athletic so l dont have much fat to aim for- and a bit too scared to try to inject my stomach.
 
Hi

Lantus is know to sting, you could always ask to try Levemir instead which has a slightly lower ph and slighting different perseritives..

When you inject do you just jab striaght into the skin or do you use fore finger and thumb pinch to raise the skin to inject into?

As sometimes the fat layer can be slender on the thighs so could be hitting the muscles under neath, I would try injecting at a slight angle if you can, or try the stomach as it's a lot eaiser to raise a fatty skin area...
 
hey, i had the same problem and sometimes i still do, im on novarapid and lantus, i wouldnt suggest changing it as you are starting out, the needle could be the problem, it sounds like you are using a small needle i use an 8mm needle. and i got told to change to that wen i was on a small one. how old are u if u dont mind me askin. coz i was using small needles and i kinda got told off so it could be ur needle is too small. i do my injections in my stomach my arms and my legs. i do my lantus in my legs, as you have to do ur novarapid and lantus is different places, so i never do my novarapid in my legs so i can save my legs for the lantus. i do a lot of lantus so my legs can take it. i have recently been told to do my injections like at the back of my arm. dont do it near the muscle because it can stop it working. dont worry about doing it in ur stomach an you can do it all the way round so like just past your hips most women havve a little bit of fat ther so if you cud do it ther, i was scared about doing it ther but its fine. and my injections do hurt sumtimes. thats only because i dont change my needle as often as i should.
so basically id try to...
change your needles to larger one.
change the needle everytime you inject
move you injections round, as they build up and cause lumps.
hope this helps xx
 
Thank you all! Nessa- lm 25. Also l dont understand why bigger needles would help? Only yesterday l started injecting the Novorapid in my tummy (was very scared!) and its not too bad just a bit tender and doesnt seem to burn so far whcih is good :) Also the Lantus in the thigh is a massive pain as lm sort of dreading it as it burns- l might try it in my arm- not surehow you would do it one handed though... Think l have too many muscles in my legs! O and l deffo change my needles every time as l think they get blunt and hurt after the first time.. x
 
This is going to sound rude...but stick it in your bum!

If you are lucky enough to be able to reach around and inject into your upper b um check, it might be worth a go? I never liked my arms myself, as it semed to hurt more,
 
bigger needles help because your skin is thicker and stronger than a childs. so the needle you are using mite not hit the right part underneath your skin. im 18 and im on bigger needles than you lol.
i will never do my lantus in my arms. i find lantus cums out very very fast and thats why it hurts. and my arms cant take it. i do novorapid in my arms an thats easy one handed but yes lantus cud be tricky. your legs are the best place to do it. you have loadz of space to do it. i have done it in my bum too. that stings me but its worth a try, the way i got told is split one side of your bum into quaters the top half and the quater closest to you is were you shud do it. try its worth a try. :)
 
hi just to ask I was given lumjev and every time i used it it stung me so I went back to nova rapid but today i spoke to my dietician advised that it takes time I really don't know what to do
 
Hi, I agree with the needle change, I use 4mm I think, I am a terrible person who tends to inject while driving, walk around the kitchen bored because I have to hold the needle in for a forever five seconds, change the needle when it either blocks or I finish the pen. I therefore feel like an expert of painful injections and those weird bumps that I assume are pockets of insulin, and I reckon jabbing/stabbing harder and therefore deeper is less painful, so I assume longer needle put insulin in deeper. Best of luck, try your belly :)
 
I find stomach and buttocks are best locations for injections. Legs tend not to have enough fat. Back of the upper arm works for some but not for me.
 
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