insulin needles sizes

I have only ever used 8mm needles.... I haven't had any issues with them other than I prefer DB brand over any other.

 

I don't know whether or not it depends on if you are bigger built but 4mm is the recommended needle size, as it's meant to reach the correct depth of skin/fat for best use of insulin

 

I use 4mm needles.. lost a fair bit of weight pre-diagnosis so there's not much depth to the fat under my skin to inject in to.

 

I was given 4mm needles from the off. They are plenty long enough, even when I inject through a shirt as I do most times during the day. I read on here a few weeks ago of someone getting a rapid effect from Lantus as a result of not injecting it into fat. I imagine that is a higher risk if you use long needles.

 

I was originally given 8mm needles but my DN changed them to 6mm which I find much more comfortable

 

I know you shouldnt inject in to the higher area of your tummy (up near rib cage) due to lack of fat.

 

Here's some information from TrendUk (intended for DSNs) on injecting. It recommends 4mm to 6mm needles for adults in section 10.

http://www.trend-uk.org/documents/fit 3rd edition final copy.pdf

I use 4mm needles (I'm quite skinny).

 

I'd imagine the difference between using a 4mm needle as opposed to a 5mm would be negligible.

Sounds like you may have over-used the stomach area (google Lipohypertrophy), don't forget you can use your arms and legs too to inject insulin.

 

Just to add I use 5mm.

But talking about insulin needles, did anyone watch Silent Witness, the last 2 episodes, there was a baddy in jail who was T1D and they had to inject him his insulin, the size of the needle was big enough to inject the insulin directly in to the guys liver!

 

The point (pun intended) of shorter needles is to avoid injecting into muscle by mistake. Injections into muscle means a much faster absorption rate compared to fat and can lead to hypos. BD (Beckton Dickinson) have a patent on 'pentapoint' needles whereby there are more bits of metal shaved out of the business end of the needle making it nicer to poke through your skin.

 

Yeah, I saw that and thought, yikes! But he was a bad mutha so Jack was maybe just thinking lose the 4mm and how d'ya like these apples instead...