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Leaking Lantus

Lexi_1991

Lexi_1991

Active Member
Messages
32
Location
Kent
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Mushrooms, Rude people, Snakes
Hi All
When I take my Lantus of an evening no matter what the dose or where I inject it some of it always seems to leak out. Sometimes its a little and sometimes a lot. I worry that I don't get the right amount of lantus due to leakage and now my morning sugars are all over the place.

anyone else had leaking?

Thanks Lexi
 
Hi! When you shoot off the extra couple of units before you dial up your dose is the pen upright? Because if so some insulin will gather at the neck of the needle and that could be what you think is "leaking" away. How is your bg level holding? If your numbers are where you expect them to be you're probably getting the correct dose. I also discovered that sometimes I need to do the test air shot a couple of times to get the big fountain effect not just the once that was recommended.
 
Leave the needle in the skin and count to 10 slowly, if you withdraw the needle too soon you can get insulin leakage from the injection site.
 
Sibyl said:
Hi! When you shoot off the extra couple of units before you dial up your dose is the pen upright? Because if so some insulin will gather at the neck of the needle and that could be what you think is "leaking" away. How is your bg level holding? If your numbers are where you expect them to be you're probably getting the correct dose. I also discovered that sometimes I need to do the test air shot a couple of times to get the big fountain effect not just the once that was recommended.
Click to expand...

Hi Sibyl
generally the pen is pointing down into the sink so that when I do the air short It goes into the sink, prehaps I might try a bigger air short or do 2 to try and see if something like that might help. My BG is high in the morning anything from 12 - 23 which I am not happy with and makes me feel like rubbish.

Thanks Noblehead I do do this already, but doesn't always seem to help.
 
I sometimes get this too.. Sometimes it can take up to 3 injections (and ending up guestimating how much has gone in each time). It happens on my legs only.. Arms n bum fine.. So why just my legs??

After 30 + years you would think I know how to inject!! Don't inderstand it really.
 
Lexi_1991 said:
Hi Sibyl
generally the pen is pointing down into the sink so that when I do the air short It goes into the sink, prehaps I might try a bigger air short or do 2 to try and see if something like that might help. My BG is high in the morning anything from 12 - 23 which I am not happy with and makes me feel like rubbish.

Thanks Noblehead I do do this already, but doesn't always seem to help.
Click to expand...

The point of a "air shot" is to expel any air thus priming the needle..

Air rises to the top of any liquid due to being less dense. The needle must be facing skyward to achieve a successful airshot. Otherwise you will get an air bubble between the surface of the Lantus "cushioning" against the presure of the rubber bung in the cartrige as the ram mechanism pushes it when the needle is facing downward on injection...
This could be the cause of your "leak". It's all basically down to a little thing called "gravity".
 
Thank you @Jaylee I will do my air shots skywards from now on. Fee a little silly that I've been doing it wrong for all these years
 
Lexi_1991 said:
Thank you @Jaylee I will do my air shots skywards from now on. Fee a little silly that I've been doing it wrong for all these years
Click to expand...

No worries. :cool: I'm not saying it will solve your leaky Lantus problem. However from what you describe. A cushion of trapped air in the cartridge giving it an "extra bounce", maybe delaying the delivery..?

Don't forget to keep a close eye on your sugar levels, just in case the "precise amount" makes any change?! ;)
 
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