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

needles hurt...

jamie1131

jamie1131

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I don't know if its just all in my head because I've only been injecting for a few weeks now, but I'm finding it more and more painful to do so. I don't think its all in my head because when I first started it was fine and I don't have bumps under my skin, like I say I've only just started. but in the past 18 months I've lost just under 11 st, so as you can imagine I've got more than a few stretch marks round my waist where I inject and I don't know if it because I'm goin through them. but when I do my levemire in my legs it almost feels like I'm goin straight into the muscle.
has any body else had similar experiances?
 
hi jamie
if you have lost all the weight you might need to use a shorter needle -- not sure what length you are using but they do vary in length and thickness ( gauge).
perhaps have a chat with your diabetic nurse or GP and see if you can get something shorter.

alternatively the old pinch an inch trick might help

pinch the skin with forefinger and thumb where you want to inject and then put the needle into the the soft "hollow" between the finger and thumb - this will ensure you are only injecting sub cutaneously.

hope this helps -- all the best !!
 
Hi. Yes, do check your needle type. Unless you have excess weight, many of us now use 4mm needles. The normal injection points include the stomach (not too near the navel) and the thighs. But there are many other points which may be better
 
My vote would be for your needle being too long too. Have you changed insulin in that time, as some simply sting more than others too?

I linked to a page here on the main site last night (struggling to do it just now as I'm on an uncooperative tablet) about how to inject and it said to inject at 45 degrees if there isn't enough fat under the skin, to prevent it going into muscle - might be worth a try until you get some shorter needles.

Well done on the weight loss, that's quite some achievement.
 
I use nano 4 mm 32 gage needles but I have used 8mm 30 gage. . They shouldn't hurt unless you don't change them often or each time you use them.
 
Hey Jamie!

I know for me if I don't rotate where I take my inject sometimes it hurts. Also as others have mentioned, you may need a shorter thinner needle. Since you lost weight you probably don't have as much fat or (flubber as I like to call it lol) in your stomach area. In my own experience,I found that sticking the needle a little slower alleviates the pain. Most times, I don't even experience pain anymore. It's not in your head, it'll get better with time. With diabetes there are good days and not so good days for every situation. I have recently begun a blog http://www.mytype2diabetesmanagement.com/ where I will be posting about my diagnosis of being type 2 diabetic, my experiences and how I have managed my glucose levels. I will post things I've done that were successful and I'll also post my failures. Visit my site, it's in the infancy stage but we can learn from each other.
 
I was put on victoza in October and started on 5mm needles but they were causing discomfort and bruising so changed to 4mm gluco rx needles these seemed to have caused a reaction so i changed to 4mm my life needles which seem to be working alot better its all about trial and error maybe one brand is not the best for you there are plenty of others out there good luck hope it improves for you xx
 
Which pentips are you using? GlucoRX seem to be the ones most commonly causing discomfort; personally I found Owen Mumford ones to be unpleasant and BD Microfine to be the nicest to use.
 
My life needles google them they seem to be best for me no pain and no bruising which is always a positive hope this helps you x
 
CapnGrumpy said:
Which pentips are you using? GlucoRX seem to be the ones most commonly causing discomfort; personally I found Owen Mumford ones to be unpleasant and BD Microfine to be the nicest to use.
Click to expand...

My partner uses glucoRX and they cause terrible bruising and discomfort. Never even considered changing the brand! Will have to look into this!
 
chloebeth said:
My partner uses glucoRX and they cause terrible bruising and discomfort. Never even considered changing the brand! Will have to look into this!
Click to expand...
I hope that helps i spoke to diabetic nurse and she changed them it depends on your area
 
jamie1131 said:
I don't know if its just all in my head because I've only been injecting for a few weeks now, but I'm finding it more and more painful to do so. I don't think its all in my head because when I first started it was fine and I don't have bumps under my skin, like I say I've only just started. but in the past 18 months I've lost just under 11 st, so as you can imagine I've got more than a few stretch marks round my waist where I inject and I don't know if it because I'm goin through them. but when I do my levemire in my legs it almost feels like I'm goin straight into the muscle.
has any body else had similar experiances?
Click to expand...

Hi Jamie.
A few good points already raised here by other commenters. In my experience some insulins do sting as they go in, momentarily if in the right spot, but sometimes a prolonged stinging sensation if injected a little too deep.
Also, the length and gauge of the needle are quite important. If you're trim and quite lean you'll need a shorter needle than say somebody carrying a little extra weight. Also the gauge of the needle is important.
Personally, I use NovoFine "S" Needles 31G 6mm, but I used to be prescribed the 8mm long needles which really hurt especially in my thighs.
Also, going through any scar tissue can be painful, such as stretch marks. Try to avoid them if you can, they also tend to bleed back when you pull the needle out of these areas, in my experience anyway.

Another thing to be aware of is dose volume. Anything over 30 units is best split into two injections for two reasons; smaller doses are absorbed more efficiently, and smaller doses sting less... although it does mean two jabs you can use the same needle to do this.

Do you see a Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) regularly? If not please make sure to ask to be referred to one. They really are the people in the know about everything diabetes related.

All the very best of wishes for good health.

Richard
 
I now use 4mm needles. They don't hurt at all. Type 1 for 49 years. The first one I used was glass syringe with stainless needle. It looked like a spear. The latest things they use now are very user friendly.
 
mahola said:
It definitely hurts more injecting through a stretchmark. I try to avoid them but my tummy looks like a road map of Britain so it's difficult :D
Click to expand...

Me too. Hurts and stings!
Plus I have a vertical operation scar from bikini to under ribs and six key hole scars dotted around abdomen Maddy x
 
You can get the 4 mm needles off BD Micro fine as I use them for insulin and you don't feel them as you do with the 5 mm ones and I was told they are easier and don't hurt and give you as many hypos as you would get with the others but that is what I am using now
 
Glucorx needles are horrible. Ì was placed on them. I have had blunt needles and needles that constantly bend. I haven't bled so much whilst injecting with these oh and the brusing. My gp won't change me back to the BD ones. Waiting for my dsn appointment to get her to do it.
 
Thats the issue i had with them and they said i had a reaction to them can you not ring your dsn instead of waiting for the appt whatever you are injecting wont be absorbed as easily which could upset your levels x
 
Back
Top