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Partially sighed and struggling to inject

How do I know if it has gone in far enough, will the needle bend, what if it doesn't go in and insulin leaks...I have always been a nervy injector even though I've been doing it 41 years.
 
Well, the point is that the ideal scenario would be like a finger pricker, you just place it on your skin, you don't see the needle, you press the button and the insulin is delivered i.e. the needle is AUTOMATICALLY INSERTED. I don't have a needle phobia, I just get concerned whether the needle is in far enough because I can't see it properly.
 
jape said:
What I learned early on, don't hesitate when injecting oneself. Sometimes, I hit a nerve ending when injecting myself, but overwhelmingly I don't feel anything. I have not kept score, but i estimate that during the last 12 years, I must have given myself somewhere between 10 to 15 thousand injections!
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Hi, yes I know what you mean, I've been doing it for 41 years. Yes I am a very nervy person even after that length of time dong them and know with the sight loss that that made it worse....so what needle do you use, is it better to have a short fine one or a longer thicker one if I am just to go jab it in and done....??
 
Antje77 said:

Getting a community nurse or anyone else to come over to inject 4 to 10 times a day, at different times each day isn't very practical.
Insulin use in T1's is very dynamic, and depending on countless factors. It's not as if you can just have someone inject a fixed amount twice a day and that is that.
Being able to do your own injections is the difference between being very dependent on outside help, losing all opportunities for spontaneous decisions, and leading an almost normal life.

If I take myself as an example, I may wake up at 5AM to see I need some insulin, even though I usually don't need it until 8. I can just take half a minute to inject and put out the light to sleep for a couple more hours.
But what if I'd need to call someone to come over to give me that injection? No more sleep in that case.

Or say my neighbour asks me to come over for a cup of tea. Can't do that, because the nurses visit has been planned at that time, and I'll have to eat right after her visit.

Or the nurse has been for my pre-meal injection, and it turned out I needed a little more insulin for that meal.
Can I call her to come back two hours later to give me some more insulin?

Believe me, being dependent on outside help for your insulin is a nightmare any T1 will want to avoid at all costs, if in any way possible.
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Hi, I totally agree and thank you. It's all about retaining independence, with the sight loss AND the diabetes.
 
Erin said:
Before my mother passed away, the CLSC here in Canada would send a nurse every week to give her the Warfarin medication. I understand that a week is longer than a daily requirement, but if you look at commercial services, they can do it; so why can't the medical services do it? Also, there are private health care services that you may afford to hire them for this service.
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DisFanJen said:
Can I ask, what is it specifically that you need to see the needle for? Is it a phobia thing, or just making sure you are in a different place each time?

I ask because I do mine more by feel that sight, and it really is pick a spot, plunge it in, make sure it’s flush with the skin (I’ve had an occasional one that seemed blunt and just pushed the skin down rather than penetrating properly), then hit the inject button.

I only have one a day now so tend to just do belly and legs where I could watch if I wanted, but I don’t need to. Even the amount is easy as I count the clicks.
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Hi, thanks for your reply, as Ihave said to others, I don't have a needle phobia. I am just concerned that the needle has to go in properly as i can't see it well enough, particularly if I do my legs. I have had some leakage of insulin because of all my faffing around with it. Fine needle? thick needle? Am I being too ;much of a wimp? Certain areas o my body are easier to see so I am worried I will overuse them. I wish there was something like a finger pricker where you put it on you and pressed the top.
 
DiabeticDi said:
I am just concerned that the needle has to go in properly as i can't see it well enough
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I know I never watched, despite having been a Type1 for 44 years ish I have never been able to watch myself inject, I basically looked to get the rough positioning right and then looked away and just jabbed in it as far as it would go then pressed the button to inject the insulin.
There was very rarely any leakage - using 4mm needles

(Note: am now on a pump, so that doesn't really apply much anymore, unless I need to inject)
 
DiabeticDi said:
Hi

Thanks for your reply and for the info about the needles. Can I ask what size and make of needles you use? I understand what you mean about not needing to see the needle going in, but don't you ever wonder if it has not bent or if you are injecting into a bruised area etc. I don't know whether a short fine needle would be best for me or a longer thicker one, if I am just jabbing it in as you say. lAfter 41 years my skin is a bit leathery but I do moisturise it every day. Have you ever been offered a pump?
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At the moment I use 5mm needles but I've used 6mm and 4mm as well, they all work fine for me. I don't bruise easily so that's not an issue, but I do have stretch marks. The diabetic nurse told me to avoid them but I never pay attention to that (mainly because I'm in the bad habit of injecting through my shirt), and my insulin works just fine so I don't worry about it.
I haven't been offered a pump, no idea if I would be eligible, but I don't want a pump so I haven't asked about it either.
DiabeticDi said:
How do I know if it has gone in far enough, will the needle bend, what if it doesn't go in and insulin leaks...I have always been a nervy injector even though I've been doing it 41 years.
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I just jab it in until the pen itself rests on my skin, which is far enough.
Do you experience bent needles or leaking insulin often?
I've had one bent needle in the past 5 years, but that had something to do with the dog jumping on me and the pen while I was injecting. It's really not something I think or worry about.

If something goes wrong injecting once in five years, it only means one missed dose. Even if I wouldn't notice the insulin didn't go in I'd notice high BG later on, and I'd be puzzled as to why, I would be annoyed and I would correct. If something like that would happen, say, once a year, it wouldn't be something I'd worry about.

If you have injections going wrong all the time, that's something different of course.
DiabeticDi said:
I have had some leakage of insulin because of all my faffing around with it.
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What's the faffing about you're doing? What else can you do with an insulin needle except taking off the lid, push it in, push the button and remove?
Would it be worth going through injecting again with your nurse to make you more comfortabe?
 
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DiabeticDi said:
How do I know if it has gone in far enough, will the needle bend, what if it doesn't go in and insulin leaks...I have always been a nervy injector even though I've been doing it 41 years.
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Hi @DiabeticDi ,

I've been following the issue in your thread.
I have to admit there is a remarkable shortfall in the development of devices to administer insulin, not only with the sight impaired but those with dexterity issues too.
I see alot of documented frustration from others. you have my sympathy.

I've been & still am an injector for the last 46 years. I am also a watcher when it comes to injections. Not only myself but vaccinators & dentists too. (Even vets?)

I am uncertain of your personal injection technique developed over your years of experience.
Is there a way you can inject with one hand then "gauge" how close the needle screw part is close to the skin using a finger on the other, just before hitting the button?

Kind regards.
 
I currently use 4mm needles when I inject and like @Antje77 I just push the pen in until it won't go any further. And though I tend to inject into my stomach, where I can theoretically see what I'm doing, sometimes I go through my shirt and if I rotate my legs it's really more like a jab and hope rather than a jab and look.

I second Antje's suggestion that you go over your injection technique with your nurse to give you more confidence.

(As for @Jaylee's watcher comment, I'm the opposite. Happy to have blood taken or vaccinations given, but don't ask me to watch when someone else puts the needle in :) . )

52 years of injections for me....
 
I'm not sure if this is of any use but ...
I use 0.23mm (32G) x 4mm needles. I inject at 90 degree to the skin either into my stomach or backside (sufficient fat so I don't need to pinch skin etc - which might otherwise contribute to bending needles). I have not had a bent needle yet (but have not been using insulin for very long either). I push the needle in until the plastic cap rests against my skin. To be honest I doubt I could see if the needle was bent until after the injection but would expect the insulin dose to be on the skin after injecting and to pick up a high blood glucose reading later on.
If I am going out I fit the needle, do the air shot, and refit the outer cap. Then I take the pen with me in the case it came in (NovoPen Echo) so just have to check blood glucose, dial the dose and inject.

I think there have been a number of attempts at aid and painless injection devices ... but since Dr Bernstein has indicated none are as reliable as a manual injection I have not investigated any. I use the injection sites because those are the ones suggested by Dr Bernstein. I did try the back of my arm but found it tended to bleed so stopped.

I have only used the pre-filled disposable pens, and the prefilled cartridges for the NovoPen Echo. I'm not sure if you are on similar devices or using disposable syringes - but I can understand bending a needle on a disposable syringe is probably easier to do.
 
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