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Teachingg someone to give me injection

D

DiabeticDi

Well-Known Member
Messages
257
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I want to teach my husband to inject my arm - any advice/tips please? Like what to practise on, technique etc
 
Is he afraid to get injections? I usually just give a person my arm with the phrase that it is impossible to hurt me with a 4mm needle. But you can offer him a sponge for training
 
Is your arm a suitable place to start on?
I ask because I have more fat elsewhere on my body and I would not be able to see what was going on (maybe a good thing).
Personally, if I was to train someone else, I would start with my usual injection spots. That way, I know they work, I know any foibles of that area and I can see what they are doing. Once we are both confident, I would get them to trial my arms.

Many people know about injecting into arms from vaccinations, I believe, unlike insulin, these are designed to go into muscle. Someone injecting insulin for the first time may subconsciously follow what they have seen for their vaccinations.
 
Hi,

I’d say the basics first before even letting the chap loose on an orange.

Getting comfortable with changing & loading an insulin cartridge, if a non- disposable pen…
Fitting a needle.
Priming the needle with an “Airshot.”

Maybe look at some video tutorials regarding your particular pen on YouTube?
For starters..
 
I may be cross posting here as dad was elderly T2 on fixed doses.

When his sight failed I contacted his GP and said he was struggling, the district nurse came out a couple of times to show my mum how to do it, unfortunately my mum passed suddenly not long after she started doing them, there was no one else as I lived too far away so then the district nurse used to come twice a day. Being T1 the district nurse doing it regularly probably wouldn’t be any good but they may be able to help you in the “training” of your hubby
 
I've let other people inject me (particularly convenient when I'm driving).
First time I just hand them the pen and tell them to screw on a needle, dial up a unit and push the button to check if insulin comes out.
Then I tell them how many units I want, have them dial up the right amount and tell them to just plunge it anywhere on my abdomen, flanks, or upper arms, push the button and hold it there for a couple of seconds.

Second time I simply tell them how many units I want and watch to see if they've remembered all the steps.
If this all goes well, they can inject me any time.

I never saw the logic in practicing on an orange or a sponge. I got the sponge and was sent home with my insulin pen to do my first real injection alone at home. It would have made so much more sense to inject myself for the first time in the nurses office.
 
DiabeticDi said:
No he's not' afraid' but he wants to do it right, and i want him to as well. Not as brave asyou!!
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What about going through it together in good light so you can see well?
Have him watch all the steps while you do it at first. Next time you watch and talk him through all the steps, doing it together, again with decent light so you can clearly see every step.
Repeat until both of you feel confident when out and about.

If you can manage your own injections with the correct amount of light, I'd say you'd be the ideal person to teach him just how you'd like it done, much better than a generic how to from a nurse or a video.
Have him read the leaflet that comes with your insulin as well, all the basics are there!
DiabeticDi said:
I am visually impaired so it would obviously be helpful. Also when we are out and about and locations etc aren't ideal for me (too dark).
Click to expand...
A perfect reason to want your other half to be able to do the honours, it's a very nice solution. :)
Until both of you are confident with him injecting you, you can always share the responsibility: Have him double check if insulin comes out with the airshot, and if you dialed up the correct dose if you have trouble reading the pen.
I hope the both of you will start practising soon (like with your next dose), even if it's just him paying close attention while you inject and explain what you're doing and why.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
 
DiabeticDi said:
No he's not' afraid' but he wants to do it right, and i want him to as well. Not as brave asyou!!
Click to expand...

it seems to me that the main problem is not in the technique, after all, it is not difficult to insert the needle at right angles and press the plunger, it's just that when we are afraid, our hands tremble, and if the hand wobbles along with the needle in someone else's body, it is not very pleasant. The trouble is, you don't feel sympathy for an inanimate object. But in the end, I think you just need to morally allow yourself to hurt your loved one. In my experience, those who are least sympathetic at this moment do the best
 
DiabeticDi said:
I am visually impaired so it would obviously be helpful. Also when we are out and about and locations etc aren't ideal for me (too dark).
Click to expand...
Now I undertstand.

I thought it could have been flexibility or dexterity on certain injection sites?

To be quite frank.
As long ast your husband can do an Airshot prior to prime the needle? Banging in the appropriate dose whilst keeping a steady hand should be easy….

You could ready a needle for the shot before you go out?
 
Antje77 said:
I've let other people inject me (particularly convenient when I'm driving).
First time I just hand them the pen and tell them to screw on a needle, dial up a unit and push the button to check if insulin comes out.
Then I tell them how many units I want, have them dial up the right amount and tell them to just plunge it anywhere on my abdomen, flanks, or upper arms, push the button and hold it there for a couple of seconds.

Second time I simply tell them how many units I want and watch to see if they've remembered all the steps.
If this all goes well, they can inject me any time.

I never saw the logic in practicing on an orange or a sponge. I got the sponge and was sent home with my insulin pen to do my first real injection alone at home. It would have made so much more sense to inject myself for the first time in the nurses office.
Click to expand...
Ha! I've not done passenger injecting in my arm for years! Brings back some memories.......
 
eventhorizon said:
Ha! I've not done passenger injecting in my arm for years! Brings back some memories.......
Click to expand...
I'm the idiot who would likely be happy to talk any passenger through it while driving, even if they hadn't seen an insulin pen in their life. But that's not something I would recommend to others, so rather off topic now we know the background of the question.
 
eventhorizon said:
Ha! I've not done passenger injecting in my arm for years! Brings back some memories.......
Click to expand...
I’ve done some crazies in my time. But letting someone loose on me with nsulin has not been one of them.

I have had to do basal before driving home after a gig.. or a night out.
been banging my own in since a week after diagnosis at the age of 8.
 
Jaylee said:
I’ve done some crazies in my time. But letting someone loose on me with nsulin has not been one of them.

I have had to do basal before driving home after a gig.. or a night out.
been banging my own in since a week after diagnosis at the age of 8.
Click to expand...
A couple of years ago I could hardly use my arm at all for about a week. In situations like this as well as vision issues it can be very useful to feel comfortable having someone else inject you. You're still there supervising, not handing them the pen and having them decide on the dose as well or such.
Glad you've never needed it, and granted, those passenger injections aren't a necessity, just a luxury, saving you from having to do an extra stop or fiddling with pen needles while driving.
But when you are hampered in any way, having a partner, friends, neighbours willing to help you out is so much better than having to rely on fixed working times of a nurse coming to your home.
 
Antje77 said:
A couple of years ago I could hardly use my arm at all for about a week. In situations like this as well as vision issues it can be very useful to feel comfortable having someone else inject you. You're still there supervising, not handing them the pen and having them decide on the dose as well or such.
Glad you've never needed it, and granted, those passenger injections aren't a necessity, just a luxury, saving you from having to do an extra stop or fiddling with pen needles while driving.
But when you are hampered in any way, having a partner, friends, neighbours willing to help you out is so much better than having to rely on fixed working times of a nurse coming to your home.
Click to expand...
When I go “out”(mainly for gigs these days most weekends.) & know at some point there will need to be a “jab.” (Basal. Though it can be delayed till after the show.)
I pre-load a fresh needle for it… My diabetes is private. (No one notices a “druggie” in the car park.)

However, I can see a point bonding with close friends involving them in your condition….
I’ve just not seen a point personally where I need to involve unnessesarily, other people.

There may well come that “point.” My wife is number one candidate.. (But may not be a “given.”)
& we have discussed.. “Just bang it in.” She’s seen me do “it” enough times….
 
Thank youvery much. Perhaps all. diabetics should let close friends or family do their injections!You just never know when you might need help. I have been doing mine for 43 yrs,very competently and,I dependently, but losing vision puts a whole new complexion on it.
 
DiabeticDi said:
Thank youvery much. Perhaps all. diabetics should let close friends or family do their injections!You just never know when you might need help. I have been doing mine for 43 yrs,very competently and,I dependently, but losing vision puts a whole new complexion on it.
Click to expand...
Certainly discus “this” with your spouse…

I only see close friends & even siblings and my remaining parent intermittently. (& my 92 year old mum has Alzheimer’s? Still a great woman but. No dice…)
 
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