for those on insulin

[ladybug]

Hello.

I've been wondering.... some of the time when I take my humalog in the belly, I get a stinging sensation that I can hardly stand for the 5 seconds I have to hold the needle in. Does this happen to anyone else? Does anyone know what causes it? My skin doesn't have a reaction to it, and it only happens every once in awhile.

Thanks.

 

[beyerdug]

Do you clean your skin with alcohol? If it doesn't dry it will sting when you insert the needle.

 

[ladybug]

no, i never clean the skin, but good suggestion. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[ladybug]

... the pain is actually after i get the needle in and when i do that push of the med. then, as i feel the med should be going in, it burns.

 

[beyerdug]

maybe you are using the same area too much. If so, Try rotating more. Your doc probably told you this I hope.

 

[anonymous]

i get the same thing sometimes... nothing i do helps.. so i just go on with my day!! Good question i would love to know why it happens! it feels like litacane (how ever you spelll it!)
Cariann 21 w/cf cfrd mrsa

 

[Cariann2005Rob]

oops that was me above i forgot to sign in!

 

[JennifersHope]

I get that same pain also. It is once the needle is already in. I think for me, I am hitting a nerve or something, or some other pain sensor.. because it hurts.

I am currently on insulin right now because I was just on high doses of steroids so happy sticking to me.

Jennifer

 

[ClashPunk82]

I get that only when I alcohol my skin and don't let it dry. And sometimes when I have to inject a big amount like 20 units or more then it tends to hurt a little because I am pushing so much in at once. And you should always clean the skin first, you don't want to get any infections.

 

[kybert]

i sometimes got that when i used to have insulin. it happened more in the spots where i couldnt grab as much fat, or where the fat was kind hard and thick [like the spot right underneath your belly button].

 

[littlemisssilly]

Hi all,

Do you inject your insulin straight out of the fridge? If so, that would explain the stinging, being a nurse we were always taught that if we are injecting a liquid staright out of the fridge then to heat it up in our hands (rolling the insulin vial or syringe between the palms of your hands) before injecting.

Also, I have never used alcohol swabs before injecting insulin, there's no need for it. As long as your hands are clean and you use a clean syringe, there's no need to swab your skin beforehand. I was taught that diabetics should be advised against using alcohol swabs because repeated use of alcohol swabs over years can actaully toughen the skin making injecting even harder as time goes on. I learnt that both when studying Nursing and when I had to go on insulin myself.

Lastly, maybe your injecting technique needs looking at. I find that if I point the bezel (the tip of the needle) with the hole facing up, then the injection shouldn't sting. Hope that helps.

 

[catboogie]

sonia,

girrrrrrrrl, it always stings!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> seriously, it stings for me more than it doesn't. but sometimes it is worse than others.

what i do. distract my skin. i scratch my finger nail on my skin a few inches away--draws your sensation to that area and makes the stinging less.

interestingly, i've read that this is how a lot of arthritus cremes used to work: they would put off a heat sensation on your skin to trick your body into feeling what's going on underneath less.

laura

 

[ladybug]

Very interseting points of view everyone! Thanks!

LB, what do you mean by pointing up? I'm interested in knowing this technique. I've always wondered if there is a certain "angle" to point in.

I never take it right out of the fridge. I mean, that first day that I start a new 30 day syringe, it may be a bit cold, but otherwise, its always sitting on my counter.

Thanks again. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[spicyone18]

I to sometimes get the stinging. Most of the time its that Lantus that stings more then my humalog. And I notice too the higher doses sting more then the littler doses.

 

[anonymous]

I´ve got the same problem and in my opinion it happens more and more...Sometimes it also starts hurting when the needle touches the skin, in other places I feel no pain at all, often I hurt some vein and blood is coming out, sometimes the needle is hardly going through the skin, at some places it feels like there is paper directly under the skin...<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

Uli,43,Germany

 

[Joanne]

I have been diabetic for 18 years. I have changed location of where I do my insluin. First it was my stomach.... ouchy too much, and the bruises, and then leaning on thinks hurt so much.

Next I went to my calves, but that bruised and then wearing shorts was not pretty.

Now I do my thighs. I find it the best place so far, no stinging and rarely does it hurt. Depending how "fat" your legs are, there might be more surface area between two things that hitting the same spot does not happen often.

See if you can move to the thighs for awhile and see how it goes.

Joanne Schum

 

[anonymous]

The problem is: I already do change between belly and thighs...in the beginning I found it more comfortable at the tighs, but now its the same problem! And I do use insulin no more than about 2 years now...

Uli,43,Germany

 

[thelizardqueen]

Has anyone tried using their butt as the injection site? I use my butt as an alternative, and because its so fatty, I have minimul buildup, and it hurts a lot less.

 

[littlemisssilly]

Hi all,
I've search the internet for a good picture of a needle to help explain what I mean re: injecting technique, so hopefully this will help....

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.photostogo.com/store/Chubby.asp?ImageNumber=605100
">http://www.photostogo.com/stor...sp?ImageNumber=605100
</a>
See in the picture how the liquid is coming out of the needle tip (bezel)? Well, when you inject your insulin (or anything for that matter) try to always have the needle pointing so are looking at that this opening in the needle tip ie have the opening facing toward you, it will certainly sting less than if you were to inject with the opening facing away from you.

Ever noticed how when someone takes a good blood test from you? It will usually be because they pointed the needle tip (the opening) correctly, ie this opening in the needle will be facing upwards when inserting the needle into you vein.. it hurts less. Hope that helps!

 

[ladybug]

LB,

Thanks for the pic. I think the problem I was having with a "needle" pointing up is that the humalog pen is a teeny tiny short needle (maybe 1/2" long), so its really not all that easy to position it anywhere but "in". lol I assume what you're referring to is when people use the long insulin syringes and to point them so they are more parallel with your skin rather than just pushing way in?

Thanks anyway. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">