question for those on insulin

[ej0820]

I was just diagnosed with CFRD about a month or so ago and I've gotten the hang of it all quite fine...but the more I use my Lantus and my Lispro, the more bruises I keep getting. I usually go for the belly when it comes to my Lispro and right now my belly is covered in little red and purple spots just from awkward pokes from my pen. I tend to keep to my thighs when doing my Lantus and same thing...I have little purple and blue bruises on my legs in certain spots where the poke just didn't go so great. There are many times where nothing happens...insulin goes in, I can't even feel it, my body is content, and there's no evidence of a poke at all...but looking at my belly and thighs, you'd think I just learned how to do this stuff yesterday. Has anyone else experienced this? Will these bad pokes lessen the more I get used to doing them? I know you're supposed to rotate sites so the skin doesn't become calused which I have been doing...but no matter where the site is I just get a poke that leaves an ugly mark sometimes.

 

[ej0820]

I was just diagnosed with CFRD about a month or so ago and I've gotten the hang of it all quite fine...but the more I use my Lantus and my Lispro, the more bruises I keep getting. I usually go for the belly when it comes to my Lispro and right now my belly is covered in little red and purple spots just from awkward pokes from my pen. I tend to keep to my thighs when doing my Lantus and same thing...I have little purple and blue bruises on my legs in certain spots where the poke just didn't go so great. There are many times where nothing happens...insulin goes in, I can't even feel it, my body is content, and there's no evidence of a poke at all...but looking at my belly and thighs, you'd think I just learned how to do this stuff yesterday. Has anyone else experienced this? Will these bad pokes lessen the more I get used to doing them? I know you're supposed to rotate sites so the skin doesn't become calused which I have been doing...but no matter where the site is I just get a poke that leaves an ugly mark sometimes.

 

[ej0820]

I was just diagnosed with CFRD about a month or so ago and I've gotten the hang of it all quite fine...but the more I use my Lantus and my Lispro, the more bruises I keep getting. I usually go for the belly when it comes to my Lispro and right now my belly is covered in little red and purple spots just from awkward pokes from my pen. I tend to keep to my thighs when doing my Lantus and same thing...I have little purple and blue bruises on my legs in certain spots where the poke just didn't go so great. There are many times where nothing happens...insulin goes in, I can't even feel it, my body is content, and there's no evidence of a poke at all...but looking at my belly and thighs, you'd think I just learned how to do this stuff yesterday. Has anyone else experienced this? Will these bad pokes lessen the more I get used to doing them? I know you're supposed to rotate sites so the skin doesn't become calused which I have been doing...but no matter where the site is I just get a poke that leaves an ugly mark sometimes.

 

[coltsfan715]

Do you do your injection at a 90 degree angle?

I ask because the nurses and docs told me to do that when I was first diagnosed and when I did I would get those horrible bruises you mention you get. I found that if I go in at a slight angle with the needle that I tend to rarely get bruising.

Also make sure you are not continually using the same spots/sites. If you are not rotating your injection sites you will also get more bruising. I would try finding an area on your legs that is not bruised right now and try using different sites in that area while your stomach heals. Not for to long cause you don't want the same thing to happen all over your thighs as is happening with your stomach, but yeah I'd give the belly a little break if you are that bruised.

Hope that helps some.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

Do you do your injection at a 90 degree angle?

I ask because the nurses and docs told me to do that when I was first diagnosed and when I did I would get those horrible bruises you mention you get. I found that if I go in at a slight angle with the needle that I tend to rarely get bruising.

Also make sure you are not continually using the same spots/sites. If you are not rotating your injection sites you will also get more bruising. I would try finding an area on your legs that is not bruised right now and try using different sites in that area while your stomach heals. Not for to long cause you don't want the same thing to happen all over your thighs as is happening with your stomach, but yeah I'd give the belly a little break if you are that bruised.

Hope that helps some.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

Do you do your injection at a 90 degree angle?

I ask because the nurses and docs told me to do that when I was first diagnosed and when I did I would get those horrible bruises you mention you get. I found that if I go in at a slight angle with the needle that I tend to rarely get bruising.

Also make sure you are not continually using the same spots/sites. If you are not rotating your injection sites you will also get more bruising. I would try finding an area on your legs that is not bruised right now and try using different sites in that area while your stomach heals. Not for to long cause you don't want the same thing to happen all over your thighs as is happening with your stomach, but yeah I'd give the belly a little break if you are that bruised.

Hope that helps some.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[Diane]

Hi Erin,
I also get the occasional black and blue marks. I've had times when everything with the shot went well and when i pull the needle out a drop of blood comes with it ( leaving a bruise afterwards) You might want to try what Lindsey mentioned about holding the syringe at an angle rather than going straight in. Its possible that with going in straight it is going in to deep for you and causing the bruising. Holding the syringe at an angle will not allow it to go in as far. Its worth a try.

 

[Diane]

Hi Erin,
I also get the occasional black and blue marks. I've had times when everything with the shot went well and when i pull the needle out a drop of blood comes with it ( leaving a bruise afterwards) You might want to try what Lindsey mentioned about holding the syringe at an angle rather than going straight in. Its possible that with going in straight it is going in to deep for you and causing the bruising. Holding the syringe at an angle will not allow it to go in as far. Its worth a try.

 

[Diane]

Hi Erin,
I also get the occasional black and blue marks. I've had times when everything with the shot went well and when i pull the needle out a drop of blood comes with it ( leaving a bruise afterwards) You might want to try what Lindsey mentioned about holding the syringe at an angle rather than going straight in. Its possible that with going in straight it is going in to deep for you and causing the bruising. Holding the syringe at an angle will not allow it to go in as far. Its worth a try.

 

[mare]

I pinch up some skin, only have that on my belly and stick it in at a 90degree angle. Then I hold my finger on the spot for maybe 30 seconds after taking out the needle. That helps to prevent bruises.

 

[mare]

I pinch up some skin, only have that on my belly and stick it in at a 90degree angle. Then I hold my finger on the spot for maybe 30 seconds after taking out the needle. That helps to prevent bruises.

 

[mare]

I pinch up some skin, only have that on my belly and stick it in at a 90degree angle. Then I hold my finger on the spot for maybe 30 seconds after taking out the needle. That helps to prevent bruises.