Injections
A couple of weeks ago I was having a chat with an old friend who was diagnosed with diabetes around seven years ago.
Lawrence mentioned that his Diabetes Specialist Nurse had warned him that he was a very likely candidate to move on to insulin injections within the next couple of months. Apart from the obvious concern as to his diabetes he was also worried about injections.
Why?
Well like a lot of us, me included, Lawrence hates injections. So I said that I would run a blog post for him to get advice from our readers to to how they deal with having regular injections as part of their medical condition. Of course it is not just diabetic who have injections – people with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia all come to mind.
So how can you help? Well firstly it would be great if you could take take the poll on the subject we have set up below. Even better it would be great if you could use the comments box below to share your story of using injections and any tips you may have for lawrence to get used to them.
Many thanks in advance.
I have MS and I do shots once a week.. In the beginning I had to do them every day. The thing I would say is to move the shot around on your body. where ever it can be. It avoids the indenting that happens.
I’ve been doing injections for probably about a year now. I do intramuscular on my legs.
I have such awful migraines so I was told that it’s easier to get me to do it then for me to have to go to the hospital.
The first time I did it, I cried immediately after I inserted and i let go of it and my bf had to finish for me.
Now, I don’t cry. It still hurts and the medications I have burn really bad. I also find my thighs are a bit weaker now. I told my Dr and she said well ya, it’s kind of like you’re tenderizing meat. Lol.
Anyways. Not sure about diabetes and if you’re able to get the needles already done up for you.
I have to do every one of my needles up which I find to be a pain.
I carry a little pack with enough stuff for about 2 shots with me whenever I go out. And yes, I’ve had to do one while driving.
My advice would to not overthink it. I hate needles. Like unbelievably hate them. So giving myself a needle is ironic I guess.
Good luck!
I have been doing injections for fertility treatments both subcutaneous and intermuscular. The subconscious ones you can barely feel and are easy after the first one. The intermuscular ones are a different story. The needle is larger and long but in time I have even gotten used to these too.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8. I did not give myself an injection for the first year. The good news is that insulin needles don’t really hurt; they are very small. I am 44 now, and take multiple shots a day. To insure that the shots hurt less, get the short needles (8 mm); most of the time, you don’t even feel them. These shots are NOTHING like the shots (immunization, etc) that you have gotten at the doctor’s office.
Insulin is given subcutaneously. Find a nice soft place (tummy, upper arm, thigh), wipe it down with alcohol, and pinch up about an inch of skin with one hand (or if you are using your upper arm, lean against something and press the hand holding the syringe to pinch a fold of flesh up). Take a deep breath; your muscles naturally relax when you exhale, so take advantage of that when you are ready to give the injection. While I was getting over my fear of needles (now I’m only afraid of the ones other people are wielding, whereas I can give myself a shot without batting an eye) I used to poise the needle over the place I was going to stick myself, then shut my eyes so I didn’t have to see the needle actually poke me. While you are working through your fear, this is a handy trick. Position, inhale, poise, shut eyes, exhale, poke, press the plunger, pull out, you’re done. The first time is scary. After a few times, it stops being such a big deal. I promise. 🙂
I was on insulin while pregnant with my last child. I had a huge fear of needles but insulin needles are virtually painless. I know that sounds silly but they are. Pricking for testing is 10 times more painful than the insulin injections. The hardest part is knowing it is sticking yourself but it is something you can get used to doing and once you have done it a few times it gets easier. Good luck!