New Needles

I've just been changed from 5mm to 4mm and even that 1mm difference is less painful, less pinching and less bruising to stop my lumpy injection sites as I've been diabetic for nearly ten years and its getting a bit sore now! I think with the absorption its more to do with you injecting into a fatty lump as the absorption would therefore be slower than if you were just injecting into subcutaneous fat, and I was told smaller needles would mean less lumps. This may then mean you end up needing less insulin if the smaller needles improve your absorption and you are no longer injecting into lumps that 'soak' up the insulin instead of it being able to enter your blood stream.

sarahlou Thanks; it just goes to show how ignorant I am because I thought a longer needle might help get past the lumpy bits (which I also have at my "favourite" injection sites).

jgibson1962 said:
I use the short ones, i'm a new diabetic (July 11) quite frankly i was bricking it when told i was going to have to inject myself, but these needles are so thin and short, i just dont feel a thing, although there are a couple of really sensitive spots. But yes i am amazed at the technology, i can even go out with friends to restaurants and inject discreetly whilst sitting at the table.

I would suspect if you missed you'd have a big wet stain around the site. Although my most embarassing moment was at work where i slip the needle thru the gap between buttons onto bare skin, i got a bleed and didnt notice it until i got a panicked look from a colleague.

Injecting through clothing is not recommended - you could be getting fibres inside the injection site, plus you don't know how sterile the clothing you're injecting through is. Also, if you use the needle more than once, you are blunting it for the next injection.

DRS, no problem, just what I've been told and from experience. I hope it explains what your doctor meant by you needing less insulin. I've got a lumpy injection sites that you can see quite clearly from using certain ones too much for injections. I've been told if I leave it alone the lumps will eventually go away.

i have changed to 4mm needles too and think they are great. Also, you can inject into your upper arms with them which you are not meant to do with anything above 4mm. This is much more convenient sometimes i find.

Carbtastic said:
Also, you can inject into your upper arms with them which you are not meant to do with anything above 4mm. This is much more convenient sometimes i find.